The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-10-15
To Abolish Illiteracy
Among The Negroes
Of West Virginia
TEACHERS AND CITIZENS
ASKED TO COOPERATE
Figures Taken From the 1910
Census Show Conditions as
They Exist.

What bidis lair to lsf ons. ot the grrat-
s'-t educational campaigns that has ever
h~en undertaken m this state has lust he
gun. lti-a campaigning for the abolition
of illiteracy among the Negro population
"i West Virginia, e-l,,~,ially admit ilite-
racy Prot. VIM. W. >ander-. director
al tins campaign. states that the TEACHERS
anu citizens oi tho state arr very inthu
sisstic ln the work. ami that the move
ment II mee'ting with favor on every side.
Mcdowell county occupi,-~ "A rather unin-
viabIe P"-ltion with respect Ia illiteracy
among the Negro population. The fol
lowing Figures taken from tin 1910 cen
-u- SPEAK for themselves
No. of NEGROES in thi~ county. Ig.,-,s.
No. of Negro men in county. ,.S~.s.
No. of Negro men illit-ratr. Lois.
or e . r-r cent.
No. Negros- over lO yr- ni ag., n. >-,G
No Of Nrgros- over lu years OF age
Illiterate. 2.~S'. or - I.er cent.
No. Of Negroes q To IL years of age,
5.ps.
NJ" oi Negroes q to ~ years of aye at
tending school. I.G9. or ss.3 per cent.
IL will be readily seen that thi. per-
centsg' l- lar below the most progrrs-ive
states. Therefore all are askesi to CO.
operate IN helping to reduce illiterscy
among the Negro~- Of this county. Mer-
Ger, Fayette and X ksnawha counties all
have smaller per cent of illiterary than
Mcdowell. The following letter ha- been
sent "a principals AMI teachcrs of the
schools oi the county
October q. 1913.
Professor Atkins.
Msybrury, w. Va.
My Desr sir
What are the pr"-perts for opening
night sclool in the Maylrnry grasied
~'hool thi- year; Have yon canva.-e.i
the situation and planned to open one,
We are In the Inisl-t of "A great carnpaiyn
to rei"cr illiteracy among the Negro
population Of West Virginia, and We feel
sure that you and the tearher- who are
working with you stand ready to Join IN
this movement. and give of your time
AMI service to tins worthy can-e. Me
DoweIl county has a Negro population of
lt,tsi1. i.Ook at thc-~ iigure-
Number 81 Negro males (men), J,sxy.
Numter Of Negro males nliterate. L.
SIS. or p Ter cent
Numi~r Oi Nrgro- over Do years of
axe. Lot
Number oi Negroe- over go years ot
Ase illiterate, 2,~9'. or al per cent
Mcdowell county should make a letter
showing than this. let ~ work together
and reduce tins illIteracy tins year.
shall ~ glad To- assist you IN any
manner po--ible IN this work, A. we'll a.
any other special plans you have made
Tor the year
Trr-ting u hear from you 10y return
mail. ! ain.
Very sincerely yours.
Wv W ~,~DEK-.
The plan j. % have these night schools
in every school hou-e in the county. the
tesciers volunteering their services two
hours a night for three nights IN a week.
The subjects r. 10 taught are Reading.
writing. arithmetic. spelling. Language.
and u pos-ii'le, sewing and cooking one
night during the week
special emphasis will h. plarei on DO
Destlc econofny AMI saving in the home
IN the preparation Of foods, etc.
An other interesting feature Of the ex-
tension work of the schools this year -
the plan whereby children are taught %
save their PENNIES. For the purpo-e
trs' hers will oTen an account with the
children IN bank, and once esch day
children Will have an opportunity to
make deposit with the teacher receiving
q receipt for the amount deposited. In
many localities in this STATE this plan -
being u-ed with much sncce-s. and many
children have q neat bank account who
otherwise would not have saved anything.