Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-21


2l and 81 years of age in this country.
That fact stunned US, but there was
nothing new in it. The census of 1910
informed US that there were more than
$500, 900 illiterates of ten years of age
and over in this country. 1t showed
US that one out of every thirteen per-
sons of ten years of age and over was
an illiterate. Every fourth illiterate
is native white of native white par
entage. We have come to appreciate
that illiterates do not make good SOL
diers. They are not good citizens un-
less il is the plan to have some citi-
zens that can be imposed upon and ex-
plotted by others. 1t is evident that
an illiterate may earn a living, but
earning a living is, after all, only
means to an end. That end is the
living of worthy life in our day and
generation. This can be done only by
those who can Independently get into
contact with the facts, ideas and ideals
that the printed page conveys, thus
laying the foundation for independent
thinking.
Colorado had, in 1910, $3.50 such
illiterates. The congressional alIot-
ment would be SI7,924.07 annually
This would have to be equaled by the
state. and there would then be avail
able S35.sis.l4 each year. or almost
81 for each illiterate.
II the state should start ten
year program for the removal of il
iiteracy, and if it should each year
teach one-tenth of its illiterates, there
would be available $40 to teach each
illiterate to read and write. This plan
would eliminate illiteracy from the
state within ten years.
Americanization of Immigrants.
Our population has been made up
largely of immigrants. In 1910 there
were in the United States 13,515,SS6
persons of foreign birth out of total
population of 81 .972 ,266; or, roughly
speaking, every seventh persons of the
entire population was born in for
eign land. The foreign born popula-
ton in our Atlantic coast states and
in our industrial states increased rap
idly from 1900 to 1910, large num-
bers of which were illiterates. In New
York alone there were, in 1910, 406,-
020 foreign born illiterates-a number
probably greatly increased before the
outbreak of the war. The total nifrn-
Der of foreign born illiterates, in 1910,
was / l.650,36l.
If these immigrants are to be more
than just so much productive power,
they must become Americanized. The
first step in this process is acquiring
the ability toSpeak and read English.
Those under ten years of age should
go to the. pubic schools regularly.
Other provisions must be made for
the adults.
Colorado has 129,5S7 immigrants,
according TO the census of 1910. The
congressional allotment would amount
to S7l.s20.79. The amount available
for Americanization work in the state
would be sl43,Sll.5s annually.
Equalization of Opportunities.
The per capita wealth is very un-
even in the different states. In North
Carolina it is s726.S5s In Nevada it
is S4,135.35. For the country as a
whole, it is Sl,712.77.
The population back of each teacher
employed in the public schools is also
uneven. In Iowa there is one teacher
for population of Sl.52 persons. In
Louisiana there is one teacher for a
population of 240.01. In the country
as whole there is one teacher for
population of 1881.
The wealth back of each teacher also
varies in the different states. In Mis-
sissippi there is wealth of Sl19,-
27l.SS for each teacher. In Illinois
there is a wealth of S437 ,491 80 for
each teacher. In Nevada il is So71,-
Sl5.56. For the United States as
whole the figure is 0,754.0s per
teacher.
A tax of two mills on each dollar
of wealth in the United States would
equal the salaries paid to all public
school teachers of the country. To
equal the salaries of teachers in Idaho
A mill tax is required. In Penn
sylvania a tax of Lag mills would pay
the salaries of all public school teach
ers.
Colorado has 6.573 teachers and
would receive from Congress $685.
07i.S2. An equal amount by the state
for these purposes would make avail
able S1.156, 1854 for the purposes
mentioned in the bill.
The bill provides that no state shall
share in this fund unless it has at least
twenty-four weeks of school in each
district, unless it enforces an ade-
quate compulsory school attendance
law, and unless it provides that "the
basis language of instruction in the
common school branches in all schools.
public and private. shall be the Eng
lish language only"
Physical and Health Education.
| The bill now in the Senate provides
S20.000,000 annually by Congress "to
cooperate with the states in the pro-
motion of physical and health educa-
ton and recreation" including 'the
medical and dental examination of
! children of school age, the determine