The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., June 01, 1925, Page 10, Image 10

Page Ten
THE UNITED AMERICAN
JUNE 1925
Bringing America into the Home and Courts of Delaware
(Special for the United American from a Delaware Americanization Worker)
<<T WOULD speak to you for foreign-born mothers and
1 home schools. We are about six thousand foreign-
born mothers in Delaware State from Italy, Poland,
Russia, Greece and other countries. Our children are
about twenty thousand, almost, all born in America.”
Thus writes a foreign-born mother of advanced
years, who is an ardent student and a strong champion
of the schools for foreign-born mothers in Delaware.
In 1920 these mothers could not speak or read
the American language. They lived in a state of isola­
tion. Since the opportunity to attend adult schools was
furnished them, thousands have learned to understand,
read and write the language of their adopted country,
the native land of their children.
The home school for mothers, which is under the
direction of the Service Citizens’ Americanization
Bureau, sent teachers into the homes and organized
classes. The result has been that these mothers now
are able to take up citizenship studies and become
naturalized.
Three hundred members of the Delaware America­
nization schools made a pilgrimage in May 1924 to the
National capitol and had a group photo taken on the
White House steps. At Washington they were met by
prominent government officials and the occasion
furnished many rare incidents which depicted the
pride, devotion and fervent patriotism with which these
new citizens and citizens in the making were imbued.
The spirit of public interest that has been aroused
in the state of Delaware has created a consciousness
that the foreign-born will become good, bad or indiffer­
ent citizens in proportion to the interest in their natu­
ralization that is manifested by the Americans of the
community.
This spirit is perhaps most clearly seen in the court
of United States Judge Hugh M. Morris, when natu­
ralization hearings are held. Anyone present at such
hearings either as a visitor or as an applicant will never
forget the solemnity and fitting attention given all such
occasions.
Briefly one new citizen recently described the
scene:
At the back of the Court Room is a guard of honor com­
posed of a hundred or more members of the Caesar Rodney
Citizenship Alumni Association, wearing regalia of the national
colors and each bearing an American flag. Facing the Judge’s
bench and the Clerk of the District Court, are seated the
successful candidates for citizenship, while the sides and back
of the room are filled with spectators, mostly friends and rela­
tives of the new citizens. As soon as the Judge enters the
Court, everybody stands, and do not take their seats until the
judge has done so.
After everybody is seated, the Oath of Allegiance is ad­
ministered by the Clerk of of the Court and I do not think
there is a more solemn moment in the life of any man or
woman citizen as the one when, he swears allegiance to his
new country to protect it against all enemies within and with­
out, honor the flag and obey the laws laid down by the Con-
stiuation. Next follows a deeply noble and patriotic address
of Welcome by the Judge, and the certificates are handed to
the new citizens. After this Judge Morris asks that the
Caesar Rodney School Flag be presented to the new class. You
see the Color Guard, generally eight of the new citizens, march
into the court room and behind them carried aloft with slow
and measured steps is “Old Glory.” Speeches of presentation
and acceptance are made. Everybody stands at attention and
pledges allegiance to the flag. No sooner is the last word
(Continued on Page Forty-seven)
“Never too Old to Learn’”
Four Grandmothers, 83, 73, 65, 63 years old have their first English' lessons in the Wilmington Home School this year