Learning about Adult Illiteracy

I haven’t lived long enough because there’s still so much to learn. For instance, at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society’s convention I learned about Christina Netz Hillius, a German emigrant to North Dakota who didn’t learn to read until she was 62 years old. At first blush, that might not seem a big deal, but the story behind it represented a nationwide movement called the “Moonlight Schools.” 
A lady named Cora Wilson Stewart is considered the founder of literacy education for adults in the United States. She lived and taught school in Kentucky and realized after working with the school that many if not most of the students’ parents were illiterate. In 1911 she invited the community adults to come in for instruction at nighttime. The identifying name of “moonlight schools” became into being because school was only held on nights when moonlight was bright enough to light the footpaths and wagon trails.
Attendance the first night was so large and they were surprised and overwhelmed when
students from 18 to 86 years of age showed up. Students from all walks of life came, i.e. farmers, storekeepers, ministers, what have you. So happily surprised was Stewart that she called this first night “the brightest moonlit night the world has ever seen.”
Now back to Christina Netz Hillius. She enrolled in the Kulm Evening School at the age of 62 and became their star pupil after only 12 sessions. So impressed was the Superintendent of Public Instruction that she toured Christina around the state to speak on behalf of eliminating illiteracy in North Dakota. After a hard immigrant’s life, she found fulfillment to enjoy everything her adopted country offered. Great story!