Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-06
NAMES PROBLEM
WITH ILLITERACY

boston, Mass, July o (SpeCldl)-
DR.. Augustus 0. Thomas. State su-
perintendent of schools for Maine, in
an address here today before the
commission on Illiteracy of the Ma
tional Education association at it's
annual convention, declared that
Names people have grown up with
the spirit of travel and adventure
which has sent her. sons and daugh-
tiers into every state in the union as
leaders in business enterprises and
in the professions.
Maine is borderland of the I'M
ion, she touches but one other of her
sister states. she is the eastern 'front.'
Ter of the nation and even yet a
pioneer state" continued DR.. Thorn
as
Her vast resources in forestry, in
fishing, in manufactures, in agricul-
ture and in commerce have not vet
been sounded to their depths. Her
stalwart, substantial people with
their rugged health, their stalwart
character give Maine her own pecu-
liar atmosphere and her very definite
individual status.
"Maine's people have grown up
with the spirit of travel and adven-
ture which has sent her sons and
daughters into every state in the I'M
ion as leaders in business enterprise
and in the professions.
situated by the sea with its arms
reaching into the interior, with her
population ranging these natural
highways, her people for genera
tons have looked out upon the sea
and have viewed with longing the
high masted and white canvassed
ships as they have weighed anchor
for every known port in the world.
1t is not strange that they should
have something of a rowing DISPOSE
ton, of an adventurous nature and
of bold. courageous character.
The rivers had to be harnessed
the forests felled and the farms
cleared of stumps and stones and
then fortified to make them produc-
tive. The people from the time of
the first settlers have been the per-
sonification of industry and toll and
therefore represent that great back
bone of stalwart American citizen
ship.
while the people of Maine have
gone out into the other states of the
union in large numbers we have
called upon our neighbors to assist
us in developing and carrying on our
industries. We have two outstand-
ing settlements of very valuable citi-
Zens who by nature speak another
tongue. These settlements were es-
tablished nearly $50 years ago by the
Acadians. The other is the Swedish
settlements in northern Maine estab-
lished about 80 years ago. Both
types are sturdy, Industrious and
patriotic citizens. The earlier set
tiers among the French people did
not have educational facilities such
as they desired and many of the
older generation have not learned
the English language, but the young
er generation are universally able to
read and write English, and good
schools are maintained. These peo-
pie are as thoroughly American as
any of us. They are barn Americans.
They love this country, it is their
country. They sent their sons and
daughters to the war. They are now
conducting evening schools for adults
even in country places.
THE census of 1910 gave Maine
"A, 554 iliterates. The census of 1920
gave her 20,24O. In 1910 our per-
centage was Al, in 1920 it was 33 a
rather substantial reduction. but not
so great as we hope to make it when
the next census is taken. The fact
that our rural population shows a
higher percentage of illiterates than
our larger cities and villages indi-
Gates that our problem is among
those who have come OF US from
other lands more recently to engage
in our industries. Our program calls
for the instructions Of 1000 litter
ates each year for a period of five
years. We have IS centers and will
carry the work wherever there is
need. The city of Portland has some
of the most interesting work. In one
Of the Portland evening schools last
winter - nationalities were repre-
scented. / do not find that it Is diff
cult to get people interested in night
schools. In fact, in many places they