The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-02
5000 ILLITERATES
 TAUGHT ID READ
Surprising Figures Are Dis closed by State Depart
 ment of Education

Montgomery. April 1.---(speciai.)-- More than 5000 illiteratas were taught to read and write during the biennial period of 1919 to 1921 as a result of the drive on iiliteracy of the state department of education. according to surprising figures made public by the department today in connection with a preliminary am nounrement regarding the iiliteracy conference of the southern states which will be held in Birmingham April Il and 1z under the auspices of the illiteracy commission of the National Education association.
 Definite programs in the illiteraey campaign were carried out in 42 coun- ties during the two years and the total number of illiterates enrolled was 7.s4s. Of this number 5,065 were taught to read and write and certifi- cates were issued to 4,7S2. The num- Der enrolled between 16 and 21 years of age was 2,65o. The oldest pupil was S1.
 Teachers Take Part
 Four hundred and twenty-one teachers took part in the campaign
 
 persons. The average expenditure per pupil in the work was s1.9s. In other words 1t cost the state and counties $1.96 to teach a person to read and write. The average school was operated for six weeks.
 Negroes have shown great interest in the campaign for the eradication of illiteracy and the departments announcement said that in many in- s+a ha y@~ d. b failed to appropriate funds to match state aid, negro communities have raised the funds necessary for this purpose and volunteer organizers and teachers have been secured" A negro field agent, J. F. Drake, is employed to work among the negroes under the state director. The Jeanes super vising teachers are in most instances organizers for the work among the negroes.
 Continue Campaign
 Plans for the continuation of the campaign against illiteracy in Ala bama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky. Louisiana, Mississippi. North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten nessee, Texas and Virginia will be mAAe at the nliterAcy conference at Birnin gharn. Delegates hRvs been named by the governors of the various states and all civic organizations, in- cluding women's clubs, teachers as- sociations, press associations, Amer. ican Legion and parent-teachers' as- sociations will be represented.
 Prominent educators of many statss will take part in the conference. among the speakers the morning of the first day being pr. John W. Aber- crombie, superintendent of education of Alabama; J. E. Sewaringen, super intendent of education of South Caro- lina M. l.. Britain, superintendent of education of Georgia and president of the Georgia illiteracy commissions Dr. Patterson Wardlaw president South Carolina illiteracy commission; i; Superintendent J. w, Ramsey. presi- dent .Arkansas iiiiteracv commission, and c. B Glenn. superintendent of the city schools of Birmingham.
 A session devoted csLecial1y to the problem in Alabama win be held the afternoon of April 12. Miss Sarah E. Luther, director of the campaign in Alabama, will lead the program and short addresses will be made by ten of the states active county and city superintendents in the illiteracy fight.