Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-11
Mes;co War on H;teracy;
What of the United States?

a DVOCATES of public education as an
~ aid to good government and social
progress will be keenly interested in
the news that whereas year ago more IMAM
eighty per cent of the privates OF the Mexican
army were illiterate, today the majority or
them are not only reading and writing put
also are receiving instruction in geography,
history, arithmetic, grammar and GIVES. IN
these, as in the two elementary subjects,
writes correspondent 1.-The progress OF the
pupils is remarkable So great IS the en-
thusiasm that some of the regiments have
furnished at their own expense all the ma
terials of the school room"
Had this process been started two genera
tons ago, how many page OF Mexican MIS-
tory would have been white or golden instead
of red! How much less of wasteful revolu-
ton there would have been, and how much
more of fruitful growth! To the 1lllteracy
of the Mexican masses students or that coun-
try attribute a large measure OF It's futile
restlessness and disorder. Lacking both the
information and the power of clear judgment
essential to effective citizenship, the people
have heretofore have been prey to all man
ner of political adventures. They have en-
dured oppression which an informed ana
thinking electorate would have cast off forth
with; and they have encouraged strife When
the country's supreme need was peace and
generous co-working. The surest promise
that this condition of affairs shall cease is the
fact that the Mexican soldier and the Mexl-
can child are at last being Vouchsafed the
primary means to free and enlightened think
ing.
+ Americans while rejoicing in this happy
omen for their neighbor. will do well to
ponder certain facts concerning illiteracy in
their own land of bountiful opportunities.
In the late war our army draft boards found
that as many as twenty-five per cent OF the
men called to the colors were unable to read
the language in which the Constitution is
written, and unable to write their names on
a ballot. This was the record, not for par
ticular regions or isolated districts, but for
the country as whole The impression that
illiteracy is a problem peculiar to the South
is fallacious. 1t was Congressman Foss, or
of Ohio, who pointed out a few seasons ago
that there were more illiterates in New York
state than in Georgia, and more in Pennsyl-
vania than in Alabama According to the
Federal census, Fall River, Massachusetts,
has an illiteracy percentage of eleven and
nine-tenths, as against five and four-tenths
for Houston, Texas; Bridgeport, Connecticut,
has six and nine-tenths, as against five and
six-tenths for Richmond, Va; and New Bed
ford Massachusetts, twelve and one-tenth, as
against six and six-tenths for Atlanta. (The
figures themselves doubtless have altered
somewhat in the last year or, so, Atlanta's
percentage certainly having been reduced,
but the general proportions may be fairly as
sumed to- be the same.) In contrast with all
these cities it is interesting to note that Den
yer, Colorado, has an illiteracy percentage Of
only one and nine-tenths; Minneapolis, Min
nesota one and two-tenths; Salt Lake City
Utah, one; and Spokane Washington, only
eight-tenths.
The marked difference between these two
groups of large cities is explained largely by
the fact that those in the Northeast have
large foreign-born populations and those of
the South large negro populations, while the
Western communities are notably free from
such liabilities. But the figures serve to
show that illiteracy is not a sectional prob
lem, and not racial problem, but nation
al problem. There are upwards of a million
more white than colored illiterates in the
United States. And there are some four mill
lion illiterates who are native born.
Here, assuredly, is task to which educa-
tional forces, North, South, East and West
may we'll be mustered. For proportionally
Americas gain from wiping out this blot in
her 'scutcheon will be as great as Mexico's
from bringing her own darkened millions to
the light 1t has been conservatively reck-
oned that our nations economic loss through
illiteracy amounts to eighL hundred and
twenty-five million dollars a year. So much
and the social loss! More, think of the vast
increase in national efficiency, the vast rein
forcement of national character. when we
have not merely banished illiteracy. but
have vouchsafed to every child and youth OPP
portunities for as thorough and extensive an
education as each will take!
This is the greatest and highest end to
which Thoughtful patriotism can be dedicated
and in so much as it is attained, to that de-
gree largely, will our democracy go forward
and deserve to survive.
Tn