Illiteracy in Virginia: a social problem

Abstract

According to the United States census of 1930, there were 162,588 illiterates in the state of Virginia, This amounts to 8,7 percent of the total population (1,872,838) ten years of age and over. Illiteracy is s social problem in that it involves social situations, it is a product of group life, it affects a substantial number of people, it constitutes a threat to social well being as defined by the mores of our civilzation and in order to deal with it effectively we must have organized and concerted action. The fact that illiteracy is an important problem is unquestionable. Literacy in part and parcel of the world-wide movement toward more highly developed and integrated nations and people. It is certainly in keeping with the development and extension of democratic institutions. A people cannot at the same time he ignorant and free.