The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-11-23

good, Education Week is set for Del
cember 3 to inclusive and will be
observed generally throughout the,
country, proclamations asking such
observance having been issued by
President Harding and the Cover
nors CT the various States.
Proclamation In Full.
Gov. Bones proclamation said: /:
by proclamation, the President .
of the United States asks his coun-
trymen to join with the American :
Legion in the Observance of the :
week of December 3rd to 9th Tin !:
clusive) as EDUCATION WEEK and,
by participation III the exercises in ::
churches and schools aid in stimu- :
lating a universal interest in the :
ccuntry's educational works and :
needs. and thus contribute to en- :
liehtened and patriotic citizenship :
and the making of stronger ami :
happier nation.
therefore, l. Scott C. Bone, Gov :
ernor of Alaska, commanding the :
lofty American purposes and aims
of the movement and recognizing
its important bearing upon the flu
ture OF this Territory whose edn-
cational system, yet in its infancy,
inspires our hope and faith and
must ever command our interest and
support, ask all citizens of Alaska
10 give heed to EDUCATION WEEK
and do their part toward turning
and utilizing it to the fullest meas
urc of public good"
Low in Literacy List.
The United States is eleventh on
the litcracy list of the leading M
lions, according 10 a statement re-
Gently issued by Garland w. Powell. {:
national director of the American
legian's Americanism Commission. /;
Germany leads the world in iiteracy, i;
he claims Other nations with fewer
illitcrates. according to Mr.. Powell, +;
are Denmark, Switzerland. Holland,
Finland, Norway. Sweden. Scotland,
England and Wales, and France in
the order named. !:
The estimate of the 1920 census
showing that more than five mil {:
lion persons, or six per cent of the
American population, is illiterate, is
too low, Mr.. Powell states, because
confession of illiteracy to a census
takcr was necessary to enroll the
person in the list of those who can
neither read nor write. This made ;
it easy for the illiterate TO conceal :
his ignorance, since there was no :
test of literacy. A person who :
could read and write only few :
words was not classified as an il :
literate, Mr.. Powell also pointed out. +:
IN twelve states, the total gain il :
!lliteracy was 117.344 during thei
period between 1910 and 1920.
These states. according to the Le-
gion. are for the most part those
which have received the greatest
influx of immigrants during the last
decade.
The American Legion is appalled,
at tie discovery of Americas low
standing among the great powers
Of the world in point of literacy,
tie Legion's Americanism director
stated The correction of this de-
plorable state of affairs will be one
of the foremost activities of he
Amoricanism Commission.
To Stop immigration.
Among the first steps which the
egion will take are the holding Of
an American Education Week, De-
cen, Der 3 to 8, inclusive, and the
undertaking Of a fight for total ex-
clucion OF immigration for period
Of five years. The Legfon's hope is
to eliminate illiteracy by 1927, ac-
cording to Mr.. Powell.
Starting Sunday, December with
sermons by ministers of all denom-
nations, the Legion's week will be
featured with addresses before civic
bodies and in all schools. Speakers
will touch on patriotism, naturaliZa-l
ton of immigrants. respect to the
aag, better pay for the teachers,
better equipment for the school and
rhysical education Thursday, Del
climber Z, has been designated as
"Iliteracy Day" Among he sub
iects to be discussed are 'Illiteracyl
sc Blot on Our Nation" NO Ill
literacy in 1927" "A Citizens Dutyt
Toward the Uneducated" and No
immigration Until illiteracy amongl
Native and Foreign-Born Is Rel
moved"
The Legion's stand for the five
wear exclusion of immi grants has
been strengthened by the discovery
That the greatest illiteracy exists in
the states where there are the most
foreigners. according TO the Ameri- !
canism head.
In cooperation with the Nationals
Education Association the Legioni
has adopted as it slogan Adopt an
lunterate Today recommending
that its members and either patriotic
citizens teach immigrants to read
and write and to make them fam
liliar with American history, Ameri-l
can institutions and system OF gov
eminent Through this policy, Mr..
Powell believes that radicalism will
suffer a severe reverse since the Rcd
Gross workers have their greatest