Evening journal., 1922-01-18
KIWANIANS
JOYOUS ON
ANNIVERSARY
contlnued From Flrst Pare.l

Continued From First Page)
vice president of the club, led in
singing Kiwanis songs. William A.
Corey a former president. gave "A
Brief History OF Kiwanis" and for
mer Mayor William G.. Taylor, also
a former president told What XII
wants Has Meant to Our city"
George L. Townsend, Jr.. gave
talk on "The Growth Of Kiwanis."
William f. Metten. president Of
the Rotary Club. voiced greetings
on behalf OF that organization, and
DR.. Lawrence J. Jones. president Of
the Lions Club, extended greetings
Of that organization.
In his address. Mr.. Lewis empha-
sized the important part which
public schools have come to play in
the life Of the nation. He said:
Il come to you as n representative
OF the civic development department
OF the national Chamber OF Com
merce-a department within whose
field come housing and city plan
ming national civics, immigration
and public school education-enter-
prises whose value 70 the business OF
the nation is inestimable. 1t is OBJ
Wous that, other conditions being
equal, that city will attract the
greatest quantity and highest quail
ity OF business which offers the best
housing the best school facilities,
the most efficient city government.
Business men are thinking more
seriously about education than ever
]
well said. c'that nation only will win
the final victory which is now pre-
pairing for II in its schools. Re
construction is not to be a process OF
weeks or months II was fifteen
years after the civil war before the
economic situation was righted in
this country; seventeen years after
the Napolenoic Wars before condi-
tions became normal in Europe. The
problem is obviously one which in
terest not us alone, but more vitally
perhaps our sons and daughters sit
ting on the school benches today.
"The question OF education, there
fore, assumes a national importance,
which up to this time we have failed
to recognize. And because OF our
failure to recognize it, it came about
that a large percentage OF the boys
who were examined for the draft
could neither Nead nor write. Also.
beNt remembered. that thousands Of
college graduates who offered their
services had to admit when they
were questioned as to their ability
for work requiring absolute accuracy
that they knew a great deal in gem
eral and nothing in particular. This
Is not a proud admission for a coun-
try which boasts equal opportunity
for all. There are in this country
today 5000, 900 people above the age
OF ten who can neither read nor
write according to the census re-
port, and this is obviously low, be-
cause the census enumerators ac-
cept the declaratin OF those whom
they question and make no tests.
The republic is not safe when such
a condition exists. This great mass
Of Ignorance provides a breeding
place for the seeds of discomfort
and destructiveness. lndustrially
p this nliteracy is costly. Lives are
lost; machinery destroyed; produc-
ton decreased, through inability to
read.
Realizing the menace OF illiteracy
to our Industrial and social organ
izations. the civic development Of
the national chamber urges the elm
nation OF nliteracy, first, by means
OF compulsory school attendance
laws so strictly enforced that all
children in America shall learn to
read and write. and. second, through
effective provision for adult instruc-
tion.
4 I'm anaiyzing the amount Of edu-
cation which the average American
child receives, the civic development
department has learned that out Of
every 1000 beginners in the public
schools. go drop out before they
reach the seventh grade. and 76
more before they reach the eighth
grade. II IS essential TO good citizen
ship. that the children OF America
receive more than the bare rudi-
ments of an elementary education,
The civic development department
therefore recommends laws re-
auiring that all children In America
shall have at least eight years OF
schooling. No exception TO this rule
should be made until the child has
had at least six years OF schooling
, and then only for reasons which are
J definitely and specifically stated in
the law.
The business world has much at
stake in the matter OF building in
our schools citizenry which is ply
sically 1T. The times demand men
and women who can stand the strain
Z Of the most trying commercial and
Industrial conditions the world has
Z known. Health is the basis Of efiici.
, ency. with specialized production
, and with the use OF the telephone
I and other time saving devices, ply
1 sical exercise in connection with th'
4 day's work is greatly restricted, and
I as a result there Is constantly in
creasing number who break down ir
what should be the prime Of theii
productive lives.
"During 1917-l91s the health dc
- partment OF the City OF New Yorl
estimated that about 20 per cent. o
. the children in the public schools
we're suffering from malnutrition. o
$4,000 children examined in Detroi
recently. 10 per cent were ten pound
or more underweight and nearly