The Robesonian., 1918-03-07
THIS rs YOUR PROBLEM.

Startling Number of Illiterates Taken
Into Army With First Draft-If
There Are Illiterates in Your Com
munity it is Your Business to do
Something.
Nearly 10000 illiterates were TAX
en- into the United States army with
the first draft The above statement
is startling when we consider the fact
that the draft was made up of physi-
cally fit men between the ages of 21
and 81. This eliminates that great
class of elderly illiterates who have
never had chance ana the physically
unfit. It also eliminates the greater
number of foreign born illiterates.
One of the army camps recently re-
ported more than fifteen per cent Of
white men and nearly fifty per cent
Of the colored men illiterate. If the
percentages given above are anything
like correct for that class Of men, then
we may expect far greater percent
age of illiteracy than has ever been
reported among the people as whole.
132,189 white adult illiterates were
reported in North Carolina by the
cencus of 1910. Many Of these have
since learned at least to read and
write and many are now being taught,
but indications are that we have hun
dreds of illiterates whose names have
never been written on any census re-
port and thousands barely in the twi-
light zone of literacy.
There is no time for an endless dis
cussion Of causes, nor will it avail us
anything to close our eyes to facts and
| Indignantly disclaim writer's who are
prone to saddle North Carolina, and
especially the "poor mountain whites,
with wholesale illiteracy and ignor-
ance and then proceed to mount this
imaginary hobby and put it through
the usual moth-eaten PAGES for the
delectation Of the usual credulous
readers. We must realize the founda'
ton of truth in these fabrications else
they would not have stood so long:
Adult illiteracy is the very dark
est page that we continue to write III
to the history Of our State; Causes
over which we had no control wer'
greatly responsible for it, but we ar
responsible for its continuation AM
we must guard against it's danger
and menace to the welfare OF ou
State.
The Legislature of 1917 made a
annronriation for teaching adult il
1iferates This fund is apportione.
unon the basis of the number OF l!
literates taught. Anyone who IS will
;ng and able to do this work may. +
naid from this fund when the require
| r.o,,+e oro mot Some splendid WOr
is being done in the State but WAol
counties and communities are rot uc
ing anything along this line. ms
no more the business OF the teacne
than of the preacher, nor OF any on
more than of every one VINO mas MN
self been more fortunate tnan thos
who have never even learned 70 rea
or write.
We are most anxious to co-operat
with any school, church, society, 1rs
ternal order, women's clups, or an =
other reputable organization or mo
yidual who may undertake this Wor
If there are illiterates-one or man
lin your community it IS your puS
ness to do something other than to
smugly satisfied with conditions
they are.
Write us that we may send to "
! the regulations for the expenditure
the State fund for teaching adult
, i;terates and that we may offer su
gestions that may be helpful concer
ing the work. rrv
Ii Director Of Schools for Illiterate
State Department OF Educauon' Ia
II eigh, N. c.