Ellsworth American., 1918-01-30
MAKING AMERICANS in
A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Samep Gary Blackwell in The cAsreAmon'
Neg York Jon. 10.


New YORK Jon. 10.
THE following article from the Charehm.sn,
telling Of the remarkable work being done
in the Washington Irving school of New
York. is OF interest not only Of itself. but
because of the fact that former Ellsworth
girl. Miss Clio NJ. chilcott, is on the teaching
force OF the school, and the writer of the article
Miss Blackwell, spent tbs summer OF 1915
with her at HaHcock Point, visiting Els
worth on several occasions.l
Five thousand OF them, all loyal and
most OF them new. for at least 50 per cent.
are OF foreign birth or parentsge, rep
resenting the countries OF the globe. a
world within itself. Prior to our en-
trance into the war sympathizers wish
either side were to be found, and the head
lines in any paper were sufficient to
reveal on one group OF faces rejoicing,
quite as plainly as eonsternatiop on the
other.
In April, 1917, we asked ourselves, a.
didthe leaders in all great organizations,
What can we make for uncie sam and
his slliess Instantly came back the
answer Americans. And we set our
selves ioyfully and with determination
to the task, realizing that our work OF
teachiug various subjects, academic and
otherwise, must go on as before, but
knowing also that the use OF all subject
matter must be consistent with the
purpose for which the school exists and
that our apparently double aim was not
impossible. IL the highest purpose OF
our school is, as we believe, to make
Americans, then il seemed TO us that we
should interpret all our subject matter
In the light OF patriotism and citizenship.
In this way the Washington Irving high
school, New York city, became a great
plant for the production Of the country's
choicest article.
On April 26, the tri-coior, our first
allied flag, was presented, and the col
lection has grown rapidly, each
presentation being a fitting occasion for
restating our reasons for entering the
war. Each: time distinguished speakers
increased the growing. enthusiasm for
our allied cause.
Thousands strong, Washington Irving
girls trouped down Fifth avenue in
patriotic parades. One of our treasured
possessions is the memory .of Joffre's
radiant smile as the iri-coior was borne
past carried by our girls. They have set
their fresh young strength to work for
the land OF their adoption and through
doing.this they are becoming real Ameri-
cans. 1t is our aim, in which we are
dgy, kaf In, AZ. "a
family from which comes q girl to our
school q new centre OF Americsnism
with fsr-reaching influence shall be
found,
Then came the ambulance, our ambu-
lance. II was asked for in assembly on .
Monday; it was bought the next Thurs
day and straightway sent to France.
With it went the rest Of the fund, an
order for over 1000 francs, for additional
comforts fortour fighting men. Each girl
now felt that her forces we're enlisted, for
when one lives to the southeast OF Four
teenth street and Fourth avenue, ss do
the large majority OF Washington irving
girls, each quarter OF dollar invested for
the comfortii Of the "boys over there
means self denial productive OF q real
thrill OF patriotism.
Washington Irving girls have done
their part In each war activity. Through
| the school bank al, $50 worth OF liberty
bondA were subscribed for. liberty
bond button was a much priced bit OF
personal sdornment. Several classes are
buying bonds on instsllment for the
school relief fund.
Every department in the school has
| modified its forces. One tries now to
speak and write the best possible English
| because it Is the language Of ones country
and it would beipainful to be taken for a
lforeigner.on account OF faulty English I
History andI civics give as never before
| acqusintsnce.1 4 with our allies and their
aims, as well as good preparation for citi-
zenship. One does not have TO wait un-
til school is out to know the latest from
| the "front;" the bulletin board in the
library tells the good or bad news i'm
mediately uron its receipt.
French is becoming so much more real,
now thstIprothsrs.snd cousins are ''over
| there" One needs to know about France,
and the most direct way is to learn the
language. First term French classes are
not content with makingl comfort bags
for the soldiers; they must know exactly
what French soldier would call the bag
and each article. within. After our own
'Star Spangled Banner, f" ala Marseiiiaise''
is the:. favorite at Washington Irving.
From the commercial arithmetic classes
you may iearn.the..vaIue of liberty bond
| at any givenldste, aud the W. s. 8. scale
in the foyer rises .perceptibly each day
girls can tell you, too, how the interest
accumulates.
In the department of hygiene and
physical training sound bodies are being
built to stand the strain of war priyations.
Last spring gardens were planted under
the direction OF the biology department
Should yquigosto the..end OF the south cor