The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-23
demonstrated by the Young Mems Chris
tion association.

demonstrated by the Young Men INNS
ton association.
again. in the education of the immi-
grant and his child, The vocational school
ran he made an effective agency. ZOO
n. any of our people, both native and LOT :
.ign. grow into manhood and womanhooo
without the training necessary for sue
eessfu, performance. of life's everyday
duties. Vocational education. training ior
service, is The. keynote of modern ecu
ational development, and this feature
cannot be omitted in the preparation OF
he newcomer for life in our midst.
"Along with the education of the I'M
migrant should go an organized eHort
upon the part of state and church, each
acting separately, to assist him IN Sc
curing honorable and lucrative employ
ment We should see that he receives
wages that will enable him and his ram
ly to live on a standard not far below
thar of the natives of the same class.
To that end immigrants should be dls-
couraged from isolating themselves ana
settling in communities made up entirely
of foreigners. The problem OF the I'M
migrant, like the problem or the negro
would be less difficult of solution II the
immigrant population could be distrlou-
ted evenly throughout the country. II
is perfectly natural for newcomers, II
left To themselves, to congregate In $50
lated localities. This Is shown by the
fact that large sections OF our great
cities have been monopolized by them.
..If large portion of those who come
N us from other countries come with
low standards of living and low etnlcai
ideals, 1t is because they have been neg
leoted or oppressed In the countries from
which they come; and that fact only
makes our duty all the palmer, and all
the more binding. We are our protner
keeper. and our brother Is our fellowman,
wherever he may be found and what
ever may be his race or color
The Public school
"That American institution which prom
ised to play a greater part than any other
in the solution of the problem OF the
immigrant Is the free public school. UNI
versai education in free government works
wondrous changes. The question 10 wheth-
this agency, the free public school. is 30
organized and administered as to meet
the situation Has there been serious
effort to adapt the school system to the
needs of the immigrant child?
This question. so far as 1t relates to
our own state and section, must be an
swered in the negative, and the same Is
true. probably, OF all other states and
sections. 1t is stated that the reforma-
tories of the country are recipients OF a
large number of immigrant children-that
the number is greatly dsproportionate
to the percentage of immigrant popula-
ton. 1t is stated. also, that the per-
centage of immigrant criminals, youthful
and adult, Is far greater in proportion to
population than that of native citizens.
s'If the statements be true may not
these conditions come from ignorance Of
laws and customs rather than from wide
spread moral turpitude? In either case,
can there be a remedy quite SO efficacious
as the influence of the public school? BY
the public school mean that system OF
education which begins with the kinder
garten and ends with the college or uni
versity.
AFTER all no man can tell what is to
be the result OF our efforts to assimilate
the millions who are fiocking to our
shores-that Is known only to the Most
High But this we do know, that he who
serves feilowman Alright. serves self and
home and country and God.
I'm this faith, let us indulge the hope