Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-20
Teaching Alien Men
and Women to Read
ard Write English

And it's a beautiful flag" Is the
fervent sentiment prompted by the
stars and stripes which decorate the
rooms OF the Abbott school where for
eign born men and women are learn
ing the English language and ideals
Of their adopted country Most of the
women students are italians. Mexi-
of the League of Women Voters, Mrs.
Ed T. Austin, chairman of the Am =
ericanization committee, organized
the work OF instructing any one who
was DESTROYS of learning or becom-
ing more familiar with the English
language.
This was over month ago and so
numerous and enthusiastic were the
applicants that at the present time a
class OF earnest and faithful workers
meet an hour each day at the Abbott
school. Various groups of two and
three who can not go TO the school
gather twice and three times week
and receive instructions. and classes
Of men are held at the school at
night.
Mrs. Lora l.. Richardson. principal
of the Abbott school. is in charge of
the women's class which meets from
to 8 each afternoon. Mrs. Austin,
Miss Callie Wieder, Miss Gladys Fos
ter, Miss Alice Baird and Mrs. f. NJ.
Haradon go to the homes where
smaller children prevent the mothers
going to the school classes. Other
teachers from the Abbott school also
assist In the work as occasion de-
mands.
There Is no fee for the instruction
and school text books are used for
the lessons. The women In charge Of
the classes say that any one who de-
sires instruction will be taken care Of
either IN classes or some one will go
To the homes. There are over twenty
enrolled altogether and as many
more as wish to attend are asked to
make their desire known.
Tho working under difficulties, Of
ten with n, baby in the left arm, and
learning TO make the letters with the
rapid progress and are extremely
jealous and loyal In their lessons.
The hour In divided for reading.
writing and conversational periods
with the practical side always fore
most.
The mems schol started three
weeks ago with G. w. Gilbert. clerk
OF courts, as instructor. From the
first 1t aroused interest and for the
first week was held every night ex-
cept Thursday. Since then the class
has been meeting Mondays and Fri
days.
The class started with four pupils
and has grown until now from twelve
to fifteen attend with more or less
regularity. The average attendance is
eight and Mr.. Gilbert finds this about
as large class as can be handled to
advantage. There are Italians. Ger
mans. Russian Poles and Greeks,
some of whom can not even under
stand English. It Is a case of indi-
vidual instruction turnout. Deputy
Clerk L. d. vitek has assisted with
The clas@ when, Mr. Gilbert could not
be present.
The men are very much In earnest
In their studies. They learn rapidly
and to read and write much more
quickly than they can learn the real
meaning of the words. The biggest
difficulty is in pronunciation. The
Italians, particularly, have strong
tendency to pronounce every letter in
a word. Mr.. Gilbert feels that the
class will grow and that it will be
necessary to have additional teach
ers. The work can only be success
fully done with small classes.