The Washington times., 1915-06-25
WILL TRAIN ALIENS
IN j. S. CITIZENSHIP
Government Launches Educa-
tionaI Campaign to Prepare
Immigrants.

The United States Government has
launched an educational campaign to
prepare the newly arrived immigrant for
citizenship.
Cooperating with city superintendents
of schools all over the country, the
Bureau of Naturalization Of the Depart
ment Of Labor has worked out a plan
by which the alien who has declared his
intention Of becoming naturalized will
be given a course Of school training
that will teach him not only the
language, but the essentials of citizen
ship.
AS a first step the Bureau of Naturali-
zation has prepared to send to school
superintendents the names and ad-
dresses of all declarents and petitioners
for citizenship in their communities.
Notice also will be sent to all such
aliens that their names have been given
to the school authorities.
School superintendents have agreed
to induce the future citizens to attend
will be arranged to train them In the
responsibilities of that citizenship which
they desire to assume.
Few Attending School.
In night schools In the principal cities
there are thousands OF aliens above
eighteen enrolled. but 1t has been found
that comparatively few Of those seeking
have been attending schools.
"In one Of the principal cities during
the past year over 1900 aliens above
the age of eighteen were enrolled in Its
schools" an official Of the bureau said
today. I'm the same city approximately
900 residents of foreign birth became
citizens by naturalization during the
same time, and there was only a negli-
gible number found in the ranks of those
attending the night schools. There were
no inducements to the candidates for
citizenship to attend these schools, as
the curricula did not include the course
Of training that would fit them to
meet the requirements of the law gov
erning the admission Of aliens to citizen
ship"
Experts Of the Bureau Of Naturaliza-
tion have evolved a plan Of education
that will give the alien the training he
pressed it, the allen body Of the coun-
try will be given a means whereby 1t
may be instructed. and enabled to con-
tribute to a most substantial degree to-
ward its Industrial. school and poLti-
tions to contribute to these fundamental
institutions Of our government; in other
words large portion Of the alien
body will be raised from helpless de-
~
state Of productive capacity"
The Washington schools have taken
an advanced stand in the education of
aliens for citizenship. Not only has
superintendent Thurston promised the
heartiest cooperation in the new educa-
tional plan. but in letter to Deputy
Commission Crist of the Naturalization
Bureau he declares that the 5S2 pupils
of foreign birth in the Washington night
schools last year were given instruction
in citizenship.
I'VE give formal instruction in certain
parts of the United States Constitution" "
Superintendent Thurston said in his
letter; have talks by teachers and
others on citizenship; writing of COM
positions and essays on subjects relat-
ing to citizenship and the advantages
offered by this country to foreigners;
distribution of pamphlets in many DIFF
ferent languages prepared by the Bureau
of Immigration for foreigners intending
to become citizens, and all our teachers
In foreign classes lay stress on teach
Ing the duties and advantages Of Amer
lean citizenship"
There were 342 first papers taken out
by aliens in the District of Columbia
last year, and only a small proportion
OF them, It has been learned. attended
night school: The names of these de-
clarents and those hereafter received
will be sent to Superintendent Thurston
so that every effort may be made to
bring them to the school rooms.