The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-01-09
THE ILLITERACY COMMISSION

| The Illiteracy Commission, COM
posed Of DIR. Patterson Wardlaw,
State Superintendent of Education
j. E. Swearingen, George d. Brown,
C. +. Burts, S. H. Edmunds, Mrs. ].
l.. Coker, Miss Mabel Montgomery
and Miss Viii Lou Gray as Field
Worker, has written every county su-
perintendent of Education urging that
the counties be organized for the es-
tablishment Of Adult Schools.
In each county there will be a COM
mittee on Organization, consisting of
the coutny superintendent of educa-
ton as ex-officio chairman, a member
appointed by the County Board to be
County Leader, and third member
to be selected by the other two. The
committee has been asked to under
take the following work:
(a) To see that a school census
Is taken, especially in those districts
where Adult Schools are to be on
encd.
| (b) To encourage the establish
ment of Adult Schools.
| (c) To work for such legislation as
is necessary for the cause.
| (d) To use all possible means of
publicity in an effort to bring to the
attention Of the public the great need
for Adult Schools and the resultant
good to the community at large as
we'll as to the individuals and fami-
lies benefited.
1t is the purpose Of the Commits
sion to urge the establishment of two
kinds of schools:
(a) An adult school, three nights
week, to teach people to read and
write.
Nb)A Community school, one night
IN two weeks, open to all, for the pur-
pose of civic instruction. public
forum. The program of this session n
will be instructive to the community
and it will make the illiterate feel
that there is no disgrace in attending
school, as his more fortunate neigh
Dor finds is helpful to attend occa-
sionally.
Schools will be opened at any time
that occasion demands, but State
wide effort will be made to have rural
schools run during January and Feb
ruary and Mill Schools during Janu-
ary, February and March. No pu-
pills will be admitted under the COM
pulsory age limit, Of fourteen, unless
by special permit.
Teachers will be paid $l.OO per
night by the State Department of
Education, provided at least ten pu-
pills are enrolled. The counties and
the mills will be asked to pay $1.OO
additional, giving salary of $500
per night. In order to receive State
Aid, a detailed report must be filed
with the State Superintendent Of
Education at the end Of the term.
|. An Institute was recently held in
Columbia under the direction of the
Commission when County Leaders
and teachers Of night schools came
together to study the problems pecu-
liar to this type Of work. Twenty
six counties were represented with
over fifty delegates. The program
consisted of round table discussions,
demonstration of materials and in
spirational addresses. The attend
ance and the unusual interest shown
demonstrates the fact that the teach
ers and those in charge Of mill work
are awake to the situation and if
South Carolina remains next to the
most illiterate state in the Union it
will no be their fault.
Illiteracy is a burden to the State.
believing this to be true The Hit
eracy Commission is asking the Leg
islature to appropriate $4,000 for
work Of establishing and maintain
ing Adult Schools, so that those men
and women who were neglected by
the State in their childhood my still
have the opportunity Of learning to
read their Bible, Of writing to their
absent children and friends, Of trans
acting their own business and of fol-
lowing through the press events Of
the day. The task of wiping out H.
literacy is one common to the entire
citizenship and it should be the duty
Of every patriot to see that this ap-
preparation is made.
Trustees, teachers and public spir-
tied citizens are urged to write to the
llliteracy Commission, Columbia, S.
c., for further information and lit
erature concerning the work