South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-26
FORCE or NEW LAW ON sLLIT-
EBACY AMONG CHILDREN.

EEACY AMONG CHILDREN.
0Iiteracy in the United States is
doomed. Statistics compiled by the
United States bureau OF education for
use at the Panama Pacific exposition.
show that of children from 10 10 IA
years OF age there were in 1910 only
p out Of every 1000 who could
neither read nor write. In 1890 there
were Of the same class A per 1.eO0.
IL reduction in illiteracy is still pro-
ceeding at even the same rate. the il
literate children in this country be-
tween the ages Of 10 and IA. inclusive,
now number not more than 10 out Of
avery 1000.
From the standpoint Of proportion
al reduction Of illiteracy Oklahoma
leads all the states of the Union. In
1900 this state had 124 illite.ate chill
drer OF the ages named. IN 1910 it
had but Il; Delaware had 20 in 1900
and but four in 1910; New Hamp-
shire reta'ed from four to one; New
Jersey from seven TO two; Missouri
from 50 TO II; Montana from three TO
one; oregon from three to one; Yer
mont from six TO two; New Mexico
from IS2 to 60. and Idaho from five to
two.
The following states report only one
child in 1000 between the ages Of 10
and II as illiterate: Connecticut, Dis
trict OF Columbia; Massachusetts,, Min
nesota, Montana, New Hampshire,
North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and
Washington.
Some Of the states have reduced their
illiteracy by One-half or a little more.
These states are Alabama, California,
Colorado. Connecticut District of Co
lumbia, Kansas, Maryland, Massachu-
sets. Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi.
North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and
West Virginia.
only one state, Nevada, has lost
ground since 1900. It's illiteracy was
then four; in 1910 it was i've. Two
states, South Dakota and Nebraska,
each having the low rate of two per
1000, report no reduction in illiteracy
between 1900 and 1910.
portion of illiterate children per coo
are Louisiana, with 115 (from ia in
1900. South Carolina, So from $50;
Alabama, "a from 1871; New Mexico.
90 from 1S2; North Carolina, 6S from
1917; Kentucky, 50 from 10; Georgia,
81 from 100, and Virginia, 81 from
81; Tennessee, 81 from 119; Florida,
n
It ia evident that the public schools
will in a short time practically elm
mate illiteracy from among children.
But according 10 bureau Of education
officials there are between four and
I'VE millions of adults that are 1llit-
crate and that can not be reached by
the public schools. To wipe out illit-
eracy in the United States one of two
things must happen; Either the coun-
cry must wait for the generation of
present adults TO die of, or by some
extraordinary means reach these illit-
crate millions
ON the basis of these figures, Dr.
r. =. ;Iaxton, commissioner of educa-
ton, estimates that with al average
annual expenditure Of $4,000 for 10
years he could put forces TO work that
would by means of night schools and
other agencies eliminate illiteracy
among adults of this country. The
Abercrombie Illiteracy bill. now pend
ing before congress, requires the bu-
reau of education to undertake this
work in any state upon request of the
proper state authorities and makes an
appropriation Of $4,000 for 1915.
S22.500 for each succeeding year until
1920; and $17,5OO for each year there
after until 1925, at which date. it is
believed, illiteracy would be elm
inafnd