Evening journal., 1915-12-24
English for Foreign Born
Women Also, Local Plan

The naturalization Of the foreign
born man in this country makes his
wife and minor children American
citizens. Young children must so to
English-spealxing schools. or at least
must be taught "in English' In com
uliance with the educational laws of
the various States. OF the women
and elder girls no English Is required
I'm the formal process Of naturan1a-
tion so that Il is a question almost al
WAYS of initiative, opportunity, ana
previous education as to whether they
acquire the new tongue. The situa-
ton which arises in the Immigrant
family under these circumstances is
one which, only needs to be under
stood TO rouse greater interest IN pro
viding for the foreign-born woman
ADEQUATE opportunities to learn the
American language and the American
standa is of living.
This situation Is demonstrated by
MANY families in Wilmington. Mr.. B.
and his wife who have been in this
country ten or fifteen years have iiVe
children OF school age. The husband
has been naturalized or is about to be.
To this end he has acquired some
English. and his WORK In a large shop
has brought him i'm contact with many
Americans. This means nothing TO
his wife. however. for hnr husband
comes home late from his work and
has neither energy nor inclination 10
impart his now knowledge TO her. The
children 90 TO the public schools and
sneak English fuently among them
selves. The mother. who has taken
boarders tof her own recel since the
FIRST wear In America In order To help
provide for her increasing family ana
who does all the work, knows hardly
more than a word of English and In
ali the years has never talked with
an American woman or been inside an
American home She tries TO repro
duce the home she left in Europe and
TO teach her children the traditional
courtesy md hlial pride of her race.
She fails. not only TO her own un-
happiness but frequently TO the detri-
nent of the community and the ruin
of the ildre2.
MANY of the children who are being
dealt with in the courts and by private
corrective agencies come from lust snch
homes. The initial difficulty has been
one simply of the English language The
children posscss It. and with IL Amer.
ram IDEAS and standards. The mother
does not and TO them she appears I'M.
capable and annoyingly stupid kng
lish Is 10 them a defense against her dis
cipline. and weapon TO use against
her Frequently the immigrant woman
would like 90 learn English. but IL
ashamed 10 bc taught by her children
and cannot seek other opportunities On
account OF her work. For the latter rea
son also has little or no social lit
among her own people
This Is one type of family; there ar
others in which the possession OF Eng
lish by the mother or by the grown sir
who mus 20 outside the family TO work
is Just as badly needed. Competition
with American girls in shops and factor
les is full cf trials for the foreign cir
Her attci Is at English are met b.
gales Of laugl ~ aud often sne become
either shy and sensitive or rcscntful an
preudiccd against her American neigh
bors. Neither attitude is likely TO hcl
her toward making the most OF wha
America cam give her.
Many foreign women in Wilmingto
understand English fairly well an
especially II educated before the
came TO America are often able I
read and enjoy English books. bu
find in this country no opportunitie
to speak the language. Night school
n special day school classes in som
cities have met this need and throug
the public school teacher who be