The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-09-27
iLLiTERAcY IN SOUTH.


When we read criticisms of the
"illiterate South" 1t hurts. We try to
make excuses and back away from the
facts. But 1t is the truth that hurts.
The South is illiterate as compared
with other sections of the country,
and We can't blame this condition en-
tirely upon the negro. The only ex-
cuse that can be offered with any
degree Of justice is that the South
ass as thickly populated as other
sections, and therefore, cannot sup
port the best public schools. But
even that excuse is vapid when We
study the statistics that show thinly
populated Western states with better
records than those of the South.
These satisfies show that of the 4s
states IL Southern states occupy the
lowest position in the scale of native
white illiteracy, only New Mexico
being lower than Florida, Mississippi,
West Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia, Vir-
ginia, Tennessee, Alabama, South
Carolina, Kentucky, North Carolina
and Louisiana, which rank in the Or
der named. Only one state that can
Be Claimed remotely as a portion Of
the South ranks as high as 81 in the
scale. and that is Maryland. Texas
is az, while Missouri and Oklahoma,
border states, are "a and 35, Delaware,
Just outside the Southern boundary
is 80 and the lowest state except New
Mexico outside of the Southern sec.
ton.
In comparison of educational ad-
Hancement itwould be manifestly IN
fair to consider the South's negro
population which, for reasons good or
bad, Is admittedly the most -illiterate
class in America. But the compaTi.
sons we are making is of native
whites Of native parenyhge. In 20
states less than .blooded white
man in 100 is unable to read. In the
remaining 10 states outside of the
South from / to 3k native-blooded
white men in 100 are unable to read.
Then comes the shameful fact that
In Mississippi and Florida more than
S native-blooded white men in 100
are illiterate; while in Arkansas only
Z in each 100 can read; in Georgia
and Virginia, s, in Tennessee, almost
10; In Alabama, South Carolina and
Kentucky, more than 10; in North
Carolina, Louisiana and New Mexico,
more than Is.
1t would profit nothing, than per-
haps to form a basis upon which to
begin the foundation of better sys-
tenn OF education, to undertake ex-
plantations or excuses for the record
that has been made. The thing to do
is to correct it.
u There was a time, before the ad.
vent Of the great American public
school system, when the South was
the most highly educated section Of
the country. Private schools and col
ieses flourished in every state in the
South. Prior to 1860 the South lacked
in public schools, but was better sup
piled relatively with institutions of
higher learning than the North. A
recent statement of ante-bellum edu-
eationai conditions shows from the
census Of 1860 that, when the North
had population Of 19,00O,O0O and the
South population of 100000, the
North had 205 colleges, 1,407 profess
sors and 1904 students, while the
South had 262 colleges, 1888 profess
sors and 27,055 students. The South
was even spending as much money
as the north on colleges and academ.
As,, and the figures do not include the
numerous denominational colleges
then as now, found. in the Southern
states. -.- 5000. ..---
But there is nothing to be gained by
dreaming Of the past. The South
must be rid of the shame to which she
was subjected when thousands OF her
sons entered the army through the
draft and were subjected to the en-
barrassment in training camps of hav-
ing to attend primary schools in order
to learn to- write their Names, More
and better public schools is the solu-
tion to the problem. Soldiers return
ing from the war are going to demand
better educational advantages in the
South.