The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-12
SWEARINGEN TELLS
OF THE CAMPAIGN
LAijDn the Outcome of Which Depends
Whether South Carolina Shall
or Not BE nliterate.

Is South Carolina to be literate or
illiterate? Is the blight of ignorance
TO be lifted from our people? Is the
progressive and enlightened Christian
citizenship of the state content to toll
crate longer an environment of illit-
eracy or near illiteracy? Shall there
remain among us so large group of
forgotten and unlettered men and wo-
men, shall these folk be taught the
rudiments OF education that should
have been given them in their child
hood? Shall the mistakes and omis-
sions of the past stand uncorrected or
shall these errors be remedied now
so far as possible? Let the teachers,
preachers, editors, physicians, club
women and other thoughtful leaders
answer.
The hour has struck for action. An
aroused public conscience has recog-
nized the evil. Every consideration
OF unselfish Christian service as well
as of state pride warns against furth-
er procrastination and urges to i'm
mediate effortrs. Words enough have
been spoken and written. The work
not only invites but challenges every
man and woman who can lend hand
and become a worker
and become a workere
Adult schools for illiterates and
night schools for near illiterates
ought to be unnecessary in a democ-
racy. If the states educational sys-
tenn were properly organized, financed
and operated. even the illiterate child
ought to be an impossibility. But the
correction OF these public school
weaknesses concerns only the young.
Ordinarily. the invitation OF the pub
lie school reaches the growing gem
GRAFTON. Its opportunitie sseldom be-
logn to men and women who come to
maturity without mastering the tools
and the rudiments of knowledge.
These improvements must come be-
fore South Cardinals educational sys,
tenn can accomplish its full work. But
TO wait for these improvements now
is to condemn thousands to continued
illiteracy and to fasten upon the state
the blight and the reproach of ignor-
ance.
The statewide compulsory attend
ance law Of 1919 is the first step in
the right direction. The illieracy ap-
preparation of $4,000 should prove
equally helpful in reaching adults.
Nevertheless, the prime need is not
money, but men and women who will
be ashamed not only to make their
own mark, but to have around them
FELLOW beings who are forced to make
their mark. The stigma of cross
after the name OF any democratic
voter should make him resolve TO
learn t owrite his signature before
1920. The records of the draft act
show hundreds of South Carolina
boys who wholly untaught and hope.
iessly ignorant could not render de-
sirable and expected service to their
country in the hour of peril. Should
no tthese men be taught? The dan
SeiS W the state ana TO society which
Turk in their cropping blindness are
clearly seen in the shipwreck and tor
ture of Russia. The colleges. the
schools, the churches and the press
have pledged their support to the in
fensiye campaign to be conducted
from July, 1919, through June, 1920.
The lay by schools in August are Of
fered to the farmers because August
Is our holiday month. The state de-
partment of education is seeking TO
teach 10000 men and women to write
theier names before September lst
Ihis can be accomplished only
through the individual personal help
OF an army of workers. The cam
paiGn may be conducted in the kitch
en-, in the nursery, in the BARNARD
in the work shop in the store. The
priest and Levite may not see from
the distant side of the road and NAV
pass on The Good Samaritan Will
not have to travel far to find his il
literate neighbor and to lend hand
Who among us loves the causes and
loves South Carolina enough to helm .
L Il