Perth Amboy evening news., 1916-12-16
Educational
Work ShOps
Big Results

The scope of the educational work
being done at present at the Y. NJ
c. A. will present some surprising fig
ures for the members who have not
looked in to the matter, nor ascer-
tained the work being DONE The
main point at which this educational
work is directed is that of teaching
done, the work is advanced to teach
ing them higher educational matters,
and brings in the use of the three Rs.
Not only does this fit the average for
eigner for naturalization, but it fits
him for better positions, for better
understanding of him self and his life
In this city, for better understanding
of his fellow citizens.
At the present time there are six
divisions under as many Instructors
scattered about the city, all under Y.
Is. c. A. control, and all drilling at
fundamental education. There are, in
reality twelve classes, each instructor
holding two sessions q night. These
classes meet two and three times a
week, SO that several hundred stu
dents receive education at the instance
of the Y. M. C. A. each week.
There are three classes in the build
ing. Holmes Oliver teaches what is
known as the employed boys division,
giving them common sense educa-
ton In the three Rs, reading, writing
! and arithmetic. The classes convene
three times a week. The instructor
divides his class into-two sections, the
pupil graduating from the first into
| the second as he advances in his
knowledge, the second class being for
the more advanced students, and the
| first being for the beginners. nhere
are twelve enrolled In each of Cliver's
| classes.
M. F. Letter has class in the
building three times week In which
an elementary high school education
is given. This class is for those who
have qualified for entrance in high
school and for those whose education
stopped at that point. There are eight
| students enrolled in Mr., Lefler's divi-
sion, which is new one. and it is
| thought, will g. Nv rapidly.
Leslie Crowell teaches two classes a
night two nights a week in English.
His classes are composed of foreign
ers. who have no acquaintance with
| the English language. The classes
number about thirty men each. The
| sessions are divided so that the first
class, meeting from to 8 o'clock is
that Of the men who are beginning
and the other for the more advanced.
| Over at the Grammar School in
Barclay street, are two more classes
which are operated by the Y M. C. A.
under the direction of Harry Nc
ICloughlan and George Wood The en-
rollment in all of their divisions is
about fifty-five. The classes meet
twice each week and the two sessions
are held for the beginners and the
more advanced men.
| G. c. Fooks has a class out In Kirk
land Place, which has q large enroll
ment, there being about twenty men
in each division. The class is for
English, and works on the same plan
as the others.
| Industrial Secretary A. C. Lee has a
class twice week at the plant of the
American Smelling and Refining Com
pany, which is composed of fifty men
on an average. The men meet at
the noon hour and are taught English
In its elementary forms. 1t is one OF
the most successful and most widely
attended of all of the classes.
That is the complement of classes
at present so that the average member
who wonders what is being done In
that line has fair idea, although he
can have no idea of the work that Is
accomplished.
| One of the biggest features of edu-
cational work at the Y. M. G. A. is
the naturalization work, done to per-
feet men for the tests in securing their
naturalization papers at the examina-
tions held by the county court author
| tiles. These classes are announced
several W ,eks before the examina, .ons
are to be held and the name are drilled
in subjects which will fit them for the
/ rights of citizenship. Several men
entered the classes at the last sessions
and obtained their papers. Another
class will be formed shortly after the
first of the new year, to take up the
work prior to the next examinations
And last but far from the least OF
the educational work taken up by the
association is the class to be started
in chemistry at the high school. by
several men, who have formed a com.
mittee with the Y. M. c. A. to secure
the school laboratory and to start 9
class. 1t is apparent that the class
will be formed shortly after Jan.
and the work will Immediately star
in teaching chemistry, which a grea'
Imany young men from this city have
In the past. gone to New York and
brooklyn to night school to take VI
that subject.
A class in Spanish Is also being con
Isidered by the association.