THE UNITED AMERICAN
JUNE 1925
Page Thirteen
The Massachusetts School Program of Americanization
By CHARLES M. HERLIHY, State Supervisor of Adult Alien Education, Boston, Massachusetts
(Special for The United American) .
'THIRTY THOUSAND foreign born working men
1 and women representing fifteen non-English speak
ing races have been enrolled annually in the public
school Americanization classes in Massachusetts during
the past several years. There were less than three
thousand adult foreign bom in such classes in 1919
prior to the enactment of the Massachusetts State-aid
Law. This legislation provides reimbursement to local
communities for one half the cost of instruction to adult
aliens in English and citizenship.
The splendid growth in this work may be traced
very definitely to the following:
I— Adequate Public Support.
Public appropriations by local communities
and the State Legislature for this work have
been made with a generous spirit each year.
II— Trained Teachers.
Public school teachers in Massachusetts have
responded magnificently to the call for trained
workers in this field. The division of Uni
versity Extension has awarded certificates for
work done in the 15 conference courses to
more than 4,000 teachers during the past five
years.
Ill—The desire, for Schooling on the Part of the
Adult Foreign Bom.
Immigrants representing all nationalities have
taken advantage of the opportunities for
schooling in evening classes, factories, homes
and neighborhood centers.
IV—Special Texts and Lesson Materials Adapted
to the adults.
Experience has proven that the adult men and
women up to the age of 45 will stay in school
if the teaching is good and if the lesson ma
terial is of practical everyday value. Under
the direction of the State Department special
lessons and courses of study have been pre
pared for beginners, intermediates, advanced
and citizenship classes.
Forty cities and towns in this state have appointed
full time supervisors who are responsible for the re
cruiting, organization and supervision of the American
ization classes. In addition, fifty communities have
appointed supervisors on a part time basis where the
local immigrant problem does not require full time
leadership.
Immigrant education has been established as an
integral part of the school system in this state. The
ultimate aim of this work is to insure a better under
standing between the native and foreign bom through
the medium of English as a common language. The
schools alone cannot accomplish this end. Interested
civic organizations, however are co-operating
splendidly with the schools in the task of bringing the
immigrant into closer touch with the social life of
the community.
The State Program of Adult Education in Arkansas
By MISS WILLIE LAWSON, Deputy State Superintendent of Public Education and Adult Education, Little Rock, Arkansas.
(Special for The United American)
. DULT ELEMENTARY EDUCATION began in
A Arkansas with an illiteracy crusade. The Illiter
acy Commission was created in 1917 but because of
strenuous war work and lack of appropriation, it did
not function for two years. From 1919 to 1921 the
organization and publicity work of the Commission
was financed by donations from banks, civic clubs and
philanthropic individuals.
The Legislature of 1921 made a biennial appropria
tion of $13,000 and that same year the Business Mana
ger of the Arkansas Educational Association was made
the Field Director, of the Illiteracy Commission. In the
fall of that year a Field Worker was appointed and
the next summer another one was added to the force.
At the present time there are two field workers
organizing and supervising the Opportunity School
work in the various counties. The work is under the
supervision of the Deputy State Superintendent of Edu
cation. Some states begin the work in one county and
enlarge it into a state-wide program. Arkansas began
her work as a state on an extensive scale and is gradu
ally intensifying it by putting op programs in certain
counties for a specified length of time.
During the past year the Arkansas Federation of
Women’s Clubs has donated $4,000 to the work of
adult education. With this money two organizers have
been kept in the field in certain districts.
Out of the intensive county program in one place
during the past year has come the decision of a city
school board to elect a trained teacher to teach Oppor
tunity Schools (adults from beginners to fifth grade)
during the entire term of 1925 - 26.
So far, the teaching has been done by volunteer
workers. We hope to have this cared for by private
donations this year and by increased appropriation
in 1927.
NOT WANTED HERE
Christian Endeavor World
NATIVE of Europe, a resident of Texas, lately applied
for citizenship in the United States. In connection with
his petition he declared his sympathy with national prohibition
and its enforcement. It appeared, however, that he was the
proprietor of a saloon in Juarez, Mexico, just across the Rio
Grande from El Paso, Texas, a saloon drawing patronage from
El Paso as well as from Mexico. The judge that passed upon
the application for citizenship sensibly refused it. He de
clared that neither good moral character nor devotion to the
principles or welfare of the United States is shown by one
that will furnish liquor to the people of the country, but under
conditions that make it possible for him to dodge the
consequences.
A