Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-07-23
MARKED DECREASE
IN ILLITERACY
MONTANA HAS LOW AVERAGE;
ONLY 1903 ARE UNABLE TO
READ AND WRITE
Results of Clinic Among Blackfeet In
dams Attracted Nationwide Atten-
ton; Many Redmen Learned to Read
and Write.

MONTANA has 1903 persons o
above 10 years old who are I'M
able to read and write. The state
taught 2,24l the fundamentals of read
ing and writing between 1920 and
1890. During the decade the percent
age of illiteracy in proportion to popu-
lation was curtailed from 23 to IL
per cent.
Returns from 40 states disclose that
Montana ranks 18th in per cent of H.
literates in proportion to population.
The greatest strides in reduction
we're among foreign born whites. There
we're 5.178 foreign born white illiterates
in 1920 as compared with 3,085 in 1890.
There are now less than 1000 native
white illiterates, the number having
stood at 1,067 in 1920 as compared with
932 in 1880. Within the state are but
81 negro illiterates; other races en-
brace 1924.
Although Montana has a small per-
centage of illiteracy as compared with
a number of other states, Elizabeth
Ireland, state superintendent of pub
lie instruction, appointed at the re-
quest of the secretary of interior, Ray
Lyman Wilbur, a committee to deal
specifically with this problem. BY or
ganizing in this way, Montana took its
place among 43 states and the District
of Columbia, which have set up SINH
lar committees.
Stimulating results of the illiteracy
clinic conducted among Blackfeet In
dams in Montana between March 8
and % not only attracted nationwide
attention but added strong testimony
to the already established fact that
neither race, age nor sex is a barrier
in combating i%lliteracy. Within less
than two weeks of actual instruction
236 adult Indians between % and 81
years of age acquired some ability in
reading and writing.
The clinic was conducted under aus
pieces Of the Office of Indian affairs
and the national advisory committee
on iliteracy. 1t was carried on with
approval of Secretary Wilbur, chair
man of the national committee, anG
in cooperation with F. G. Campbell
supervisor of extension work; Forrest
r. Stone, superintendent Of the Black.
feet Indian agency; Douglas Gold, SUI
perintendent Of Browning schools, ant
Charles w. Sellers, principal of Gu
Bank Indian boarding school. A corp
of Is teachers volunteered services IL
the experiment.
The Montana department Of educa
ton sent Miss Regina Kohten, WHIT
was both teacher and adviser. Specia
attention is being given illiterac.
among Indians. With the Indian Of
fee making this effort to teach Ind
ans, Montana can direct attention NOR
particularly to other groups.
Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart, Chairman
of the executive committee of the ma
tional advisory committee on illiteracy
reported to Secretary Wilbur that thes
Indians demonstrated a capacity equa
to native whites in mastery of word
and phrases. Results of the clint
created among Indians sentiment TO
education that is Unreasonable. Stu
dents displayed interest and zeal with
out fatigue or encouragement. 1t wa
an inspiring, yet pathetic, sight to Sc
some men and women 10 years oil
striving to learn to speak English ant
read and write.
The success of the Blackfeet Indial
illiteracy clinic should be a boon II
the nationwide movement encourages
by the national advisory committe
on i%literacy, which Secretary Wilbu
appointed. with approval of Presiden
Hoover, to stimulate states and loca
communities to reduce ilhteracy. tn
committee is composed OF about 100
distinguished citizens and, In fact,
a central organization of state lead
ers. Since the problem OF illiterac
is a local problem, the entire move
ment is decentralized in characte
with the national advisory commute
serving in an advisory and stimulatin
capacity. It is supported by privat
gifts and maintained largely through
volunteer service of public spirited citi
ZenS.