Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-15
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.
Came

by
Washington. d G. Feb. l,.-Tho Uni
ted States OF America is ono OF tho
hardest places in the civilized world
in which to got n good education. IN
the opinion OF a committee OF tho
House which has been investigating
tho question.
A fourth OF tho men OF fighting age
in the United States are iliiterntes.
many children never get adequate
schooling. most OF the teachers are in
competent. There are millions OF i'm
migrants in tho country who can moi
their speak nor read English and many
negro children never see the inside of
Il school room. Thousands OF schools
arc colscd because no teachers can be
obtained for the miserable salaries Of
fcrcd.
This disturbing picture OF education
in America is contained in tho rcpor,
OF tho House Committee on Education
on the Towncr BIZ. and abundant
proof of its truth is contained in the
hearings which wcro hold in cnnncc-
ton with the bill.
This report Is surely ono OF tho most
startling indictments OF our civiliza-
ton which has ever issued from capl-
toi Hill The Representatives and
senators arc always investigating
something and reporting about II, but
usually their findings are not too crit
ical or pessimistic. Lake all good Amer
leans, they have generally proceeded
on tho assumption that, whatever lit
tic shortcomings II might have. this
nation is nevertheless the finest and
most enlightened on the face OF the
earth.
But since tho war a new spirit seems
to be abroad in tho country. Frequent
ly you encounter Americans who seem
to think that the American horn has
been blown long enough They seem
TO think that boasiinE Is no longer in
order. They are Inclined rather to
make critical estimate of the country.
to take account OF it's faults and to
find those faults grevious. y number
OF books have been written since tho
war which practically reverse tho tra-
ditional attitude of the American to-
ward his country Instead OF calling
1t the greatest on earth. these writers
point out that is tagging behind all
other civilizations In many OF the aC-
tiyitics which make civiliZat tiuu-in lit
craturc. in art, In education. in respect
for individual rights. In the Intelligent
enjoyment of nc.
The Tail End OF Civilization
Sow this ethical spirit seems to irtlvc
gotten into tho Congressman, OF at
least into tho Committee on Education
These statistics put us in tho ninth
place among the nations" It SAYS. In
regard to our status in education
with most OF the civilized world ahead
OF us"
Nor do tho Congressman blink the
Significance OF the facts which they un-
earth. They recognize that demo
cracy Is an nhsurdity unless tho voters
are intelligent enough TO know what
they arc voting about. What, then, Of
democracy in which n largo fraction
of the population is illiterato and n
still larger one dcnscly Ignorant
Tn a free country its safety Is leo
pardizcd." the report modestly admits
when its voters cannot read the bal
lots they cast and only know how 10
vote as they are told"
Here briefly arc some of the facts
which brought the Congressman to this
frame of mind:
According TO tho Census of 1910 there
were in this country $500. 600 persons
10 years of age or older VINO could not
read or write. and tho committee docs
not believe that conditions have i'm
proved since then. In addition to these
there were 3,5Oo.eoo persons who could
not read or write English, making a