Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24

" HE stupendous task to which
the General Federation of
Women's Clubs assigned itself
Il early this year--that of list.
ing and teaching the Hitter
ates of one county in each State in
the Union-has been completed in sew
eral States and in others it is well
under way or contemplated, accord
ing to the chairman of the depart
ment of education, Mrs. William +.
Blackman of Orlando, Fla.
'rnis enormous job was undertaken
upon the invitation of DR.. John j. Ii
CERT, commissioner of edu ,ation, in
the hope that the States would be.
come so aroused that they would take
steps to make the listi and teach
ing campaign nationwide and rid
america of illiteracy before the TAX
ing of the 1890 census. This country
:ow c>-c:Ipies the unenvia5,e position
of tenth in literacy among the nations
of the world.
Clubwomen have had the assistance
and cooperation of school and other
public officials. women of other or.
CARNATIONS and social workers in rem
d2ring this public service.
Maine selected Kennebec County,
the Board of Education contributed
$500 and the work was begun by the
distribution of registration cards in
schools. shops, mills and among social
workers. Over 1900 illiterates were
Listed; then a speaking campaign
among mems and wom2n'S organiza-
lions was carried on to recruit teach
ers; short training courses were held
and the teaching Is being carried on
with such great success that the club
women have decided to list and teach
the illiterates in the Is other counties
of the State.
Pennsylvania is carrying on the sur
Vey in Washington County, where
therI are said to be about Il 900 illit-
crates. The work is being carried
on through the public and parochial
schools. Few white illiterates have
been encountered, but the exception
proved the rule. A prospective pupil
is a prosperous farmer who recently
bought fine automobile, but he can
not get license to drive because he
cannot read. He is anxious to learn.
New Hampshire has completed the
survey of Stafford County, in which
the illiteracy problem is a serious one
on account of the number of foreign
born mill hands. Bankers, physicians.
clergymen. social workers, teachers,
tax collectors, political organizations
anu btSIIISoS HlS1 were uSeU IN SlIJ-
ing out the illiterates, who have been
somewhat reduced in number since
compulsory school attendance went
into effect a few years ago.
North Carolina, which conducted
Its survey in Buncombe County. has
the distinction of having completed
the task first of all the States. There
were 3.S93 illiterates~ listed and teach.
ing by experienced teachers has al.
ready begun, the object being to offer
educational opportunity to every H.
hter~>te in the county within the next
year. The average age in the classes
now organized is 80 years; in some
classes there are three generations
Alabama selected Covington County,
and the clubwomen and the assist.
ance of the teachers and the county
superintendent in listing the filter.
ates. Schools have been located.
teachers employed and teaching be.
gan early this month.
Arkansas has been carrying on an
intensive illtteracy campaign for sew
eral years, and the teaching is well
under way; however, special work is
being done in one county in order