Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-11-30
BIG ORGANIZATION OF FORMER
SERVICE MEN TO WORK TO
DECREASE ILLITERAcY.
PROMOTES EDUCATION WEEK
Its Americanisn Commission, Under
Director Garland w. Powell, Calls
Attention to Shameful Condition Re
vealed by the World War.
BY EDWARD 9. CLARK

]
Now there is being advocated in
Washington for the whole country a
/ plan for an Education Week" some
/ time in December. From the interest
which is being taken in this matter by
| tarious organizations who know the
! conditions of illiteracy in the United
States and who appreciate its dan
/ gers. II might be said that education
week in the highest sense will be a
safety week for tile American people.
When the American Legion, com
/ posed of former soldiers of the World
war, was formed, it was said that the
organization might not hold together
because il had no definite plan of ac-
! ton in view. The Legion undertook
campaign for adjusted compensation
for the war veterans, and while there
has been good deal of opposition to
the crusade if it SO may he called, it
has kept the Legion members inter-
eSted and busy. Now the American
Legion has Interested itself in an at
tempt to decrease the illiteracy in the
United States. Certainly nobody will
iiSC ~ FbN tiisAA titlN - nbA d NNiAtN
object TO engage the attention of the
men who fought Germany.
Ii was the war which made known
to the people of this country the ex-
tent of illiteracy in the various states
of the Union. 1t is said per cent
of the people of reading and writing
age in the United States can neither
read nor write.
Legion Takes Up the Cause.
One reason why the extent of IL
literacy was not appreciated was that
the records were not properly kept
by the different states. 1t has been
charged that some Of the state officials
did not make proper Investigations be-
fore they made their reports. The
war showed the facts in the case and
Low the American Legion through its
national Americanism commission is
going to do what it can to help in the
work of giving at least what may be
called primary education TO the illit-
crates Of the country.
Garland W. Powell is the director of
the national Americansm commission
of the American Legion He has Just
issued a statement with proper proof
TO show that the United States stands
eleventh as nation of illiterucy com
pared with the northern nations of Eu-
rope. In Germany, Denmark, Switzer.
land, the Netherlands and Finland
there is less than ! per cent of H.
literacy; Norway and Sweden have
l per cent; Scotland, England and
Wales less than per cent and
France 80 per cent. All these coun-
tries have fewer illiterates in proper
ton to their population than the
United States.
1t seems likely that the Education
Week advocated by the American Lee
gion will occupy the days between De
cember and December g. During
these seven days every effort will be
made to induce adult illiterates to at
tend night schools and to induce citi-
zens 10 adopt illiterate adults and chill
dren for educational purposes.
The Legion has many posts in many
states of the Union. The individual
members will be asked to work for
the educational cause and 10 see that
interest does moi lag The National
Education association and the United
States bureau oS education are CO.
operating with the American Legion
10 promote the success of the work.
Millions Almost llliterate.
The decrease in the number Of IL
literates in the United States was very
Slight in the decade 19l0-l92O This |
decade was one Of advance in science |
in literature, in buliness, and In al |
most every one Of American occupa- |
tions. and yet illiteIacy held its own
Attention is called by Mr.. Powell |
to the fact that in addition to the to-
tally nliterate there are millions of
Americans and aliens In the United |
States who can just barely read and |
write. and who are not classed as H.
literates. These people, the Legion be-
lieves, must have more education in
order that they may be able TO dis
charge their duties OF citizenship
In addition TO the illiterates there
are hundreds of thousands OF aliens
in the United States who cannot speak
the English language. These aliens,
1t is said, az RUE form colonies In
large centers where>ihey can transact
all business in their native tongue.
and make no attempt whatever to be-
come Americans The Legion holds
II is impossible for these people to
understand American ideals.
The statement issued by the Ameri-
canism commission says: America
should awake 10 the fact that in these
colonies most Of the revolutionary
ideas and tendencies are born. We
believe 1t our duty as American citi-
zens TO put every ounce OF our energy
into the safeguarding of American ira.
ditions and Ideals"