The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-23
Is Interior Department, through
Bureau of Education, with
Good Success.
By Frederic Ernest FarringtOn)


It's bureau Of education, has undertake
IN a significant piece of work in for
NardIng the movement for American.
lzaHOn. DR.. FarringtOn'S article forms
The first complete statement OF this
no Wachvity-The EditOrS.l
In April, 1914. the first step was
taken which resulted in making the
\diyision OF immigrant education an or
Iganic part OF the bureau Of education
Of the department OF the interior at
Washington. Thoughtful people with
large civic interests had been aroused
by the revelations OF the census re-
port Of 1910 to a realization Of the sig
nifcance OF the alien problem in this
country. For many a decade Ameri-
cans with Snug complacency had
prided themselves on the irresistible
power Of American civilization to as
simulate the foreigner who Tended
upon our shores. Nobody knew just
how 1t 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.
Startling Revelation.
With the publication OF the immi-
grafton returns for 1905, which
showed over one million immigrants
entering this country that year, peo-
ple began to wonder il after all the
process of assimilation was really
working as It had been claimed Mil
llon-immigrant years followed; the re-
port of the immigration commission
furnished a veritable mine Of infor-
nation, and the census report Of 1910
finally portrayed the condition at that
date. America suddenly learned that
there were over thirteen million for
eign-born persons in the country, that
over six and one-half million Of these
were males who might become citi-
zens of the land, and that only three
million of them had become citizens.
Had the melting pot ceased to Doll
Had the solution become saturated:
What had become OF the undetermined
ability OF this country automatically
10 assimilate the foreign element?
Other figures from this same census
report were still more disquieting'
There were nearly three million per-
sons in the country unable to speak
and understand English, and OF these
over two and half million were over
21 years OF age; in other words, be-
yond the age when they were likely
TO learn a new language without some
external stimulant No state has any
law affecting the literacy or non-En-
glish speaking 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.
Educational Problem.
\ Here, then, is the problem before the
division of immigrant education-to
promote educational facilities for the
iIliterate or Notwithstanding for
eigper beyond the reach Of compul-
soTy attendance laws and to stimulate
his attendance upon English and civics
classes.
The first work Of this division was
TO enter upon general investigation
OF the existing facilities for the edu-
cation of immigrants. With this in
formation in hand, it is possible TO
nlan an intelligent campaign for in
creasing the attendance upon schools
already established. and for encour-
aging the establishment Of new schools
where need for them is disclosed.
One OF the functions OF the work
Is In bring local and state school au-
1horities to a realization OF the inn
migrant problem in their midst. School
superintendents have shown by their
REPLIES to this office that they are not
fully in touch with their own local
conditions; and one state superintend-
emf has written asking where statis-
tics relating to the alien education
nrobIem 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
Wearing house for information.
AAmerica First" Poster.
Perhaps the most striking activity
pi the division has been in connection
With the america First" poster, This
Is a colored autographed sheet, show
ing a picture OF Uncle Sam shaking
hands with a foreign workman. 1t
Is nrinted in seven different foreign
languages, and is designed to urge
unon the foreigner the adyisability
of going to evening school and learn
Ing English. Over 100000 Of these
nosters have been distributed during
Inc winter, and today they may be
found in postofTlces, shops, factor
ies. schools, railroad stations, and
nm bulletin boards Of civic associa-
lions. chambers OF commerce and the
like, from one end Of the country to
The other.
This poster did much to pave the
vay for building up friendly relations
with commercial and industrial organ
jzatlons. A tender Of cooperation
from the division brought sympathet-
lie and cordial response from these or
PLANTATIONS. The United States cham
her of commerce. has its committee
ON Americanization and education.
The national safety council has its
conference committee on safety edu-
Aation to cooperate with the bureau