The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-26
LITERACY SURVEY
IS MADE AMONG
SOUTHS NEGROES

SFCl IOOgOOO IGdOIICl
and Pupils in Order That
Plan May Be Carried Out.
NEW YORK. May 2G,-Dean L. b.
Moore. OF Howard university, Washing
ton, D.. C., who has been conducting
patriotic propaganda among the negroes
q the far South with the aid Of the
National Security league. has returned
70 MS city, and a report on the
result Of his efforts is made public
by DR.. Henry d. Thompson, educational
secretary OF the Security league, who
has been directing this work.
Dean Moore was enabled, through
the cooperation n under the auspices
OF the educational authorities Of the
states which he visited, to reach, by
personal contact or classes formed, more
than 100, 600 negro teachers and chill
dren.
In his resume Of Dean Moore's work
Dr. Thompson estimates the results as
follows:
Prom the reported attendance at
these group meetings 1t is evident that
nearly half the negro teachers Of Mis-
sissippt were reached and that, Of the
general public attending, probably 5000
were heads Of families or particularly
Interested In educational matters. II
Nat ANdNlNI HAS llliutHttU 1U DuDllA
II may be taken that these meetings
will have had a direct effect on 75, 700
people. With the 10000 probably
reached during the summer, allowing
for Implications, 1t can be hoped that
more than 100, 900 negro parents, teach
ers n pupils-that is, two-thlrds the
negro. teachers n pupils Of the state
have been helped in this campaign;
and this Notwithstanding the preva-
lenoe OF a fearful epidemic during the
time of the effort"
Official Co. operation.
DIR. Thompson. in his announcement
gives especial thanks for cooperation
In Dean Moore's work to w. +, Bond.
state superintendent OF schools Of Mis-
sissippi; Bura Hilbun, supervisor of me-
gro schools of that state. and h. s.
Grossley, his assistant.
Dean Moore's work began last sum
mer, when he delivered addresses on
Patriotism Through Education" in the
negro normal schools, with the object
of acquainting the teachers with the
moral issues of the war and the part
the American people had to perform
IN order to win the war for democracy.
His method OF approach was, first, to
Interest the teachers themselves; Sec
ond, to pledge them to organize small
groups Of adults on their return to
their homes for the study of the prob
lens brought to their attention, third,
to have them carry these ideas further
among their pupils after the opening
OF the schools in the autumn. The
groups formed encouraged Dean Moore
TO. believe that the teachers would ac-
tually form classes In their respective
localities to pursue the study begun.
Most of the schools we're visited in
company with Grossley, assistant supef-
visor OF negro schools, who was AZ.
signed by the state superintendent to
this work.
Groups Of Adults.
It Is conservatively estimated that, in
this preliminary work, 400 teachers thus
pledged themselves to organize groups
OF adults which would average not less
than 10 In each group, making prob
ably 5000 adults reached In this way.
The textbook material for the adult
classes waa furnished free by the Sc
curity league n consisted primarily
OF a Handbook" War Points and
Harding's Outline OF the War; sup
~plemented by other pamphlet publlca-
tons. These were distributed directly
at the normal schools for the teachers
to take home with them and start their
classes. In addition and in reply TO
individual requests, textbooks were
sent directly to the homes OF the teach
ers, ordinarily twice as many War
Points" being sent as "Handbooks."
There were 179 OF these Individual APP
plications for seven "Handbooks" or
less, thus showing that the teachers
had taken the advice to start small
Iclasses, and there were IS applications
for material for larger classes,
Each of the more than a thousand
teachers had the care of 80 or more
pupils, which would make a total Of
at least $4,000. which, with the 5000
adults and the teachers themselves,
moans that 1000 persons were reached
through this campaign. Dean Moore for
mally met the groups OF teachers, but
Just as important was the time he
spent meeting prominent people and
preparing for the gatherings. In addi-
ton a large number OF persons were
affected through addresses In churches
and public lectures which he gave in
several of the larger cities of Missis-
sippi,
Teachers Eager.
Dean Moore reports that he found
the teaohers very eager for the in
formation brought them and enthusiasts
tic for some definite plan to receive
and to give out correct information, -
He received the earnest and cordial
support OF Superintendent Bond. OF
Mississippi and the state department
of education in this work.
n tNSulN VI pthH luOuIt y WpTk
In this field, the National Security
league has published and distributed
free $1,000 copies OF a 24-page pamphlet
written by Dean Moore, entitled How
the Colored Race Can Help In the Prob
lens Issuing from the War" A cita-
ton OF the titles Of the five chapters
Of this pamphlet will give a good idea
Of Its contents. The chapter head
ings are: The Fighting; Working; Saw
ing; Learning; Government. This little
book was issued with the sanction Of
Mr., Bond, state superintendent OF edu-
cation OF Mississippi, Prof, A. o. Love-
Joy, of Johns Hopkins university, pres
ident OF the association OF American
professors, and for a time connected
with the Y. NJ c. A. war work, wrote
of this pamphlet; ut seeing to DO ex-
cellently adapted to be OF great SER
vice at the present time; and we should
greatly like to secure not fewer than
; 10000 copies for distribution to negro
troops IN the environments and de-
~barkation camps. The pamphlets would.
as a rule, be issued in connection with
lectures TO bodies OF negro troops, chief
ly by wise negro leaders whom we are
now routing through the camps"
In Other States.
The admirable responae and co-opera-
ton met with in Mississippi. and tho
appreciation by Superintendent Bond OF
the help to help themselves extended
10 his negro teachers, seemed TO justi-
fy an endeavor to expand the effort and
II possible TO coordinate the work for
the better education OF the negroes Of
other states, Howard university, at
President Durkee's suggestion, gave
Dean Moore leave OF absence with pay
NNNEgEN%EsNN