Arizona republican., 1922-02-27
TOTAL ELIMINATION
OF ILLITERACY IS
HOPE OF EDUCATORS
Arizona Republican:

Arizona Republican,:
At the illiteracy conference OF the
Western states, held under the aus
pices Of the illiteracy commission Of
the National Education association at
the Fairmont MOTEL. in san Francisco.
February and 4, 1922. Mrs. Cora
Wilson Stewart, chairman, presided
About 800 delegates were in attend
anee, representing the IL Western
states. These delegates were repre-
sentative leaders and administrators
IN education and in civic, political and
welfare organizations. An interest
ing feature of the meeting was the
interest manifested in the organiza-
tions for a complete elimination of
illiteracy, not only in the states rep
resented at this conference. but in
every section of the United States.
Apparently without any desire to as
sign special tasks to the educators
and separate tasks to the womens
clubs, fraternal and other organiza-
tiQns, il seemed that each organiza-
tion had this work so well In hand
that each was vying with the other to
do more for the elimination of litter
acy in it's district than any other or
son Stewart, chairman Of the conven-
ton is the originator OF the idea for
complete elimination of illiteracy
in this country, having Instituted her
great work in the mountains of Ken
lucky in 1911, and later having car
ried this campaign into every school
district in the Blue Grass state in the
form of moonlight schools. Her work
had taken such hold that during the
draft in the recent world war our
country was astounded at the per-
centage of illiteracy in our army that
was organized and sent overseas.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Stewart,
after this discovery vas made in the
army, the National Education asso-
citation was interested in her work,
and today an organization is being
effected throughout the United States
for a fight on illiteracy. The confer
ference in San Francisco was the first
great meeting to be held. and Mrs,
stewart is TO carry her work in this
line into every section of the country
in similar manner to the conference
nf the II Western states just closed.
Mrs, Stewart has made some state
campaigns for the elimination OF IL
literacy and she has promised to
come to Arizona within the next
IGN tliOLLI6 anu dSSlSLl III d lllOIOOHI
organization for the effacement of
illiteracy in this state. While Ari-
zona stands about third among the
states in the entire Union in we'll
organized educational system. yet the
number OF illiterateS, according to the
last national census in Arizona is
astonishing in the extreme. OF the II
Western states represented in this
conference, Arizona was surpassed in
literacy by nine. Nearly 10 per cent
of the population of this state were
classed in the 1920 census as Hitter
ates. Several OF the states represent
ed in this conference were reported
with about per cent Of illiterates.
The conference held in San Fran
cisco was a complete success and
great credit should be given Mrs.
Stewart, the chairman. and the ar
rangeinents committee in San Fran
cisco, consisting of Arthur III. Cham
berlain. secretary of the illiteracy
commissions State superintendent
Will c. Wood, of Sacramento: Mrs.
Anna Godfrey, educational assistant
in the naturalization bureau. and Dr.
I'll. F.. Wilson, OF Berkeley, Cal. Ari-
zona was verv well represented by
DR.. Frank G. Lockwood of the Uni
versity of Arizona. and Superintend-
cnt G. r.. Rose Of Tucson.
New Mexico, our sister state on the
east. was very ably represented by
State superintendent John ". Con-
way OF Santa F'e.
An effort is being made by the
three delegates from Arizona to Sc
cure the annual conference in Feb
rualy 1923, Of these II Western
states, to be held in Phoenix. In the
meantime I trust that everv daily
and weekly newspaper in this state,
as also all magazines and journals
will publish these resolutions in full
so that every teacher in the state as
well as clubwomen and members OF
organizations may read and digest
the scope OF the work to be done by
the illiteracy commission, and that
we may be so thoroughly organized
for our campaign to eliminate Hitter
acy from this state until a favorable
report may be made by the delegates