The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., March 01, 1926, Page 4, Image 4

March 1926
THE UNITED AMERICAN
Page Four
Ideals In the Workshop of Immigrant Training for Citizenship
By Margaret Shea, Home Teacher in the Stockton School, San Diego, Calif.
cafeteria as the guests of the principal
STOCKTON SCHOOL in San
Diego with its 23 nationalities pre­ and home teacher.
T HE
sented a most interesting problem for The pinatas were
a home teacher. The people of the
district had long looked upon the school
as a community center and upon the
principal’s office as a clearing house for
their numerous difficulties. A friendly
and cooperative spirit greeted the ad­
vent of the home teacher. The prevail­
ing nationalities are Italians and Mexi­
cans with representatives from Greece,
Servia, France, Russia, Rumania, Japan,
Austria, etc.
The Italians are prosperous, working
for the city and owning their own homes.
The Mexicans are mostly day laborers
and rather permanent in view of their
reputed wanderlust.
In addition to the English classes
organized for the women in the homes
and at the school, an afternoon class
in Home Decoration met weekly. The
object of the class being primarily to
convert seemingly waste materials such
as cigar boxes, tin cans, flour sacks, etc.,
into useful and attractive articles for
the home. Lamps were made from
stone vinegar jugs. Flour sacks were
made into colorful tie and dye curtains
and table covers. An interesting feature
of this class was the number of nation­
alities meeting in a helpful manner as
one may paint and dye beautifully un­
embarrassed by a language handicap.
The night school started with four
registering for English and has grown
gradually and added the following
classes: gymnasium for women; boys’
choral club; and dancing class. The gym­
nasium class was most popular repre­
senting many weights and measures and
many gradations of culture. Some Italian
women were eager to dance their native
dances and also instruct the teacher. The
young men’s choral club included a group
of older American born Italian and
Mexican people, who are always a
problem. We hope sometime that this
grofip will have a permanent club. At
present they seem interested, in drama.
A dancing club composed of boys and
girls attending junior and senior high
school meets weekly in the auditorium.
This gives them an opportunity for social
life in their own neighborhood.
The library is open on night school
nights and circulates many Spanish and
Italian books and magazines.
An important feature of the communi­
ty nights has been the cooperation of
prominent leaders among the foreign
born. Representatives from the Mexican
Consul’s office have appeared on the pro­
grams. An Italian councilman and his
wife, prominent civic leaders, have given
generously of their time and hospitality.
One outstanding community evening
was given in December. It was a Mexi­
can Christmas Fiesta, arranged by the
Mexican group. The women came to
school in large numbers for several days
previous to the feast to make cascarones.
Many women came in the morning and
stayed all day enjoying luncheon in the
improvised from
large manilia bags gorgeously decorated
to represent flowers. The Mexican women
attended to the filling and hanging of
the pinatas and had entire charge of
the entertainment. We felt that we
could truly say, “A pleasant time was
enjoyed by all present.”
An Italian member of our night school
became a citizen during the year and
we surprised him with a party and cake
bearing one candle, perhaps a symbol of
one desire fulfilled.
One community evening toward the
end of the year presented a program of
numbers from various nations.
A German night-baker with much
native culture, who had been rather a
social outcast, sang several German
songs. His accompanist was a German
member of the night school who had
recently come to the United States.
Another number was a Swedish dance,
given by two girls, whose mother bor­
rowed the native costumes from the
Swedish lodge.
Songs and readings were given by
Mexicans and songs by Italians.
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot” was
rendered by a group of colored women.
The attendance at our community
nights has averaged about three hundred
and fifty.
An important and interesting feature
of the women’s work was the trips to
places of interest. Several picnics in
Balboa Park; teas at the homes of Amer­
ican friends, visits to the courthouse,
county hospital and clinics, are a few
of the trips taken. Different groups
were luncheon guests of the P. M. Dairy
and given an opportunity to visit their
model plant.
This year we are following about the
same plan, hoping for opportunities to
reach more adults.
A small green house in the alley two
blocks from the school is being used as
a project in home making and as a center
for women’s classes. The women have
papered and painted it. Different simple
pieces of furniture have been made by
the men and painted by the women. The
Casa de Verdi is in its infancy and we
hope to make it a useful and artistic
workshop and hospitable meeting place.
A Christmas entertainment was given.
One feature was Holy Night rendered
in many languages spoken in the district.
Sounds That Way. Anthony: “Where’s
Cleopatra tonight?”
Maid: “Oh, sir, she's at home with
tonsilitis.”
Another of those Greeks, I suppose!”
New Slant in the Old Story. Wilkins
— I got my start in life through picking
up a pin in the street. I was refused
employment by a manufacturer and on
my way out I saw a pin.
Perkins — Yes, I know — you picked
it up and the boss was impressed by
your carefulness, and made you head
of the firm — I’ve heard that story
before.
Wilkins — No, I picked up the pin
and sold it. It was a diamond pin.
— Kansas City Star.
The Modern Version.
Flapper —
Mother!
Mother — Yes, what is it now ?
Flapper — Mother, may I be in the
swim?
Mother — No, my darling daughter!.
Wear your clothes so they’ll cover your
limbs and act the way you oughter.
— New York American.
An Eye to the Future. William had
become the proud owner of a pig and
insisted on having all the care of it.
After a few weeks, as the pig did not
seem to thrive, his father said to him:
“William. I'm afraid you are not feed­
ing your pig enough. It doesn’t seem
to be fattening at all.”
“I don’t want to fatten him yet,”
anstwered the young stockman. “I'm
wating until he gets as long as I want
him and then I'll begin to widen him
out.
—Los Angeles Times.
In Demand. It was a typical Negro
revival service, and the minister had
just appealed to the pent-up audience
to “hit the sawdust trail.”
One buxom young debutante rose and
cried, “Last night I was in the a’ms of
the debil, but tonight I is in the a’ms
of the Lawd.”
Voice from the rear — “Is you gwine
to be occupied tommorrow night,
sistah?”
—Kansas Sour Owl.
He’ll Get It. Provoked Wife (dis­
covering inebriate husband on front
steps fiddling with door knob at 2 a m.)
— What are you doing there, John?
Husband (still turning knob) — Pshh;
I’m trying to get Los Angeles.
— Radio News.
He Needed It. Jim — It took me
about five weeks to learn to drive my
car.
Jane — And what did you get for your
pains ?
Jim — Liniment.
Rare Sport. The airman and his me­
chanic were proceeding along at a fair
clip when the mechanic said: “Look,
there’s a' fellow going down in a para­
chute!”
“Well, so there is,” said th? pilot.
“I’ll see if I can hit him. It isn’t often
we get a chance at an arial pedestran.”
Nobody Home. The absent minded
man arrived home late and entered his
bedroom, where all was dark. Suddenly
he stopped, stiffened:
“Who’s below that bed?” he asked.
“Nobody,” replied the burglar.
“Funny,” muttered the man. “I could
have sworn I heard a noise.” — Tit-Bits.