The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-26
TO TEACH ALIENS
ADVOCATES CITl-
ZENSHIP INSTRUCTION.
Would Have Them Taught Methods of
Our Government in Their
Native Tongue.

DIR. A. 3. Poland, superintendent of pub
lie schools. submitted his monthly report
to the Board of Education last night
dwelling at length on thew ork being done
IN the night schools. He called the boards
attention to a scheme that had been under
consideration by the members of the even
ing school committee for some time--that
of educating the foreign element in their
own language by having competent teach
es give lectures on Gives in the pupils
l alive tongue. so that the strangers on our
shores may gain some idea of our plan OF
government, municipal, State and ma
tional. He said that he heartily favored
the plan because many of the pupils are
or foreign birth and but slightly ac-
quainte with our language.
DIR. Poland called the attention of the
meeting to a law passed last winter at
trenton providing for cache of citizen
ship to instruct foreigners who attend the
evening schools. The expense of this expert
ment would be borne, he declared, equally
by the State n the municipality, the only
requirement being that the instructors
should possess certificates from the State
Examining Board and be familiar with the
language spoken by the pupils in their
charge.
He thought that Newark offered a par
tcularly inviting field for this class OF
work, as in this city there were
seventy-three classes of adults who were
born abroad who attended the evening
schools. or more than In all the rest of the
state combined, not excluding Jersey City
Inc committee on evening schools. he
SAID, has given considerable thought to rho
adVlsability of undertaking this work. We
nave peen ooking for the right instructors
among our stnn of teachers. and find tina.
~ nave three who are proficient to teach
Ina ttnIInn laaCaE 7 It'll ~ : ~LA -.rffI IL
able to fluid three or four more who can
take care OF the German classes.( Alto
gether we would not require more thar
halI a dozen teachers, so the expense wouIo
Now In these lessons the foreign element
would be taught the method of municipal
government, among other things, keepins
IN mind the chief aim of +he work, which
is TO bring him Into closest possible ouch
WIN the customs, morals and teachings
OF American life. He would be taught the
elements or good citizenship; that he
Should aid In keeping the streets clean
observe the police regulations and help
to enforce the law.
DR.. Poland said that since the evening
schools were .naugurated five years ago
the number Of pupils have doubled, the
work quadrupled and the staff OF teachers
increased from Log to over 500. The even
ing drawing school was mentioned as hav-
Ing an enrolment Of 1904 pupils. of whom
- ~ nc ut Qtpdi ttACHtf 81 III LIZ
mechanical department and LAG IN the
architectural department, showing a
growth of % per cent. over last years
enrolment.
The Lincoln School, Bergen Street, and
Hawthorne Avenue additions came up foT
ratification by the board, and resolutions
authorizing the awarding of the contracts
were passed. 1t was also agreed to pur-
chase the property known as $50 South
Eleventh street. from Jacob Bayer fol-
5000. Sometime ago the schoolhouse COM
mittee of the board ~endeavored to secure
a satisfactory purchase price from the
owner. Falling in this, condemnation pro
~ceedings were authorized. The resolution
authorizing these proceedings was re-
scinded last night, however. and another
substituted. purchasing the property.
Another substitution resolution came be-
fore the board to cover a change In owner
ship Of the property at l1-1s Wickllne
: street, purchase Of which had been pre-