Street fests and Fines for Illiterate Nanking, May 9.
Iiteracy will be punishable with Hines a year hence, if a scheme drawn up. by the Municipal authorities is carried out. The City Government has announced that, between now and [April 30 next year, vigorous mea sures will be enforced to reduce literacy in Nanking by at least 70 per cent. It is estimated that there Bre $70,000 residents between the ages of six and 50, or. roughly. 50 Jber cent. of the capital's population, Who are unable to read or write.
The latter now are called upon to learn a. minimum of 1,000 Chinese characters before May 1, 1996, after which date anybody inthe streets, with the exception of foreigners, may be asked by policemen to explain a lesson in the Chinese primer "One "Thousand Characters." "If he fails, a fine of one copper—"the Ignorant People's Tax"—will be collIeeted on the spot, while heavier fines will be imposed on those responsible for the person's education.
Under the new scheme of compulsory education, the head of every family is required to see that all members. between the ages of six and 50 are able to pass the test. Shop and factory owners likewis> will be held. responsible for their employees. Another feature of the Scheme is the establishment of "cultural cells," charged with the {task of teaching the illiterate, All middle school students are "cultural fells," and will not be able to granate without having rendered assistance in the mass education movement.
'Newspapers, motion pictures, and the radio all will play their' part {in the campaign. Chinese newspapers ore urged to conduct a dally columnr, for the benefit of the less educated, while radio listeners may tune in ai specified periods to receive simple les
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.