Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-08-23
Uncle Sam Takes Steps to Pro-
mote Americanization of
Immigrants.
SEEKS LOCAL SCHOOLS AID
Plans Given Impetus by Census Re-
port Showing Nearly 3,oCn, 900
Persons Unable to Speak
English.
BY FREDERIC ERNEST FAR
RINGTON.
kof the United States Bureau of Edu.
cation.)

(of the United States Bureau Of Edu-
cation.)
In April, 1914, the first step was
taken which resulted In making the
division of immigrant education an
organic part Of the bureau of educa-
ton of the department of the interior
at Washington. Thoughtful people
with large civic interests chad been
aroused by the revelations of the CEN
sus report of 1910 70 realization OF
the significance of the alien problem
In this country. For many decade
Americans with snug complacency had
prfded themselves on the Irresistible
power of American civilization TO as
simulate the foreigner who landed
upon our shores. Nobody knew just
how it was being done. nor could one
point to any specific organization re-
sponsible for effecting the change, but
somehow or other that subtle force
of American civilization was ever busy
at its task. and the alien was quietly
but surely being transformed into an
American.
With the publication of the immi-
grafton returns for 1905. which
showed over 100000 immigrants en-
tering this country that year, people
began to wonder If, after all, the
process of assimilation was really
working as smoothly as it had been
claimed. Milli0n-immigrant years fol-
lowed; the report Of the immigration
commission furnished a veritable mine
Of information, and the census report
Of 1910 finally portrayed the condition
at that date. America suddenly learned
that there were over 100000 for
eign-born persons in the country. that
over six and a half million OF these
were males who might become citizens
Of the land, and that only 100000
of them had become citizens. Had the
melting pot ceased to boil? Had the
solution become saturated? What had
become Of the mueh-vaunted ability Of
this country automatically to assimi-
late the foreign element2
Millions Do Not Speak English.
Other figures from this same census
report were still more disquieting.
There were nearly 100000 persons
In the country unable to speak and
understand English, and of these over
two and u half million were over TWEEN
ty-One years Of age; In other words,
beyond the age when they were likely
TO learn a new language without some
external stimulant. No state has any
law affecting the Iiteracy or non-Eng-
disappearing ability OF the adult, and
with few exceptions there are no COM
pulsory laws on these points for MI
nOrs who are above the compulsory
school-attendance age.
Here. then, is the problem before
the division of immigrant education
the illiterate or -Engllsh-speaking
foreigner beyond the reach of compul-
sorry attendance laws and to stimulate
his attendance upon English and civics
classes.
The first work of this division was
to enter upon a general investigation
of the existing facilities for the edu-
cation OF immigrants. With this in
formation in hand, IL is possible Il,
plan an intelligent campaign for in
creasing the attendance upon schools
already established. and for encourag-
Ing the establishment of new schools
where need for them is disclosed.
One Of the functions of the work
is to bring local and state school au-
thoriries to a realization of the immi-
grant problem in their midst School
superintendent have shown by their
replies to this Office that they are not
fully in touch with their own local
conditions; and one state superintend-
ept has written asking where statis-
tics relating to the alien education
problem in his own state may be OBJ
tanned. Thus is this division carry
ing out one of the large functions of
| the bureau of educatiOn-to act as a
clearing house for information.
america First" Posters.
Perhaps the most striking activity
Of the division has been in connection
with the America First" poster
This is a colored Autographed sheet
showing a picture of Uncle Sam shak-
| ing hands with a foreign workman. II
| is printed in seven different foreign
languages. and is designed to urge
upon the foreigners the ACCESSIBILITY
of going to evening school and learn
| ing English. Owe 100000 Of these
| posters have been distributed during
the winter, and today they may be
| found in post offices. shops. factories,
schools, railroad stations, and on bul.
letin boards of civic associations,
chambers of commerce and the like
from one end OF the country to the
| other.
This poster did much to pave the
way for building up friendly relations
with commercial and industrial organ,
| izations.
The division has prepared compre
hensive lists of texts in English for for
eigners with separate groupings 70,
the more important languages. The
combined list includes specific titles
reaching 16 different foreign peoples
A Croatian or Pole writes to this of
fce-not infrequently In his native Ian
guage-asking for a text which he car
use for learning English. The division
is in position TO handle his letter an,
TO furnish the Information desired.
Can Head Of IlIlteraey.