Evening journal., 1919-02-18
HUNDREDS Eager
TO LEARN ENGLISH
Attendance at Americani-
zation Schools Larger
Than Expected
ORGANIZATIONS AID
NEW NIGHT SCHOOL S

That the foreign-born people OF VIII
nington are eager to learn the ways
md the speech OF America was demon
ltrated last night, when % classes were
10 largely attended that in several cases
he instructors were nearly swamped
The registration for these classes was
something over COO, but realizing that
he foreigners instructive courtesy and
will ngness TO please sometimes leads
lin to max. promises he can't carry
)ut, the workers expected a smaller
attendance than this. Instead, the at
endance at many Of the classes far
)utran the registration.
At school No. II, in the Italian dis
tTict, one teacher who went, expectig
10 meet class OF 2s, found 60 eager
pupils ready TO begin. At No. Z school
N Washington street, a class OF 2i
rev magically 10 10. And not one OF
hem knew a word OF Engl' sh. At the
United States Employment Bureau, at
Front and King streets, where 26 were
expected, 80 expectant pupils crowded
nto the small room, and Miss Burnett,
he new Supervisor Of Immigrant Edu-
alton, had TO go from door 10 door
borrowing chairs from Front street
homes and restaurants. The neighbors
proved glad TO cooperate, and the class
was finally seated. though a group OF
Mexicans, pee-ing wistfully through
he glass door. looked as II they would
ike TO be invited If only more chairs
lould have been found.
All over the city HE same eager
Ia Inc NIara
had a remarkable registration. The
slasses in scho0i No. A have had TO be
postponed for a week, until electric
lights could be installed, but the
leighboring Russian Hall held IS men
md women. The remaining 80 who
want classes in South Wilmington, will
lave TO wait a few days.
Modjeska Hall, at No. ttO9 Sycamore
ltreet. placed at the disposal Of the
AnericanizatiOn Committee by Father
Sulcz, Of St. Hedwig's Church, housed
three particularly interesting groups
Of Polish men and women. The Poles
have been rather skeptical about the
new direct method" Of teaching Ian
guages, in which the teaching is done
entirely IN English. But 80 Poles who
entered this class last night without
knowing one word OF English went
proudly out with five sentences apiece
thoroughly mastered.
The success Of the campaign Is due
largely TO the practical cooperation
If large number Of organizations and
individuals. The schools, which sent
800 Letters from Uncle sam" into
'oreln homes, probably did the larg-
ri single piece Of work, but the cam
jaigns in the industrial plants brought
hne results also. The managers OF the
Harlan. Pusey & Jones, Blumenthal,
Lorillard, dupont, Electric Hose and
Rubber, Jos. Bancroft and Sons Com
pany, New Castde Leather and Eastern
Malleable Iron plants took an active
Interest IN the campaign and encour-
sged their men 60 join classes.
Other organizations that rendered ef-
fective help in the campaign were the
New Century Club, the Junior League,
he Y. w. C.. A., the Y. NJ. c. A., the
\. NJ II. A., the Polish Civic Commit
lee. the L. s. Employment Service, the
Public Library, the Delaware Hospital,
he Child Health Stations, Italian
Seighborhood House, Peoples Settle
ment. the Polish Standard st. He'd
wigs Church, st. Stanislaus, st. Thorn
as and Old Swedes Churches. All Of
these organizations and others, are pre-
pared to cooperate with the commit
lee in carrying on the work That mas
been started.