The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-08
Mrs. Charles Henderson Tells of the Part Women Are Taking in This I'm pOrtant Movement
JELKS REVIEWS
 PROGRESS MADE IN
 STATE CAMPAIGN
Former Illiterates Give Practical Demonstration of the Value of the Work Now Being Done

.Illiteracy in Alabama: Let's Remove It"
 With this terse but expressive slogan, the Alabama Educational association, at
 the meeting at the Jefferson theatre last night, gave tremendous impetus to the campaign to wipe out from Ala bama the stain of illiteracy. In able ad- dresses the work which has been done and which is planned was outlined to the teachers and other educators of the state and the practical demonstration of tine splendid work being done made powerful appeal to the audience.
 "The Progress of the Illiteracy Cam paign' was the subject of the address of ex-Gov. William D. Jelks. who is the
 head of the iliteracy campaign. He traced the movement for educational re- form and advancement in Alabama, nam
 ing the mill tax of the constitution of
 1901 as the first step forward. The work of the recent legislature and the prog
 ress made under the present admins
 traitor of the educational department
 was pointed out as the second step, and the third will be accomplished when il-
 iteracy is wiped out of the state of
 Ala bama.
 Mere than 10000 illiterates have been changed into literates during the past year through the voluntary work of the white and colored teachers of Alabama,
 declared Governor Jelks. This work is to be greatly enlarged during the com
 ing year. The illiteracy commission IS now maintaining highly competent field
 agent, Miss Esther Foster, and the funds for carrying on the campaign are raised by selling buttons"
 NEEDS NO EULOGY
 Mrs Charles Henderson, in an able
 address. told of the part women are
 playing and are yet to play in this great reform movement. Mrs Tender
 son pointed out the influence women have had in all matters relating to edu- cational and phianthropic reform. But woman needs no eulogy-she speaks for herself" declared Mrs. Henderson, but
 am here to speak of the woman's part in the campaign for the removal of illiteracy from Alabama"
 Mrs. Henderson paid a high. tribute to Mrs. R. D. Johnston of Birmingham
  fishing and building up the Alabama Boys Industrial school at East Lake She praised in highest terms the great work done for Alabama by the late Miss Juua Tutwiler and by Miss Martha 5. Geow. another noted Alabama woman "The influence of women in civic matters and all questions of reform is constantly growing through the various organiza- tions and clubs, there now being over 2,OO0,0 GOO women in America who are af- filiateo with these organizations said Mrs. Henderson.
 Mrs Henderson referred to the great wfik done by Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart who established the moonlight schools in Kentucky, which are now being emulated in the illiteracy campaign in Alabama The state department of education, the teachers of the state, and State Super intendent of Education Feagin had all lent their hearty cooperation in 1nau- gurating the movement and in carrying it to successful conclusion.
 The present movement offers won- derful opportunity for the women of Ala bama to render social service, to aid in the betterment and advancement of their state and to render a lasting service to the uplift of the people, declared Mrs. Henderson. She closed her address with masterly appeal to the women of the state to rally to the cause and do their full share in the movement
 Col. James B. Ellis of Selma, member of the commission for the removal of illiteracy stressed the value of the slogan in the campaign; 'Illiteracy in Alabama Let's Remove It. MT. Ellis stated that this movement should command the efforts and the resources of the business interests of the state, as the education of the state would have a remarkably beneficial effect upon the material ad- vancement of Alabama in the future. He made an appeal for personal work l in aiding the movement
 "The Field, the Work, the Plan,' was 1 the subject of a highly interesting and l instructive address by Miss Esther Eos ter field agent of the illiteracy commis- sion She declared that illiteracy was l the weakest link in the social chain and 1 that the field for this work was in Ala bama Miss Foster told of her experi- ] tnces in the various schools and of her l work in soliciting the cooperation of l people of all ages and classes. She stated that each county had a subcom- mission to look after the campaign and | that the county commissioners were or ganizing for the work during the sum ! mer A teacher is to be employed and | is to be assisted by students from the (Continucd on Page Nine)