Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-23
|LL|TERATES IN us.
TO LEARN TO READ
| BY SPEEDY METHOD
Government Plans to Teach
liz Millions in Course of
"a Lessons.
STATES WILL LEND AID
IN EDUCATIONAL DRIVE
Needs of Localities Will Be Met
in Type of Schools and Glasses
to Be Used.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.


starting what is probably the biggest
educational job ever attempted in the
world
Americas vast army of illiterates are
to be taught to read and write in "a
lessons.
Wherever illiterates are revealed by
the 1880 census, from the remoteSt hol-
lows of the Southern Appalachians to
the newest settlements of foreign born
In Eastern cities, the work will be
pushed
After months of research, a technique
Of teaching and method of procedure
have been incorporated in a three-part
manual of instruction compiled by DR..
William S. Gray, dean Of the College
of Education Of the University Of Chi
cago, under the direction of the PreSi-
dents Illiteracy Commission.
This manual of instruction, to which
come of the country's foremost educa-
tors have contributed, has been approx
ed by President Hoover and Ray Lyman
Wilbur, Secretary of the Interior, and
will be issued early next week. 1t con-
sists of three parts-one of which con-
tainS directions to teachers and the
other two the actual exercises. One Is
intended for native-born illiterates
whose mother tongue is English and is
based on their common experience. The
other part covers the same ground, but
Is intended for foreign-born illiterates
To Blot Out Hliteracy.
This system, it is believed. will go q
long way toward wiping out the blot
Of illiteracy in the United States, a
pressing issue since rough index OF
the numbers unable to read and write
was revealed by the World War draft.
1t Is proposed to put the plan into
effect through State departments OF
education to whom the manual will be
supplied and who are best informed as
to conditions in their own localities
The plan is described as one that will
enable to illiterate or nearly illiterate
of normal intelligence to carry on cor
respondence, read newspapers and other
printed matter of comparable difficulty
and conduct ordinary business affairs. 1t
is so quick and practical in showing
results after a few lessons that the
great barrier of teaching adults new
thing, encouragement, is expected to
be overcome.
The actual work will be left entirely
in the hands of local educational au-
thorities, who will be free, however, to
call on the national commission for as
sistance. This commission. headed by
Secretary Wilbur, includes Glenn Frank,
president of the University of Wiscon-
sin; DIR. John H. Finley, editor of the
New York Times; Herbert S. Houston,
former Gov. r. A. NeStos of North Da-
kota; Rev. Raymond B. FoSdick, Right
Rev. Edwin v. O'Hara of the National
Catholic Welfare Council, dorado Taft,
Mrs. Ruth Bryan Owen, Senator Henry
j. Allen of Kansas, T. H. Harris, super
intendent Of Education Of Louisiana;
Or. Frank Cody, superintendent Of De-
troit public schools; Marion L. Britain.
president Of Emory College, Ga, and
Mrs Cora Wilson Stewart, chairman of
the Illiteracy Commission of the World
Federation Of Education Associations.
Glasses TO Meet Needs.
Various types of schools and classes
TO meet the needs of particular locali-
ties will be organized, including evening
schools, day schools, instruction in
homes. factory classes, season classes,
intruction in prisons, and instruction
which will be given on request Of such
organizations as the Y. M. G. A. and
American Legion
The foundation of the American plan
IS the teaching personnel as, according
to DR.. Gray, ''the results of illiteracy in
struction are largely determined by the
skill, insight and efficiency Of the
teachers" The type of teacher to be
employed Is indicated in the Govern
ment Manual which says that a rela-
lively broad education is essential SO
that teachers may understand clearly
and deal intelligently with the many
problems of illiteracy work. Through
out it is emphasized that the teachers
are dealing with adults who would be
repealed by the methods used to teach
children The whole problem will be
approached on the basis of adult under
standing and a very considerable de-
velopment Of the mind in other direc-
tons than reading and writing.
Each county, city or other defined
area will be divided into illiteracy dis
tricts as revealed in the 1880 census. A
list will be made of the adult illiterates
in each. Then each will be visited and
classes formed. Those who do not ac-
cept the idea at first will be visited
again and again.
Teach Citizenship.
Once the class is organized the each
er will set out to develop an ability TO
read and interpret signs, simple letters
and newspapers, to write legibly, to
spell correctly the words most fire.
Quently used, and to make out checks
deposits slips. money orders and write
simple personal and business letters.
1.-The fact is widely recognized" says
the Government manual, that the in
struction should develop far more than
mere ability to read, write and spell
and solve simple arithmetic problems
It should acquaint adult illiterates with
the essential duties of citizens and cult
vate pride in good citizenship. II
should stimulate their minds and en-
rich their experience and should reveal
wider opportunities and desirable forms
of pleasure and recreation.
It should arouse keen interest in
reading and determination to continue
their education. These results are
essential both to personal advancement
and to industrial, political and civic
progress.
The nearest approach to this nation.
wide drive on illiteracy has been the
work in China of DR.. James Yen, 6
Yale graduate, who sought to make the
masses of China literate by selecting
900 characters from the complicated
Chinese alphabet, knowledge of which
would enable a person to carry on ordi-
nary business. This could be taught IL
a few weeks. Yen has made great pro-
gress, despite the troubled condition o.
the country.
But the vast difference between tn,
Chinese social organization and thu
still greater difference between thu
principals of the two languages, it j
emphasized, make an exact compari
son impossible. Both plans are alike
however, In the objective of wholesal
conversion of illiterateg to uterateS II