The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-01-19
Mteracy Figures for
S.C.andBanbergC S. Co.

The state department of education
assisted by the illiteracy commission
has made a vigorous fight against the
| illiteracy which exists in our state
and now that the census figures for
1920 have been published it is a
matter of just pride that South Caro-
lima still maintains the next to bot
percentage from 25.7 per cent. in
1910 to 1871 per cent. in 1920. In
rank among the states, South Caro-
lima still maintains the next to bot
tom place, ranking below every state
save Louisiana. In white iliteracy
the state has climbed from third place
from the bottom in 1910 to sixth place
in 1920, now ranking above N. Mexl-
co, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ten
nessee and Kentucky. In negro illit-
eracy, the state ties with Mississippi
for third place, maintaining the same
position of 1910. While this record
testifes to the work which the public
schools and the schools for adults
have been doing, there is yet much
work to be done before we can rank
with many sister states. Iowa re-
cords the lowest illiteracy, IL per
| cent, while Louisiana records the
greatest, 21.9 per cent. In nine states
less than 2 per cent of the population
was illiterate while in ten states
| (South Carolina included) the per
cent, was ten and over.
Pickens county now registers the
least illiteracy in the state, 10.7 per
cent. Greenville county comes second
with II per cent. while Berkeley reg
listers the highest illiteracy, 3S4 per
ent., with Jasper county next highest.
33 per cent The data for Bamberg
county are as follows: Total No!
illiterates, 2,733, or 1875 per cent.
No. white illiterates, 229, or 4.S per
cent. No. negro illiterates, $500, or
25.2 per cent.
According to the 1920-1921 report
of the state superintendent of educa-
ton 1880 pupils were enrolled in
the 428 schools during the past year.
Thirteen counties (Aiken, Anderson,
Cherokee, Colleton, Darlington,
Greenvi,le, Greenwood, Pickens, Rich
land, Spartanburg, Sumter, and
York; enrolled over 800 pupils.
Spartanburg led the state with an
enrolment of 1,349, Anderson came
next with 933 pupils while Greenville
took third place with an enrolment
of 735 pupils. Only seven counties in
the state reported no work.
Practically 1000 pupils were per-
feet in attendance. In the first grade,
there were 4,130 pupils while 3,436
of this number learned to read. For
instruction of these pupils the state
paid $685. per white pupol and sl.S6
per negro pupil
Some schools were in session
throughout the entire year. During
the winter the work was pushed
among the mill villages and in small
towns while the summer months were
largely devoted to the "lay-by
schools in country districts. The
teaching in the winter was principally
done by day teachers at night while
during the summer special teachers
were employed to devote their entire
time to the work. Schools were usu-
ally taught in the public schools, al
though some were held in churches
and some in homes. Wherever group
of pupils and a teacher could meet,
there school was formed.
The figures just given for state
and county demonstrate the worth OF
the adult work The fact that 1000
pupils did not miss a session signifies
he keen desire of>the adult to acquire
learning. They came to school after
a hard days work through winters
cold and summers heat and strug-
gled good naturedly over their les
sons. Often teacher or visitor
would hear them express genuine re-
gret that they had been deprived OF
an education in youth but they re-
ioiced in the opportunity now given
them by the state and were happy In
the thought that compulsory educa-
ton now makes it possible for chill
dren to grow up with educational ad-
vantages. The greatest good which
is coming to the state from this work
is not to be found in the fact that
many people are learning to read
and write but that the adult pupils
are awakening to larger realization
of their duty to the community and