The Arvada enterprise., 1924-02-28
PLAN is TO REACH
ALL ILLITERATES

The American Legion was the chief
factor in broadening the scheme for
adult education at the recent confer.
ence, aimed at elimination of illiteracy.
held in Washington, declared DR.. Ho-
mer Seerley, president of the Iowa
State Teachers college. delegate to
the conference.
Chief among these recommendations
were those for provision Of more edu-
cation than now provided, particularly
In regard to matters Of citizenship.
which will be brought about by an in
vestigation as to competency of every
native-born citizen as fully as the for
eign-born Is examined. Doctor Seerley
said.
Another feature of the conference
was the report of Group c." that Sec
ton of the work in which the Ameri-
can Legion was most vitally interested.
Garland w. Powell, national director
of the Americanism commission of the
Legion. clearly enunciated the aims of
the conference at its inception when he
said. as chairman of that group:
I'VE believe that the chief aim Of
this conference Is to provide that every
man and woman in the United States
who cannot already do SO be taught to
speak, read and write the English Ian
guage. We further believe that the
arst elements Of citizenship should be
a part Of such instruction"
On this was the principal work vi
the conference founded. An attempt
had been made by elements Of the con-
ference to make combating Of litter
acy apply only to native-bOrn Ameri-
cans. but the Legion and other agen-
cies. cooperating in Group c, declared
against this, aiming to bring those Of
foreign birth into the scope Of the cam.
paisn.
The recommendation Of the group in
which the Legion participated was that
the United States commissioner of edu-
cation be requested to appoint COM
mittee Of at least nine persons, with
professional experience in this field,
Group c of the llliteracy conference.
for the purpose Of reviewing the ma
terials submitted by Group G Of this
conference and forwarding the results
| Of their work to those engaged In illit-
eracy work In the United States. It
was further recommended that the
commissioner secure representatives
Of the entire country on this commit
tee.
The report Of the subcommittee Of
this group on textbooks and materials
urged use Of certain principles In selec-
ton Of textbooks for instruction. These
principles include texts that conform
to the ability Of adult students; that
do not violate psychological principles
Of suggestion: that conform to accept.
ed methods Of teaching; such text
should contain fundamental items OF
Information on health. food. hygiene
and sanitation; with suggested texts
for specific groups Of native-born hit.
crates. foreign.born illiterates and in.
terinediate and advanced texts for all
groups.
Consolidation Of rural schools d
growing in favor. according to the re
ports to the conference. One-roon
schools are disappearing. data showing
that 1928 consultations were effected
in the school years Of 1921-18o2, with
IA states not reporting. At least foul
Of these states are known to be making
considerable progress in the work o1
eliminating single small schools. II
some cases these are being improved
not by removal to a distant central 10
cation. but by natural growth In tive
and three-roOm schools. There wer'
800 consolidated schools In the Unit
ed States In 1920. There are now up
proximately $4,000 Of such schools. an,
decrease Of $500 one-room schools Il
noted in the thrce-year period.
All this has had salutary effect OF
the salaries Of school teachers. result
ing. In turn. in higher mentality for tn,
teachinE profession. Beginning Of II
literacy Is traceable, In many In
stances. to rural schools where Incom
petent teachers and insufficient super
vision have prevailed.
The conference on illitcracy, callet
by the Legion. was the first national mt
tempt to settle on some means fo
eradication OF Inability to read nnt
write the English language, much o
which Is to be found among illiternt,
immigrants, md native.born negroes
and whites In certain sections OF tn
country. The Legion's part In callinI
OF the conference was determined b!
the national program Of education, re
indorsed by every succeeding nationn
convention since the first meeting II
Minneapolis.