Produced by David Garcia, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library.) Transcriber’s Notes: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. * * * * * [Illustration: The spelling match.] MOONLIGHT SCHOOLS _FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF ADULT ILLITERATES_ BY CORA WILSON STEWART Chairman Illiteracy Commission, National Education Association; Chairman Illiteracy Committees: National Council of Education, and General Federation Womens’ Clubs. [Illustration] NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 681 FIFTH AVENUE * * * * * Copyright, 1922, By E. P. Dutton & Company _All Rights Reserved_ PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * * * * * TO THE VOLUNTEER TEACHERS IN THE MOONLIGHT SCHOOLS, WHOSE VISION, COURAGE AND SELF-SACRIFICE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BLAZE THE TRAIL FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NATION’S ILLITERATES, THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED * * * * * Grateful acknowledgments are made for assistance and helpful suggestions to the following: Mr. Erwin A. Holt, Mrs. Cornelia Steketee Hulst, Dr. J. G. Crabbe, Miss Linda Neville, General William H. Sears, Mr. Everett Dix, and Dr. Louise McDanell Browne. PREFACE Many requests have come for a book telling the story of the moonlight schools. Teachers have expressed their need of such a book for their inspiration and guidance, and the general public has evidenced a desire to know more of the dramatic story of the origin, development and goal of these schools. “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience,” said Patrick Henry. The crying need of “the lamp of experience” to guide the teachers who are engaged in the fight on illiteracy impels the author to present the experience of years of strenuous campaigning against illiteracy in book form and likewise to show forth the achievements of adults who have passed from the darkness of illiteracy into light through the portals of the moonlight schools. This book is purposely written in simple language and kept free from technical terms. It is a message to the teachers of every land and would be as easy and accessible to those who have had little preparation for teaching as to those who are experienced and trained. Not for the teacher alone is it written but even those who are not engaged in teaching will find a message, it is hoped, within its covers. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE THE MOONLIGHT SCHOOLS TO THE WORLD 1 II. THE ORIGIN OF THE MOONLIGHT SCHOOLS 8 III. SURPRISES OF THE FIRST SESSION 14