The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-25

Ing. In the limited space allowed only extracts can be given. Mrs. Ellen Mecum, Chairman of com mittee on Patriotic Education. says: It is my privilege, to make my sec ond report for the committee on patri- otic education and it is with great | satisfaction that l can assure you that there has been large increase in in- terest in thls branch of our National work
 We find that very valuable work is being done in the instruction of the adult alien. Lectures have been trans lated and given in Portuguese. Hunga- l rian, Italian, Yiddish and Finnish. In connection with this we may say that as an outgrowth of a state meeting held two years ago in New Jersey when patriotic education was the topic or the session, a most excellent little pamphlet entitled, "A Catechism for Immigrants to the United States was proposed. This gives in very simple language information of much that must otherwise for years be a mystery to the adult alien. Also through the in- terest aroused at this meeting in one Of the Chief Justices of New Jersey, a Commission was formed by the Cover nor to look into the. subject of the in- structions of non-E English speaking aliens in the knowledge of our insti-
 
 the establishment of night schools for particular instruction in the English language and American Government. A law authorizing the establishment of such schools was passed at the last session of the legislature. New Jersey has the distinction of being the first state in the Union to take action in this direction and it is ardently hoped that eventually it may become a National movement
 Our president general spoke before this commission most @loquently of the work undertaken by the Daughters of the American Revolution in patriotic education, making a deep impression.
 In regard to the work among the Southern mountaineers, we are glad to report great activity, and a real awakening to the sense of our responl abilities. From all parts of the coun- try have come most encouraging re- ports.
 Many chapters have taken scholar ships through the Southern Industrial Educational Association of Washing ton, D. c. which we would here state is finely organized and we'll conduct ed body. Most careful supervision is given by them to the schools receiving their assistance and where it Is pos- sible by them in the schools and col leges already established. Their aim is to keep the mountaineer upon his own little inheritance, and teach him how to make a living from it, rather than to allow him to take his family to the milling towns where the chill dren are put at an early age to work in the mills, with most deplorable re- suits Hence they are introducing teachers in agriculture, carpentering, etc, for the boys, and sewing, cooking, weaving, etc., for the girls. Other haf Sb fY'c directly to the schools and colleges es- tablished by different religious bodies. However it goes, it helps along the good work.
 The Vacation School and Playground. with it's garden is being established in many localities.
 So great an authority as Jacob Riis says: "In the development of the small thief into an incorruptibly honest laborer, the garden or farm patch has a foremost place. Give the thief something to own and protect and he respects property rights. Train the girls of our immense immigrant population to home making in every way, putting first of all the getting of a good wholesome meal that will satis- fly the bodily cravings; place in the | hands of the mischievous, ever busy l lad the tools of some craft, and you are beginning the making of good Ameri- cans" These little farm patches have been given out in the vicinity of many cities with marvelously good results.
 Another suggestion comes in the forming of children's Civic Clubs. Even the simplest games of the smallest children can be the medium through which may be taught obedience to law. We have a most interesting report of work of this character which is be- ing carried on among the children of the East Side in New York City Your chairman had the privilege to address the children in the Baron de Hirsch Schools in New York City on Memorial Day. and must bear her tes- timony to the splendid work being done in patriotic education by the Educational Alliance among the Rus sian Jews.
 In the South a great body of women have banded themselves together to make better the conditions of their country schools.
 We find that in almost every state in tme Union, committees have been formed to take up this work of patri-