Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-05-12

Ans ss ass %sts many sss Intelligent snsss
these days. The problem didn't
amount to much as long as the bulk of immigra-
ton came from western Europe-from Germany,
England Ireland. France, Norway Sweden Den
mark In fact. America sorely 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
ana Asiatic Turkey-and the Lord only knows
where else In this country they generally herd in
city settlements, for the most part dirty, ig-
norant burden to city communities They don't
mix with us. They don't become a part of our
citizenship Their traditions and ideals and con-
ceptions of the American social order are not ours
Iheyre sort of indigestible lump In our gizzard.
Cities Tackle Job.
Almost with the bravery of despair the larger
cities-New York. Chicago. Cleveland. Pittsburgh,
Rochester, where low-class immigrants are espe-
cialiy heavy in numbers-have set out to perform
the task of making citizens of this unpromising
material The public schools are the most useful
instruments for the purpose at hand q
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
race this great problems solution directly but the
general welfare OF the nation depends on how well
the cities meet the task. We are and we should
be, interested, encouraging onlookers
This is really story about the work being done
IN one big high school in Chicago, city with a
very large foreign population. In one grade
school room there are children of seventeen dis
tinct nationaties. Just consider the task of max.
ing good. patriotic Americans of all of them
Japanese. Chinese. Turks and the rest It's he
ing done. though And there's hint in this story
of what we can do to make our local schools mora
useful to us than they are. IL ,
ta Real Melting Pot.
The real melting pot of Chicago is situated less
than mile from the citys business center II ia
melting pot that takes boys and girls, old men
and craving women representing twenty national
tiles and turns them from lonesome, bewildered
strangers into useful ambitious citizens It
teaches them everything from trades to dancing.
from wood-turning to wireless telegraphy The
melting pot is Lane Technical school, the most
remarkable of all Chicago's public schools and one
OF the most wonderful schools in the world 1t has
teaching staff of more than hundred and fifty,
more than eighty classrooms and about eight thou
sand pupils. with the largest nightschoo in the
world. ap.t+
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 salesmanship and advertising. 1t
teaches stenography, bookkeeping and designing.
It 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 1t starts special training for trades appren-
tees.
Night Student Glasses.
From 8: 80 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 tired after their
rlr he I
to learn new languages, new trades or to fit them
selves for higher wages in the trades at which
they work during the day.
There is class in metallurgy for foundry fore
men, courses in automobile engineering and re-
enforced concrete. There is valuable class. too.
to which young men may golf 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-
ton the members of the class and advise them as
to their future.
IF you don't see 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 a class, under expert instruction.
is started Some of the new classes are journal
ism, copper work and automobile construction.
Last year, advertising and Spanish were new SUBJ
jects but this year they take their places as reg
uar classes.
Opportunities for Girls.
For the girl who works during the day Lane
proves especially inviting and valuable 1t is hard
to get acquainted in city. A young man can go
out alone at night girl, busy all day, has little
time to make friends. 1t is pretty lonesome to
spend evening after evening alone In little room.
It isn't necessary in Chicago for Lane is ready to
take care of lonesome girls. to give them pleas
ant time and valuable instruction.
Three evenings each week the big gymnasium is