Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-04

five hundred inmates of the Indiana State
Prison, DR.. Paul E. Bowers presents some
thought-provoking figures Seventy-five per
cent of the prison population is made up Of
persons who are without mechanical or
trade skill; who earn their means of Iiveli-
hood in crudest forms of physical labor, to
which they apply themselves irregularly and
in half-hearted manner. Their average wage
income is to be classeC at the lowest wage
earning SCALE 1t appears, moreover that of
the twenty-five hundred subjects, four hun
dred and thirty-tWO are illiterate, six hundred
and eighty can hardly read and write; seven
hundred and eighty-ive went no further in
school than the fourth grade, four hundred
and ninety-sx reached the eighth grade;
eighty-two attended high school, and twenty
five went to college. 1t may be added that in
the prisons of the entire country scarcely
more than one per cent of the inmates are
men of college training, whilst approximately
twenty-five per cent are altogether i1literate.
Particularly notable is DR.. Bowers observa-
ton that among the two thousand five hum
dred men in the Indiana prison, trained and
skilled mechanics are extremely few Vo-
cational efficiency and crime rarely go to-
gether. "a few prisoners" says summary
OF the survey, explain that they never had an
opportunity to go to s.Eool, but lost Of them
say that through evil associates and unfortu-
nate environment they stopped school at an
early age, and that from then on their ener-
gies were eXerted in the wrong direction"
munity may apply these findings to its par
ticular problems, each and all will do we'll to
observe the outstanding Importance Of eradi-
eating iIliteracy and of providing facilities
for vocational education. That this alone can
reach the root of evil, no one who has
glimpsed the true nature and needs of man
will contend; indeed, one of the most lam
entable aspects of a great deal of sO-called
education is its emphasis upon mere intellect
and SKILL and it's neglect of those subtler
fo0J md I-hi oh M q
human destiny. It is rome the less evident,
however, that every advance in the conquest
of illiteracy and of economic impotence is a
step forward for society-a deterrent to
crime, an aid to good citizenship. There is
no magical or saving virtue in the three RS,
nor in their expansions called higher educa-
ton; but they do constitute a serviceableness
without which an American is as sorely hand
icapped in his present-day environment as
his ancestor of the frontier forest would
have been without flint and steel and rife. In
those days lived many a hero and seer who
had never conned the first letter of learn
ing's grabbed text" but were they of this
age, they would fight illiteracy as they then
fought the wolf and skulking savage.
This good fight has been carried forward
in Georgia with heartening effect In 1870, two
years before our public school system was es-
tablished, the percentage of white illiterates
in this State was 27.4, and of negro illiterates
Cpl. By 1886 these percen ages had been
, by 1890, to 16 for whites and 81 for negroes;
by 1900 to 11.9 for whites and 81 for
negroes; and by 1910--the year of the latest
Federal census-to per cent FOR whites and
SO per cent for negroes. The prospect was
made still more cheering a few years ago by
the enactment of a compulsory school at
tendance Law. For lack of certain practical
provisions ar d adjuncts, however, the meas
ure has not yielded due results. 1t is earnest
1y to be hoped, therefore, that such supple
.I14s1 1f1y11
passed at the next session of the General AS
sembly.
Equally important is the duty Of develop
ing as fast and as far as possible the States
facilities for vocational education. Substan
tial progress was made in this field last ear
though it il a matter of regret that abou
thirtv-three per cent of the Fed 9ral aid ap
portioned to Georgia reverted to the United
States treasury for lack of local funds tt
match it. These communities which, avail
ing themselves of This liberal aid, have IN
augurated vocational training in connection
with public schools and industrial establish
ments are prOfting manifestly that others
will be moved to follow the example 1t Il
doubtful however, that the rich and varied
opportunities afforded by the Smith-Hughe'
Vocational Act are duly appreciated. Ger
tainIy it would be " IL for school officials ane
community leaders e morally who are no
familiar wit the purposes and provisions
the law to communicate with the state Boart
which is in charge of its administration ane
of which Superintendent Britain is the abb
executive ard director Such inquiry may re
veal undreamed-of opportunities.
The extension of vocational education ant
the Punishment of llliteracy are to be valued
not simply for their morally conserving IN
fuence but for their ene-gizing effec
on all the life-powers of the Commonwealth
Georgia can do nothing better to promote he
broa1est and highest prosperity than t.
further these constructive causes.