The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-01-19
IN SOUTH
CAROLINA is VANISHING

lioh assisted by the llliteracy Com
mission has made vigorous fight
against the illiteracy which exists in
our State and now that the census
figures for 1920 have been. published
it is matter of just pride that South
Carolina leads the Union I'm reducing
her percentage from 25.7 per cent. in
1910 to 1871 per cent. in 1920. In
rank among the states, South Caro-
lima still maintains the next to bottom
place, ranking below every state
save Louisiana. In white illiteracy
the state has climbed from third place
from the bottom in 191Of to sixth
place in 1920, now ranking above
New Mexico, Louisiana, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee and Kentucky. In no
gro illiteracy, the State ties with
Mississippi for 3rd place, maintaining
the same position Of 1910. While this
record testifies to the work which the
public schools and the schools for
adults have been doing, there is yet
much work to be done< before we
can rank with any of our sister states.
Iowa records the lowest t,illiteracy, IL
per cent, while Louisiana records the
greatest, 21.9 per cent. In nine states
less than 2 per cent. of the population
was illiterate while in ten states
(South Carolina included) 1.-THE per
cent. was ten and over.
Pickens county now registers the
least illiteracy in the State, 1O.7 per
cent. Greenvill county comes second
with IL per cent. while Berkeley reg
lsters the highest illiteracy 38.4 per
cent. with Jasper next highest 33 per
cent. The data for Chesterfield connty
are as follows:
Total No illiterates, Alto or 19. 1
per cent. No. white illiterates, 1,774
or 1873 per cent. No. negro illiterates,
1896 or 2S.4 per cent.
According to the 192O-1921 report
of the State Superintendent of Edu-
cation 1880 pupils we're enreAed in
the 42S schools during the past year.
Thirteen counties (Aiken, Anderson,
Cherokee, Colleton, Darlington and
York; enrolled over 800 pupils. Spar
anburg led the State with an enroll
ment OF 1,SAe. Andersen gealne NEXT
with 933 pupils while Greenvilie took
third place with an enrolment of 735
pupils. Only seven counties in the
State reported no work.
Practically 1000 pupils we're per-
1ect IN attendance. In the first grade,
there were 4,130 pupils while 3,436
of this number learned to read. For
instruction of these pupils the State
paid 1885 per white pupil and 81 SO
per negro pupil.
Some schools were in session
the entire year. During the winter
ehwork was pushed among the mill
villages and in small towns while the
summer months were largely devoted
to the "Lay-by" schools in country
districts. The teaching in the winter
was principally done by day teachers
at night while during the summer
special teachers were employed to de-
vote their entire time to the work
schools were usually taught in the
public schools, although some were
heid In churches and some in homes
Wherever group of pupils and a
teacher could meet, there q school
| was formed.
The figures just given for State and
county demonstrate the worth of the
adult work. The fact that 1000 pu-
pills did not miss a session signifies
the Keen desire of the adult to ac-
quire learning. They came to school
after hard days work through win
ter's cold and summers heat and
struggled good naturedly over the lse-
sons. OFTEN teacher or visitor would
near them express genuine regret that
ehey mad been deprived of an educa-
zion IN youth but they rejoiced in the
opportunity now given them by the
state and were happy in the thought
that compulsory education now makes
1t possible for children to grow IN
with educational advantages. The
greatest good which is coming to the
state from this work is not to be
found in the fact that many people
are learning to read and write but
that the adult pupils are awaking to
larger realization of their dutv to
the community and state. They no lon
ger feel that they never had a chance
and further their example of attend
ing school is causing many persons
with little education to pull down
their books, who, if left to them
selves, would have fallen into illit-
eracy.
| Inc figures compiled from the re.