The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-16
OUR DIVERSE POPULATION.
The Public Schools as a Factor In Ameri-
canizlng II.

The Public Schools as Factor In Ameri-
canizlng II.
IL will be In the nature of news to most
people that In one of the Providence
schools OF q primary grade about 80 per
cent. of the little pupils are foreigners
Italians. The Hon. Henry A. Howlsnd,
nonagenarian member of the Rhode Island
Veteran Citizens Historical Association,
gave his fellow mem oers this Information
which he had discovered In looking up
material for few remarks on the sub
Iect, "How to Unity the Diverse Popu
lation OF the United States" which was
discussed by himself, by President Deni-
son, DIR. Guild, Hon. George Il. Down
ing, Secretary Cook, j. II. Brown and
others at the recent meeting OF the ,so-
citation to inaugurate it's winter season OF
similar discussions and good fellowship
Mr.. Howland, who was on the school
committee for 81 years, found striking
evidences of the recent growth of foreign
population by the evidence afforded in
some. Of the schools Of to-day. The Atwell's
avenue primary school was especially re-
ferred to. Here were the little Italians
In mass.
In each room the pupils were in quiet
order attending to their work. and at re-
cess marched out and in like a company
OF well trained soldiers. Miss Cobp, the
principal. told me, said Mr.. Rowland,
the whole number was 272, 243 OF whom
were Italians. The teachers, thought.
have double task in teaching our
language and the ordinary work OF the
school.
Having visited the schools often while
on the school board, said Mr.. Rowland
In his remarks, 1t Is no new thought to
me that pupils Of foreign parents make
rapid progress In learning English.
Teachers In the primary, and interme-
date schools. frequently pointed out to
me little ones who bao made rapid pro-
gress In learning our language. In the
lower grades Of the grammar schools, the
result is the same, though not so fire.
quent think. Last week asked one
of our efficient principal grammar mas
ters how 1t was st his school. He an.
swered as follows: "A boy OF 12 years who
could not speak a word of English, en-
tered the eighth grade, ana In eight
weeks could read and speak the language
well enough to attend to all the studies
of his class. He graduated from the
scnool better than the medium mem bers OF
his class. Another entered at ~, una BILE
to speak a word of English. In six weeks
he understood the language well enough
to do all the work OF the school. After
years stay in Providence he returned
to Roumanis. but the influences OF Amer
lean freedom and American institutions
for education caused him to return. In
four years time, meeting and mingling
with boys and girls in secondary schools
and IN college, he accomplished the
work Of six years." He found that hero,
children of all classes, of all rsiigi ions,
of ell nations, may meet upon equal
termg In our schools. Ability and industry
In all cases have equal chances for attain
ment and position. In monarchial coun-
| tries casts and classes would modify posi-
tion and attainment. The teachers said
these were only a few examples Of many
others.
In The Outlook, a writer. after speak,
Of the 10 different nationalities In East
London, Eng, and the diffioulty to
assimilsts the constantly increasing
stream Of migrants, says; "But Chi.
oago, New York and Boston, have q
| greater task before them, which but I or
the influence Of the public schools,
might fill the bravest heart with despair.
While in little restaurant in New York,
| he overheard q German mother exorting
her son to pat away bis books and to re-
tire for the night. "Don't speak to me
In German" >" he answered.
Unflial and unpatriotic % that answer
may have seemed to the mother, 1t Is
valuable as showing that the public
| schools in Providence a. we'll as In other
| cities and towns are slowly but surely
doing the work OF assimilation, not only
for unity In the English language but
for patriotic ideas with respect for them
| selves and for the rights of others.
This is q subject that ought to CON-
msnd the earnest thought and action OF
all American citizena In my early youth
so years since, the unifying OF popula-
tion was hardly thought OF, In this
country, and was not a problem. In an
oration pronounced at Providence, July
4, 1900 by Jonathan Russell, Esq, he
began his eloquent discourse by saying,
"It 10 q magnificent spectacle to behold
! q great people annually crowdipg their
temples to celebrate the anniversary OF
their sovereignty" rhe question &C.
ours, can we ever again have such spec
tacls of unity2 win our diverse popula-
tion ever crowd the temples united In
one common Joy and glory for our
country?
In the future will the people OF the
United States ever rejoice in the sublime
and triumphant oneness which Mr..
Russell spoke Of In his Grafton, July 4,
iso0Y There is hope that much may be