The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-11-11

Important work among the foreign | born population is being done by the AmericaniZation committees of the State Councils of Defense. About thirty of the state Councils now have special committees for this work. In most cases their organization exte44ds also into counties and into communi- ties. These widely scattered agencies receive advice and suggestions from q central office in Washington which is part of the Council of National De fense.
 The teaching of English is one Of the biggest tasks. This is by no means the simple affair it might seem to be, for middle-aged immigrant is sometimes unable and frequently unwilling to undertake to learn 8 new language at his time of life. To per- suade him to learn English, the Americanization workers in the Coun- cils have first to show him that it is practically impossible to become edu- cated in American customs and ideals unless he understands the language spoken by the great masses of the American people. The younger peo- pie in the foreign groups respond more quickly. Most of them already have some smattering of English, even when they are living in foreign set | dement's.
 To spread the use of English among l foreign-born people, classes have been | organized in the foreign districts of 1 the cities. The Massachusetts Com mittee of Public Safety tries to reach the parents through the children. The children who learn. English at the day schools and evening schools are given literature to take home to their fam i flies and are encouraged to repeat to | their fathers and mothers the lessons about American democracy which l they are taught in the classroom. In the schools of Las Animas county, 1 Colorado, children are given special credit for teaching English to their l parents. Kentucky is one of the states which has a carefully planned program for doing Americanization work through the schools.
 Information for Foreign-BOr
 Many Councils of Defense have es- tabIished war information services for
 the foreign people. The extent oi anti-American propaganda among the
 foreign-bor and the important par1
 which the foreign groups play in the
 prosecution of the war have made in;-
 perative the establishment of easily
 accessible and authoritative source
 of information. The information of
 fees have been opened in easily ac-
 cessible places and are usually attend
 eG by workers who speak a number o1
 foreign languages. Information i: given on a long list of subjects. These
 include the draft regulations, pro
 visions of the Soldiers and Sailors Insurance Act, opportunities for wal service, opportunities for learnin!
 English, publications Issued by tn,
 government with regard to the war
 and so on.
 San Francisco has a particularly ac
 tive information bureau for foreign . born people. One. of it's efforts ha been to protect the immigrant i, against fraud in connection with thei
 war obligations. Notices have beel published in many languages, givini
 the most specific information abou draft registration, enlistment, war risl insurance, and contributions to wa funds.
 I In Connecticut the Defense Coun
 cils have done part of their American
 ization work through committee !, composed of leading representative \ of the foreign groups. A number o
 Jewish rabbis and influential citizen ! among the foreign-bor have serve
 on these organizations. In Rhod Island the chief aim has been to in n terest aliens in naturalization and ge I them to take out their papers. Mime l s0ta has sent out Finnish speakers t ,. i talk to the Finnish population i . their own language and explain tn meaning and purposes of this war fo
 democracy. In Illinois a survey wa - made of the foreign groups in ever county of the state, in order to obtai = data as a basis for all Americaniza f ton activities.
 Work to be Extended. $ Although a large number of count