Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-10


the festoons OF popcorn balls, TO an
American school room. presided over by
. Russian Jewish school teacher. Shades
OF Zangwill. Or. Steiner and Mary Antln
What moSe complete contamination could
be asked Of the Melting Pot. only in
America. under these glorious Stars and
Stripes. could such an achievement be
realized-as Il was in the Cass school o.
Omaha. Just preceding the Christmas hol-
iday vacation.
The Cass school. situated near the heart
Of the city. at Fifteenth ans Casa streets.
boasts what Is known as the "Engraded
Room" with Miss Rose Bernstein. OF
vast experience with foreign-spealing
children. in charge As its name signifies.
this room represents no grade. but here
All immigrant children are introduced
and kept until they have attained a
working knowledge Of the English Ian
guses. Not only arc they taught their
AS and BIS and multiplication tables,
but tho principles OF American citisen-
shin and patriotism arc soon impaired
They learn 20 recognize and conform to
ell established law arc made acquainted
with American ideals and given food for
their ambition. The first steps IN the
taken. the remarkable adaptability OF the
child furnishing the opening wedge.
Under ordinary circumstances. tho I'm
Graded Room is crowded TO the last seat.
but tho war having intcrfered with the
usual arrival OF immigrants.s there are
but twelve pupils in this room at the
present ranging from perhaps 10 TO past
% years OF age.
Morning I'm UnEraded Room.
The following Is faithful portrayal OF
atypical morning in the Ungraded Room;
Frank Maritsas. little Greek boot
black, Is called upon to read. The les.
son chances TO dwell upon the Greek
hero Leonidas, whereupon a smile OF Joy
rests upon his youthful features. DO
YOU learn much of Leonidas in the Amer
ican schools?' inquiries the teacher.
Upon receiving negative token. "of
whom do you Learnt" further questions
Tho teacher Frank. who was facing tho
blackboard wheeled around and raising
Ills hand pointed reverentiy to the por-
traits OF Washington and Lincoln. hang
ing upon the wall. I'VE learn OF them
and other bosses OF the United states {"
he replied.
Then he road further Of the Peloponne-
sus. A look of inefsabie charm overspread
his face. That Is my country. / come
from Peloponnesus." As he went on
reading about Lycurgus. he interpreted
frequently TO tell about the customs OF
the ancient spartans and their ideals.
how they didn't like tho underalzed boys
and cripples in the olden days OF warfare
and that Spartan mothers wept when girl
babies wero born TO them, for they only
wanted boy babies to rear for soldiers.
Oaly Rich Go 20 school.
In my country. school books very ex-
pcnsive. Only rich can so to school.
Here. everything Is free, 1 think in
France must be free school Also" con.
tinued the little Greek.
What makes you think 70, Frank"
que-ied the teacher.
Because there also IL a president, so
must be free. too" expressing in his i'm
perfect mahner that the inseparabiIIty OF
the republic and freedom linked with edu.
cationai opportunities has made a vivid
Impression.
Little Louis Ircontra. a iovabie Italian
chap. is asked to read about Columbus
and the discovery OF America
Because OF your countryman's diacov-
cry. you were able 20 come TO live In
this beautiful land" says the teacher.
'Ah. not only ], but everybody come
from other places. All citizens this coun.
try" tnterpossd Louie.
what will you do for this fiag?'' asked
the teacher.
Fight monosyllabled he, and i'm.
medlately went Off IN Rhapsody OF 81
give my head. my heart and my hand
70 my country, one country. one languag,
and one flag"
As II to supply the inspiration. there
are mo less than six American flags n
this room, placed at different points &c
that In every direction In which the gas,
falls, II encounters an emblem OF oui
country while this inscription is KEEP
permanently upon the blackboard:
There are many flags In many lands,
There are flags Of every hue:
But there "a no flag however grand
Lake our own Red. White and Blue
Learning 10 spell.
Louie Is dismissed. but before wail<inI
10 HE seat. picks up piece OF chalk ans
writes "swender' upon the board. '"rh
rightg'' Is his iaconie inquiry. pointing I,
the sweater which he. wears. While IN
teacher eofrects the word on the black
board 10 sweater the others walt un
disturbed by the interruption. for Il I
not such 70 them. They are learning IN
word at the same time. Satisfied. Loui
Eoes 70 his seat and sets about to writ
a composition on sweater"
Miss Bernstein Is no mean actress. an
accomplished half OF her teaching. es
pecially when the foreigners have Jus
arrived, by expressive motions and gee
lures To simulate anything sad an
puts her hands to her eyes; covers he
ears with her hands TO designate
screechy noisei struts around the roor
like a peacock. feigns the dignity OF
queen. raps on the desk. IN place OF
knock al the door. etc. IN order 10 max
them understand. Indeed. the chlldre
are most voluble. too. In gestures. an
use their expressive hands and shoulder
az only foreigners can.
These representatives OF the four cor
ners Of the globe apply every little b
o. information which they CLEAN TO thei
own lives, coupling II with some past eS
perienees Of their own OF something Z
which thay know. The teacher, 20,
seises every opportunity and uses ever
loophole 10 point a moral OF give theI
proper insight into ethics and ideals
OnIy Trampa Lazy.
The word 'iazy' divulged the "a,
that tramps were lazy. did not want 1