New Britain herald., 1919-07-26
AMERICANIzATION
 BY MRS. r. i. PLATT
Discusses Important Topic at
 Normal School

Mrs. F. G. PIatt. of this city, gave very interesting and instructive talk as the second of the series of public lectures on Americanization at the Normal school this week. These talks are given i'll connection with the training courses at the summer school for evening school teachers conducted by tho state board of edu- cation. Mrs. Platt had a very attcn- tive and appreciative audience.
 Marcus White, principal of the State Normal school here, presided at the meeting in the absence of samuel J. Brown, director of the school, who was in Danbury at the time addressing a conference of state supervisors of schools. A part Of Mrs. Platt's remarks follow:
 In 1914, just about two months after the war started, 1 was on the deck of a ship in New York harbor. It contained many immigrants from Southern Italy. Looking down from the upper deck, I could see crowds of men, women and children dressed jE their very best clothes. They were all looking hopefully toward the Statue of Liberty, wondering what America would do for them and how ehey could help America.
 We are all interested in aiding the aliens to become loyal citizens of the United States. The principle for this work has been known for many years. But such was the nature of their work that right here in New Britain many hundred foreigners cannot speak and understand the English language. The American izers planned tea parties and other entertainments for them. All of this is very good, but it does not make the aliens Notwithstanding people.
 Standardization today is entering into the very homes. Mothers are also considered and they are given an incentive to make them anxious to learn the language and modes and customs of the American people.
 Miss Bartlett and Miss Camp, missionary workers, of New Britain, are planning to take a number of foreigners to their vacation home for an outing and to show them the beauty of the country. Later plans will be made so that a number of them will be able to remain there for a weeks vacation.
 Some of these people have not been outside of their crowded city. All they know of America is that they must work, work, work!
 ''The first impact of American life, unless guided from the beginning, is harmful. Many instances were given which proved that the foreigners be-
 
 try expecting them to work hard for a little money and have little chance for advancement. They had cause to feel that way. There are some peo- pie here in America thaht are poor representatives of American life. They practically make it their busi- ness to take hold of foreigners and get a great deal of money from them. They mask as their friends and work the game to suit themselves Now, foreigners that fall into their hands naturally judge America accordingly.
 "A great deal of good has been done to children of foreign families who have been tempted to steal. In stead of sending the boys to a reform school, numbe of Christian gentle men were interested enough to take
 
 of these lads. They did so just through careful explanations and careful watch. It is very agreeable to learn that those boys developed into trustworthy men.
 "The missionary workers have done a great deal to Americanize the homes as to customs and cleanliness. The aliens who served in our Army would be dissatisfied with their homes and attempt to leave them. A large part of this was prevented, for, while the men were away, their wives were Americanized by our loyal mission aries
 "A great deal of money was saved by picking up lost articles in the street. This was done by the sweep CTS who took the trGu ble to stoop and pick out things from the mud. The lives of these foreigners are worth more than a sum of money. We must save them and enable them to be a help to the entire community. Amer icanization answers this call" In closing, Mrs. Platt recited Scum of the Earth, a poem com posed by her brother, which was very beautiful as we'll as interesting and instructive.