The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-08
PITTSBURGH FOREIGN
Frs ARE BEING
AHERICANIZED
More Than 100000 People are Being
Trained by Instructors Sent Out
by Church Boards.

Pittsburgh, March s.More thar
| 100000 foreigners who live within q
miles of the Pittsburgh courthouse are
being Americanized through the edu.
! cation OF women and children by
trained workers who speak their home
tongue and are acquainted with their
home customs.
These workers are selected by church
boards from among the foreign popu-
lation, and after being educated in
rookery, nursing and the essentials of
Americanism are sent among the peo-
pie TO carry out system by which
the foreigner may be lifted to the level
of his American neighbor For re-.
ligious purposes they have the active
assistance of clergymen who speak the
languages of immigrants from south
ern Europe, and who are in sympathy
with the people.
The Pittsburgh presbytery of the
Presbyterian church, the pioneer in the
movement, has 32 educational stations
scattered in all parts Of Allegheny
county, AZ trained foreign workers and
Ia ministers. 1t also publishes four
weekly papers having a combined cir.
culation of almost 100000, and the
leaders of the movement estimate that
fully 10000 foreigners come under the
influence of it's workers every day.
The plan is simple. Foreigners com
ing into the district usually collect
in groups, each nationality living in
its own section of the community
where the men are employed. Col
porteurs, speaking many languages, are
sent among them to spy out the land
and inquire into their needs These
men gain the confidence of the people,
and in time begin the distribution of
literature printed in the language of
the particular group. This includes
short stories depicting American life
and sketches OF men who have done
much TO make America. Gradually the
foreigners show added interest, and
when the women and children come
over the colony is ready for the wom-
an worker from the Presbyterian train !
ing school.
The care Of children, how to pre-
pare American meats and vegetables, |
the best methods to keep their houses
clean are gradually taught the women. /
who, finding themselves addressed in
the speech Of their childhood, freely
give to the young workers their full
confidence.
There Is little trouble with the chill
dren. They gladly seize upon the OPP
portunity afforded for Americanization.
and are eager to learn the language and
customs Of the eoutry. 1t often hap
pens that they are not content with
the learning they obtain in the public
school. but crowd the summer schools
conducted by the presbytery. They
earn quickly. and after a few months
sewing is taught to the girls and man
Ial training to the boys.
They are surrounded with cleanli-
ness, moral and physical, and made to
eel that II they are 20 become real
.itizens Of the country they must learn
md follow the mental and physical
essons taught to them by the young
women workers. Results have been
most gratifying, say leaders Of the
Reaching the man from southern Eu-
ope is perhaps a little more difficult,
mt when once reached, authorities de-
lare. he seldom goes back either to
is former mental state or his native
and.
Patriotism is the first theme Of the
workers. not meaningless plstitudes, but
rscticsl lessons in the advantages of
wing in America Often these lessons
re turned 10 good account. az in the
ase of young Russian who recently
a bolshevist society in !
'ittsburgh into classes which are now
ngaged in learning English