The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-11-24

Denmark ..............,........ 2 per cent |
Switzerland ............. IS per cent
Netherlands ............,..- 6 per cent
Finland .......................... 9 per cent
Norway ......-.................-. 10 per cent
Sweden ......................1 10 per cent
Scotland .................. 1.6 per cent
England and Wales ~ is per cent
France ..................-...... 40 per cent
United States ................ 60 per cent
TN Germany the old illiterates are
the mentally deficient people, or
idiots" AS far as England and Scot
land are concerned, illiteracy is prac-
tically unknown. except among few
quite old people who did. not enjoy
the benefits of compulsory education
which has been in existence for some
years."
Should the richest nation in the
world lag behind other enlightened
nations in stamping out illiteracy?
Illiteracy at it's present rate of de-
crease will continue to be national
problem for century. A great many
people seem to think that our litter
acy is found principally in the South
ern states among the cOlored people,
but this is not true. for there are
more than three millions Of white
illiterates in the United States and Of
these, one and one-quarter millions
are native born whites. In several
states the number of illiterates in
creased between 1910 and 1920 in
spite of the fact that the war greatly
reduced the number of immigrants
admitted to the United States during
this period. Can we afford to have
our effectiveness as democracy di-
luted for a century by menace that
would fade before adequate educa-
tional systems?
"a person must confess that he is
illiterate to be enumerated In the
census. No test is given. If per-
son has had even the slightest amount
Of schooling he is not classed as an
illiterate." In addition to the Ave
million illiterates enumerated by the
last federal census, there are other
millions who deserve to be classified
as illiterates in that they lack thai
degree Of educational attainment nee
essary to discharge intelligently theil
/, duties as citizens In a democracy.
BY the test used in the army iur-
ing the war total of 1,552.256 mer
, tested 24.9 per cent. or one out oi
every four were illiterate; this was
based on ,the ability to read and un'
derstand newspapers and to write
letters home, using the English Ian
| guage
Can a nation afford to have q
| fourth of it's young manhood unable
} to read and understand newspaper.
and write letters homer"
Is the degree Of literate ability tha
, We have been accepting too low t.
} guarantee the stability Of demo
cracy? According to the late Frank
lin X. Lane, "The country Is losing
$825 900, 900 year through illiteracy
, This estimate is no doubt under rath
, er than over the real loss. The fed
/ eral government and the states spen,
, millions Of dollars trying to give in
formation to the people in rural dis
tricts about farming and home max
ing, yet 100000, Of 10 per cent O
our country folk, cannot read or write
a word They cannot read bulletir
on agriculture, farm paper, a news
! paper, the Constitution of the United
States, or their Bibles, nor can the.
keep personal business accounts"
Illiteracy is not a problem of thu
South. New York has more Hitter
ates than any other state in the I'm
!, ion, and three of our northern states
contain a greater number of Hitter
: ates than any other three states o
, the Union. That the percentage II
e smaller in our northern states is be
8 side the issue A cancer, whethe
large or small, Is a dangerous tring
t Percent of illiterates native born g
: Percent white native born .....-.25
s Percent Negro native born ........37
Percent OF illiterates foreign born 81
|. Total 10
Are all American children gettin
I an unfettered start in the race OF life
= Is this the equal opportunity guar
anteed to all American children?
! Some Attend Schools
s /. open 200 days year-well or
y ganized and carefully supervised.
r 2. Taught by trained experienced
! mature, well-paid, and competer
+ teachers.
; 3. Conducted in modern, fireprOo
" sanitary and well-equipped building
. Alternately suDplied with I'll