New Britain herald., 1919-06-21
kOl SIUDEN1sAT 2
 EVENING SCHOOLS
68 Per Cent, of Them Over 20.
 Years of Age

report CIr the WORK accomplished III E the city with people of foreign birth. Under the subject of instruction the report states that there are 1,201 stu < dents, 68 per cent of whom are over 20 years of age2 anrolled in the even ing classes. Last year there were 531 in > the same, classes The at $ tendance at the classes avenged 66 per cent, The rep3rt is as follows: lrr. $ II. Holmes. 'l' -'' " <
 City Hall, ts 3 City,
 My Dear Sir; ~ "
 am not presumips thaNyou need 10 be told about the activities con- e ducted hy the Americanization com mittec during the year; but have been asked by individual mem bers to State briefly and definitely some of the chief things accompiished;. and 1t occurs to me that perhaps each of the members would like such a re1 poEt of the work as it has progressed to date.
 Ifstruction--Onc of. the American ideals is education for al including the adults.
 There were 37 evening classes or ganized, in conjunction with the board of education in three schools cen i s and one class at the Russian church, l for women. In these classes 1, 201 persons weres enrolled during the year, which is | 223 per cent Of the number for the ] previous year (5GO.
 1 Three-fourths of these cIa sses were s4 engaged in studying the elements. of ! the language and the simple faets of 1 Amcricanism.
 Of these men and women 68 pssr
 cent were more than 20 years of ass v per cent had never been in se1eff-E N ingr school before, and fifty per cent had received little or no schooling anywhere, even in their own native < lands. fF4 -g The attendance for all the clssses \ averaged 66 per cent. "a iFs The numbers of Polish. Russfans I Ckranian and Lithuanian nation}Asl4sss ties were especially augmented in tb1sE years classes N4s
 Social Worl--Fe1lowship varietyM play and recreation are indispensabi@ for demoCratic team work The sB4& cia sessions of the evening schools Sa were meant to supply a really vitakss want of this sort, especiaHw for tBgH middlc-agcd and younger Tsefil,erF < Games, music, pictures, tall0ss qances, and even refreshments helpedafo sdaf Cializc the individuals present and toe make the. evenings attractive to thenn
 Special American holidays&e were also appropriately observed; and the \ value resulting thcrefrom was both direct and indirect. < -s 1
 Nafufaaization is ire Quently an iitriCate,t expensive aNA dscouragtng process. Our mdiffer- ence operates to depreciate It's value I for th9yn and 10 invite alienation of spirit, @s well as minimum of f4s final competence as citizens.
 lnfoHmaton and assistance R@H@a been provided for hundreds of appli 4s cants.s -' ss H
 several weekly. citizenship classss " have furnished free instruction to al those interested, a s T%&
 The naturalizauon court is AnM@ digni1ed by befffRa housed in #s@ council. chah1ter. andsafreed frofngsfs former former suggestiaSla os the police and {
 Public recewions for the new citi- zens have been instituted, to elevate the experience for them and, to maAssa useall more con scious of ours ciyic.s fes & . responsibilities es~ / \ citizenship campaign, gndel sin the factories, netted G21
 s &4X|4*U received lirecs sessista nc e;4Aszla a9sie hundred, Of these for secess 2apss Much misunder si nd ing ssgg se isosre- moved, fo.~ affeus5SSsta
 snforna%on aoFi6e Gen tais for organlza ton, com nlsilS iFation and co4 M ordination work ilfK this field. M . It has furnish ed ,4connset and as .stFtance in many and Adverse forms fSdificultys ranging from problems of 'rontance for Soldiers to cases cf remorse' and crime. !" W
 F'rec> assistance has. bsen given to 122 applicants for first papers ahd to @ 6 petitioners for. second papers2.s. @
 A. follow-up system was opeTated M 10 reach those lost from the day school and those absent from gthe evening classes.
 Thc Industres-The designation bs the management of special comnEit tees or ind&Yiduals, to handle the Am ericanHation work in each indns- trial plant is an indication of tho dnar Rortanco and the recognition giNeA to it. In fact, the splendid spiiat Q cooperation displaced shY j. the fae noting the ssa6se lss7Ss aAis er,terpssF7 l is deserviI}g eT&ssyzz&& sSSGAtl m e nd ation But best of sss SsAAs apparen ti3 willing to conti184tass sssss ssE ss8sen to dc more. as the need sfqaa sSea .sai' clearly indicated. Sufelsse sso' sfe~ 1ss evaluate the full mportancs csee nf sn listing, so many able people tokths s7ad and. act carnes4Iy for q common pg ',ISssose--sueh as the devclopm ont of n f3 aS1. 4rfe sources 0f, the coIflnpnH> ygNH tRaSher -Sctivitie@ss4- Am e1'icanigA 80 sX ralning to astand stagei ysplft and in comp}on Burpoaa \ Gomnunity singing has beeiassrop 3 eIfrted during the winter enionths $Itl1 the Especial sch onerafiop so *tWelve factories and ffxe scheals
 the preparation of tho pr6graIsakss } Many addresses progrA Ei$ M sfjgs