Evening journal., 1916-11-28
PLEA FOR funds TO
Educate Foreigners
Americanization Committee
Outlines Proposed Work
of Education
NEED $500 TO CARRY
OUT PROPOSED PLANS

Much time was consumed at the
meeting OF the Board OF Public Edu-
cation last night by the Wilmington
Americanizaiion Committee several
members OF which united in a plea
70 the board for funds TO carry on tho
fork OF educating foreigners. VIII
lam r. Kurtz. Charles Warner, Louis
Topkis and Joseph r. Emory. mem
bcrs OF the committee. addressed the
board and as "A result OF their force
ful statements uhe board voted TO
recommend 10 City Council that IL
make a special appropriation Of $500
70 carry on The Americanization work
for a period of four months after Jam
uary u Henry c. Downward. prosi-
dent OF City Council was present az
the meeting and expressed himself IN
m,or OF the plan and promised TO do
an in his power 10 have the appro-
1riation granted.
An. Knrtz. upon being granted the
privilege OF the floor last night, open.
"a his remarks by expressing disap
pointmont that the S2500 asked for
10 condac, schools for adult foreign
ers last year was not granted, and
asked that the board recommend 70
City Council that $500 be appropri-
ated TO complete :hls school year. He
explained Tia, hs and his committee
lad raised $500 by private aubeorfp-
tions last yoar wi,h which the schools
were kcpt opoa but that as the mat
TER was one o. public interest he
would rofuse 70 beg money for the
purpose again and thnt II City Coun-
.If
sary funds be- would withdraw from
.he committee.
Mr.. Kurtz closed by saying that the
sum Of 81 .5n0 would be enough TO carry
On the worS IN q small way. He also
told how ihe Chamber Of Commerce
had endorsed The movement and gone
on record as saving that it was public
benefit that should be carried on by the
municipal authorities with the public
Doncy.
Following Mr. I1uriz's plea. Charles
Warner. member of the delegation.
Louis Topkis and j. T. Emory endorsed
the sentiments of the speaker and told
&i tho great benefit and even necessity
oi such work. TO the community.
Nh forkis told how in 1883 there had
been several night schools for the cdu
cation OF the foreigner. lie himself, he
said, had attended one of these and hel
wished To know what progress the city
could point 10 in this regard in the last
thirty years.
Messrs. Campbell Rommel and
Cooper. OF the school board. express
ed themselves as being heartily In
Favor OF the movement.
Mr. Rommel made motion that
The board ask the Council to appro-
prlto $1,000 for this purpose, but on
iebeate by the members i; was oe-
,ded 10 stick TO the amount that the
committee had asked for since they
would have a better chance OF OBJ
lainine the money I'm this way.
The following members OF the COM
mittee were present at the meeting
William r. Kurtz. Irving Warner
Louis Topkis William Topkis. DR..
Charles A. Wagner the Rev Thomas
y. Holloway. Mrs. James H. Scott.
Lawrence Davis. j. Rossicki, Joseph
r. Emory and Henry O. Downward.
As means of preparing the members
ol the board for the plea for funds. Mr.
Huriz compiled q report of the work OF
the rnnmiitce copy of which wa
1nailed to each member Of the board
prior 10 he meeting and was referred
TO in his address last night.
THAT there Is q crying need for such
education was explained by Mr.
Kurt. Jews. Poles aud Italians arel
iiie naiionalities patronizing the schools
principally it was reported. So far only
males are given the opportunities forl
cducaiio Mr. Kmtz said but women
are clamoring for the privilege, also The
schools conducted for foreigners aim toI
1cacl the foreign born 20 speak and un-
de1sland the English language FIRST. Civ
ing Instruction in simple elementary