Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
TEACHERS OPPOSE
W|LBUR'S PLAN TO
TEACH |LLITERATES
Condemn Procedure of Hoo
Ver'S Committee as Edu-
CationalIy Unsound.
HOLD METHOD WOULD
SERIOUSLY HARM CAUSE.
Aver Finest Citizens Will Regard
Movement "as but q Political
Gesture"

Conoemnng the procedure In the
present illiteracy campaign as educa.
ttonally and socially unsound, the
American Federation of Teachers today
submitted to Secretary Of the Interior
wilbur, who Is chairman of the Presi-
dents National Advisory. Committee on
nliteracy, a virile protest against what
It terms the Superficial psuedo-
efficient methods" which the Secre-
tary has authorized
The protest was presented in q letter
addressed to Secretary Wilbur and
signed by Mrs. Florence G. Hanson of
Chicago, secretary OF the teachers
federation.
Addressing itself at the outset to the
recently announced plan of reducing
illiteracy in the United States by the
administration of q course of "a les
sons during an approximately six-week
period, the federation of teachers de-
clared that such procedure would
definitely and seriously harm the cause
Of nteracy.
Challenge Wisdom Of Plan.
1--WE challenge the wisdom Of an
nouncing to the Natinn as q whole
through the public press" the letter
sets forth. that an absolute literate
can be given the power to read news
paper and write letters by taking q
short course of lessons. (The manual
suggests "a lessons) We also definitely
state our belief that If this is done
within the next six weeks, as has been
announced, and that il people who have
learned to write their names and read
q few stumbling words in the news
paper are to be clasSed as nterates, and
our place in the literacy of the world Is
70 be raised thereby, the cause OF hteracy
Will be definitely and seriously harmed.
This announced method, the letter
continues. sis so unsound socially ana
educationally that some OF our nnest
citizens will despair of the movement,
and regard it as but a ponucal gee-
ture." Again, the teachers ask II serl-
ous-minded persons" may not very
validity question whether this cam
paign is truly one to help the llliterate,
or whether it Is but a means OF en-
ehlino those who are at present Hitter
ates to cover up their illiteracy when
the census enumerators appear in
April"
The federation expresses itself as
mindful of the survey which is being
made on the entire question OF aouit
illiterates and asks If 1t would not be
"safer, and certainly saner to allow the
work which is being done to be based
on the findings of this survey rather
than to hurry through a superficial,
psuedo-eflcient, campaign which by
enabling men and women TO write their
names when the census enumerator
comes will deny them the opportunity
of becoming nterates and better cit
izens."
Asks Definition Of Literacy.
H.. a. lakk Sare
q definition of "literacy." declaring
that If the term implies the ability to
write ones name and TO read few
especially learned words "the program
IS greatly simplifed, but in no way VIII
prevent our having q large percentage
Of iiliterate population" Continuing,
the teachers assert:
I'VE must endeavor to do away with
programs which hold up the illusion
Of Iiteracy and We must definitely stand
for the fact of literacy. We want peo-
ole who can really read and that means
undoubtedly that the reading habit
shall have been definitely established"
Commenting upon the plan Of an
nouncing q higher percentage OF lit
eFacy after the 24-lesson campaign, the
teachers contend that 'if we are claSsed
rs the most literate nation we shall not
be able TO conduct q true educationai
ULUkK6Ul 10 CoLdBA1ol 4C0A fANCA oNyB
cause there VIII apparently be no need"
Continuing, they advise the Secretary
Of the Interior that If thousands Of IL
Hterates will have been assured that
they can learn to read and write by
taking a short course OF lessons, the
encouragement and establishment that
viii follow in the majority Of cases VIII
plunge these people INTO q state SO
much darker that there will be no nope
for them"
True Statement Of Conditions.
LET US have a true statement of our
ceplorable condition in the 1880 CEN
EuS" the letter TO the Secretary asserts:
"snd let the National Advisory Commits
sion on uliteracy work out a program
fitted 20 the facts obtained from this
statement and based on such scientinc
research OF the adults ability TO learn
as Ta0rndike's experiments IN acult
learning. In which II Is shown that me
s6ult can learn with approximately as
great speed as the adolescent child, put
not more rapidly. Only me mtellec.
ts1sI giants can master reading ano
writing habits in a few months. Inc
average child does not have power 10
read comprenensively, an article COM
prsSsns a miscellaneous vocabulary, IoI
several years"
Commenting specifically upon the an
no1nceo course for lliterates, tne req
Grafton Of Teachers points out that IN
lesson four, which is after one-sixtn
% the course as planned Is over, you
stiu instruct the teacher TO have stu
dents trace copy and copy their OWE
names" They contend that many hit.
crates can trace and copy words, anc
continue, Yet IN lesson six. In whict
you stil continue to have the student
trace copy, you have the students trace
the sentence, I can read and write.
And sir, this Is In lesson six, after one
fourth Of your course has been com
pleted"
The letter concludes with the brie
complaint that although the nationa
advisory committee on illiteracy. o
which Secretary Wilbur is chairman
includes many men and women
national repute, IL docs not give prope'
recognition To the class room teachers
20 the men and women who have dom
the greatest amount Of actual teaching
Sn the field Of adult nliteracy.
The American Federation OF Teach
erE. with locals In practically ever.
State IN the Union, is amhated will
L. NJ a