Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-05-12
3 Ryra SarNferWnslow

lIEWNlI These questions are very important
these days. The problem didn't
amount to much long the bulk of immgra-
ton came from western Europe-from Germany
England, Ireland. France. Norway, Sweden Den.
mark In fact. America sorey needed these sturdy
folk. who came here to be one with us under the
Stars and Stripes.
But of late years most of the immigration has
been from Russia. Italy. eastern Austria European
and Asiatic Turkey-and the Lord only knows
where else. In this country they generally herd in
city settlements, for the most part a dirty ig.
norant burden to city communities. They don't
mix with u.s. They don't become a part of our
citizenship. Their traditions and ideals and con.
ceptions of the American social order are not ours
They're sort of indigestible lump in our gizzard
Cities Tackle Job.
Almost with the bravery Of despair the larger
citfes-New York. Chicago Cleveland, Pittsburgh
Rochester, where lowclass immigrants are espe-
cialiy heavy in numbers-haye set out to perform
the task of making citizens of this unpromisiue
material. The public schools the most useful
instruments for the purpose at hand.
Our city schools becoming great melting
pots for all races and creeds Our small cities
our towns and our rural stretches do not have to
face this great problems solution directly but the
general welfare of the nation depends on how we'll
the cities meet the task We are and we should
be, interested, encouraging onlookers
This is really a story about the work being done
in one big high school in Chicago. q city with a
very large foreign population. In one grade
school room there children of seventeen dis.
tinct nationalities Just consider the task of maxi
ing good patriotic Americans of all of them
Japanese. Chinese. Turks and the rest. It's be.
ing done. though. And there's hint in this story
of what do to make our local schools more
useful to than they are
Real Melting Pot.
The real melting pot of Chicago is situated less
than q mile from the city's business center. 1t is
q melting pot that takes boys and girls, old men
md vip opfip
tiles and turns them from lonesome. bewildered
strangers into useful, ambitious citizens. 1t
teaches them everything from trades to dancing,
from woodturning to wireless telegraphy. The
melting pot is Lane Technical school. the most
remarkable of all Chicagos public schools and one
of the most wonderful schools in the world. 1t has
. teaching stan of more than hundred and fifty.
more than eighty classrooms and about eight thou
sand pupils, with the largest nightschoo In the
world.
Lane teaches almost every subject imaginable.
from the sixth grade of grammar school to the
second year of college, 1t teaches steam and
electrical engineering, carpentry and agriculture
1t teaches saesmanship and advertising. 1t
teaches stenography. bookkeeping and designing.
1t teaches Hundreds Of other useful subjects And.
of course, every subject at Lane Is free. Lane
teaches too, the love of work. how to make friends
and how to find place in the world.
Instead of opening at nine and closing at four.
the majority Of schools do. Lane is open all day
and all evening. 1t opens at eight in the morning.
At 80 1t starts special training for trades appren
uces.
Night Student Glasses.
From $50 until $3.50, the night students take
possession. Nearly all of the night students are
employed at hundreds of different occupations dur
ing the day. but, though they are tired after their
days work, they seize the opportunities at Lane
to learn new languages new trades or to Mt them
selves for higher wages In the trades at wnlcn
they work during the day.
There is a class in metallurgy for foundry fore
men, courses in automobile engineering and re-
enforced concrete. There Is a valuable class. too
to which young men may go If they are In doubt
as to which trade profession they would be
best suited. The vocational class prevents square
pegs in round holes. Expert psychologists ques
tion the members of the class and advise them as
to their future
''If you don't what you want. ask for It., is
Lanes advice to seekers for knowledge. II several
men or women want to study some subject that Is
not included in the regular courses they sign
petition and new class, under expert instruction
ia started Some of the new classes are Journal
tsm copper work and automobile construction
Last wear advertising and Spanish were new sub
tects but this year they take their places as reg
ular classes.
Opportunities for Girls.
Enr the girl who works during the day, Lane
-oyss esnecially inviting and valuable. It is hard
IN Get acquainted in a city. young man can go
ont alone at night A girl, busy all day. has little
t,ne to make friends It is pretty lonesome to
.nend evening after evening alone In little room.
n isn't necessary in Chicago for Lane Is ready to
take care of lonesome girls, TO give theh peas'
ant time and valuable instruction.
Tbree evenings each week the big gymnasium Is