The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-16
By JOSEPHINE NIXON HENLEY

ID NAAVN
 Wonderful visions of sympathy and helpfulness to those who have been forgotten in the onward trend of events, are suggested by the mention Alabama, Miss Sarah E. Luther. di- rector of exceptional education for the state department of education at Montgomery.
 Miss Luther has been a distin- | guished visitor in Birmingham this week during the Illiteracy convention and the meeting of the Alabama Ed ucational association.
 One of the interesting things of 1 this illiteracy conference" said Miss Euther. ifs that a number of men from Marion county, who have been 1 educated for the past two years in adult schools, are In attendance, One of them, MT, R. r. Palmer, made an address at the meeting of Wednes- day morning. during which he said; I never had no chance to go to church until I went to the adult school. I learnt a whole lot, and I wouldn't take the world for what I learnt but I expect to know a heap more enjoy my spare time now and rainy days because I can read the Bible, books and papers.
 This man was perfect in his at tendance, and has six children. whom | he Is sending to school and who have never missed day
 Tt Is the most promising feature of our work that these people appreciate the importance of school for their ] children"
 That these men and women in their efforts for some degree of education should have the advantage of per- sonal association with a woman like Miss Luther is a marvellous insnira- tion of them. A woman of high lfter- ary attachments who has done mag nificent work for the state as head of me English department in the State Normal school at Troy. principal of the Conecuh High school and for 1 5 years member of the faculty at the university she Is yet so unassum- ming and gently direct in her speech and manner that immediately upon meeting her one gains the impression Of an old friend. with whom one had perhaps been conversing yesterday.
 The division of exceptional educa- lon' subject to the approval of the s,ate superlntendent of educa tion. has charge of the organized work of the state board of education fo1. the re- moVal of illiteracy in Alabama If is a most forward looking ideal that the state should recognize it's duty to of Ter educational advantages to all It's 1 citizens of whatever age
 ihe work for removing iiliteracv in Alabama was inaugurated in 1915. when the legislature created an H. 1 nteracy committee to consist of seven people appointed by the governor. whose duty II should be to co-operate e With the educational forces of the state in this greatly needed work.
 It was definitely connected, from the first, with the department of education and the state superintend- ent of education was made exocu- tive secretary. This commission worked without compensate and no Funds were appropriated for the prosecution of the work.
 voluntary contributions in small and large amounts were made by philanthropists. woman'sa elubs schools and individuals.
 When the draft of 1918 revealed the alarming amount Of illiteracy among men of the draft age. it was decided to make more intensive campaign. To that end the state council of de- iense was called upon for aid and a | each of the congressional districts of the state and two extra state organ izers. MT. H.. o. Bowling and Miss Sarah, Luther.
 After the armistice was signed the necessity of work among the soldiers was removed and 1t became more gem eral.
 The legislature of 1919 gave to Ala hama a school code and an educa- tlonal program, which is said to be unsurpassed by that of any state in the nation. One important act was the abolishing of the illiteracy com mission and the placing of the re- moval of illiteracy as a part of the state educational system. The work was then placed in the division of exceptional education.
 l The books used in these schools for adults are simple, but simple from a grown persons standpoint. and make an appeal from the adults added ex- perience and knowledge.
 In addition to the regular work