Moonlight Schools for the Emancipation of Adult IlliteratesStewart, Cora Wilson
History
Moonlight Schools for the Emancipation of Adult Illiterates
Stewart, Cora Wilson
Education -- Kentucky; Literacy -- Kentucky
I honor the moonlight school teachers and set a high value upon the
service which they are volunteering to render to humanity and to the
state. May that service enrich their own lives as much as it will
their fellow-men and the great commonwealth of Kentucky.
JAMES D. BLACK,
Governor.
The moonlight school teachers were aided and supervised by the county
illiteracy agents. These field forces had gradually increased in number
since the first experiment was tried out with them in three mountain
counties in 1915. Kentucky meanwhile had made two appropriations,
$10,000 in 1916, and this had been increased to $75,000 in 1918. The
field agents of the Illiteracy Commission now numbered seventy-five.
An institute was held for these county agents at the State Capitol,
where they were gathered for training at the state’s expense. After a
week’s deliberation and discussion of the problem of illiteracy and the
methods of attack, they went into the field with an enthusiasm that was
contagious and well-nigh irresistible. These county agents were men and
women of professional training and high attainments. Many of them were
college and university graduates. They were practically volunteers,
their salaries being only about sufficient to cover their traveling
expenses. What the teacher attempted in her district, they attempted
in the county in a larger way. The story of the campaign made by these
agents, their daily and nightly travel on horseback or afoot, their
valiant efforts to reach illiterates, their ready arguments, their
tact and diplomacy, their enthusiasm and pluck would fill a volume in
itself. The spirit of these leaders and the scope of their operations
are revealed in the following report of a young woman who was one of
this corps of earnest workers:
I am sending you the final report of the work done in Pulaski County.
First, I desire to thank the Illiteracy Commission for extending me
the privilege of serving the best cause in Kentucky, the effort to
teach the illiterates, the most unfortunate people in the world, and
to prevent illiteracy by enforcing the compulsory attendance law.
I am happy to report forty-eight moonlight schools organized and two
hundred and fifty illiterates taught to read and write. Besides this,
one hundred or more are being taught at home.
The people have shown a co-operative spirit and in many districts
volunteered to teach in the moonlight schools. They are anxious to
have this curse erased, as they realize it is a menace and prevents
progress in every community where it exists.
The illiteracy work has had excellent results, many too numerous to
mention, but,
First. It has shown the need of a new educational system where the
unfortunates can be given a chance to learn and advance.
Second. It has increased community spirit, and a willingness to
co-operate in any progressive movement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account