Speech #540082061

We not merely thereby provide for the education of the rich and welltodo. but every child who desires an education has access to the schools. and in addition to that we have a compulsory system of education. and it is necessary under our system. in order that any child shall gtaduate into citizenship and become a voter. that he shall be able both to read and write. and I may say that this is a principle which governs largely amongst the great body of the AngloSaxon races. They have a system of public education in Germany. Great Britain. and the other north countries which practically banishes illiteracy. and this is clearly reflected in the statistics with regard to the immigration from those countries. Of the total number of immigrants from Portugal 67.35 per cent were illiterates. from Italy 52.93 per cent were illiterates. from Poland39.82 per cent. from Hungary about 38 per cent. from Russia 36 per cent. from AustriaHungary 32 per cent. and so on down through Greece. Turkey. and other races. until we find when we reach Ireland the percentage of illiteracy is only 7 per cent. and on account of the rapid development of the school system there that percentage will every day be dwindling. In France the percentage of illiteracy is 3J per cent. in England 3.49 per cent.