Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-08-06
swEARlNGBN TELLS THE STORY
OK Campaign on Outcome Of Which
depends Welfare Of tate.

illiterate? Is the blight Of ignorance
to be lifted from our people? Is the
| prog "essive and enlightened Chris
| tian citizenship Of the State content
to tolerate longer. an environment
of illiteracy or near illiteracy? Shall
| there remain among us so large Il
group Of forgotten and unlettered
men and women? Shall these folks
be taught the rudiments Of educa-
ton that should have been given
them in their childhood? Shall the
mistakes and omissions Of the past
stand uncorrected, or shall these er-
rors be remedici now SO far rs pos
sible? Let the t3achers, preachers,
editors, physicians, club women and
other thoughtful leaders answer.
The hour has struck for action.
An aroused public conscience has
recognized the evil. Every consider
alton OF unseltish Christian service
as we'll as of State pride warns
against further procrastination and
urges to immediate efforts. Words
| enough have been spoken and writ
ten. The work not only invites, but
challenges every man and woman
who can lend a hand and become
| worker.
Adult schools for illiterates and
ought to be unnecessary in dem
ocracy. II the States educational
SYSTEM were properly organized,
! financed and operated, even the illit
bility. But the correction Of these
public school weaknesses concerns
only the young. Ordinarily, the in
vitation Of the public school reaches
the growing generation. Its oppor-
! tunities seldom belong to men and
! women who come to maturity with
out mastering the tools and the rudi-
ments Of knowledge. These improve
ments must come before South Caro-
/ lina's educational system can accom-
plish its full work. But to wait for
! these improvements now Is to con-
denim thousands to continued litter
acy 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 illiteracy
appropriation Of $4,000 should
prove equally helpful in reaching
adults. Nevertheless The prime nccd
! is not money, bat men and women
who VIII be ashamed not Only 70
mako lheir own mark, bHt to have
around them fellow beings who are
! forced to make their marks. The
| stigma of cross after the name of
/ any democratic voter should make
! him resolve to learn to write his sig
! nature before 1920. The records Of
! the draft act show hundreds Of South
! Carolina boys who, wholly untaught
and hopelessly ignorant, could not
render desirable and expected SER
, vice 20 their country in the hour Of
peril. should not these men be
taught? The dangers to the State
and to society which lurk in, their
! cropping blindness are clearly seen in
the shipwreck and torture Of Russia
The colleges, schools, churches, and
! the press, have pledged their sup
! port to the intensive campaign to be
conducted from July, 1919, through
June, 1920. 'rhe 'lay-by schools" in
! August are offered to the farmers be-
cause August is our holiday month.
! rhe State Department Of Education
IS seeking to teach 0,000 men and
women to write their names before
september 1st. This can be accom-
| plished only through the individual
! personal help of an army Of work.
rs. The campaign may be conducted
the kitchen. in the nursery, in the
! larnyard, in the work shop, in the
tore. The priest and Levite may not
! ",e from the distant side Of the road
/ nd may pass on. The Good Samari-
! IN will not have to travel far to find
is illiterate neighbor, and to lend
hand. Who among us loves the
! rnse and loves South Carolina
nough to help?
! r II SWooriOpan