Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-05
THE MOONLIGHT
SCHOOL SYSTEM;
HOW It STARTED
Mrs, Cora Wilson Stewart
Tells How IIIiteracy Is Being
Completely BaniShed From
State of Kentucky.

(Nlrs. Cora Wilson stewart. found.
er of the Kentucky Moonlight
Schools, in the Survey Press scrvice.)
| Amusing, indeed. have been the var
ious impressions that have prevailed
throughout the country in regard to
moonlight schools. Some have I'M
agined them 70 be schools where chill
drcn studied and played ana scam
pcred on the green like fairies In the
moonlight Others have believe /
them to be ideal counting schools,
where lovers strollod arm in arm,
quoted poetry, and told the old, old
| story by the light Of the bcwitching
I moon. Others have speeulated upon
/ their being schools where moonshn-
ers, youthful and aged. were instruct
ed in the most scientific methods Of
extracting juice from the corn. and.
at the same time, the most secrctive
to prevent government Interference
An Old Woman Its Inspiration.
When was superintendent of Row
an county schools | served as secre.
tary to Il number OF illiterate folk
a mistaken kindness. | ought to have
! been teaching them to read and write
Among these folk was q woman
whose children had grown up without
education, except one daughter, who
had had q limited schooling. She
had gone to Chicago, and there had
profIted by that one advantage at
least which the city possesses over
the rural distrlct--the night school
Her letters were the only source OF
joy that came into that aged mothers
life, and the drafts which thev con-
tanned were the only means Of relicv-
ing her necessities
often she brought the daughters
letters over the hill, seven miles. 10
the county seat for me to read ana
answer for her After an absence OF
some six weeks. she came in one
morning fondling letter / antici.
patcd her mission. ana said - let
ter from your daughter? Shall read
ana answer it for you?"
With dignity and pride. she re-
piled: Il kin answer It fer myself
I've learned to read and write
The Work Begins.
In amazement questioned her
and this Is the story she told. some
times ! couldn't get over here to sec
you, and the 'cricks' would be up be-
tween me and the ncighbors, or tho
nelghoors would be away from home
and I would not get letter read ami
for three or four days. and.
anyway. II jist seemed like that WIZ
a wall twlXt Jane and me all the time /.
and wanted TO read with my own
eyes what she had writ with her own {
hand So ! went 70 store and I I
bought me 4 speller and / sot up 1T /
night til midnight, ana sometimosl
til dawight--and / learned to read +
ana write
Incidents Ike this led directly to +
the' establishment Of the moonlight
schools. The public school teacher
Of the county were called together.
The fact that there were LISP men
and women whom the schools Of the !
past had left behind vas dwelt upon
The teachers were asked 70 volunteer
for night schools on n00Dlit even
ings- to give these people a chance
This they checifully agreed 70 do.
and on Labor day. September 4. 1911.
Ihese teachers celebrated by visiting
.very farmhouse and every hovd. IN
sitting people ~ al classes to attend
he moonlight schools which were 10
open thcir sessions the next evening
sunday
These country folk had all the Ok
uses that airy toilwOrn people ever
had There we're rugged roads 10
travel. high hills 70 climb. streams
& Without bridges 70 cross. children 20
cad and babes 20 carry. but they were
rot seeking excuses. they were seek
ng knowledge And so they came.
rhey came. some singly and alone
hey came hurrsing in groups they
anne carrying babes in their arms:
hey eame bent with age and leaning
IN canes. they came I geo strong.