The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-11
AUGMENTATION
IN PITTSBURGH
Trained Workers Are Edu-
eating the Foreign WOm-
en- and Children
CHURCHES LEAD
IN STARTING WORK
Workers Are Selected from Foreigners,
Educated and Then Sent to Improve
People of Their Own Nationality -
Patriotism Important Theme.

PITTSBURGH, March .n-More than
100000 foreigners who live within 20
miles of the Pittsburgh court house are be-
ing Americanized through the education of
women and children by trained workers
who speak their home tongue and are ac-
quaintcd with their home customs.
These workers are selected by church
boards from among the foreign population,
and after being educated i'll cookery. nur-
sing and the essentials of Americanism are
sent among the people to carry out a sys-
TEN by winch the foreigner may be lifted
to the level oi his American neighbor.
For religious purposes they have the active
assistance of clergymcn who speak the
languages of immigrants from southern
Europe, and who are in sympathy with
the people.
| The Presbyterian church, the Presbytery
o. the Presbyterian pioneer in the move
ment, has 81 educational stations scattered
IN ali parts Of Allegheny county, II trained
foreign workers and II ministers. 1t also
| publishes four weekly papers having a
|
and the leaders OF tie movement estimate
bat fully 100000 foreigners come under the
| influence of its workers every day.
The plan is simple Foreigners coming
| into the district usually collect in groups
each nationality living in its own section
of the community where the men are EN-
| ployed. Colporteurs, speaking many Ian
guages, are sent among them to spy out
the land and inquire into their needs
| These men gain the confidence of the
people, and i'll time begin the distribution
of literature printed in the language OF
the particular group. This includes short
stories depicting American life anC
| sketches of men who have done much
to make America. Gradually the for
eigners show added interest and whei
the women and children come over the
| colony is ready for the woman workel
from the Presbyterian training, school
The care of children how to prepare
1 American meats and vegetables, and tn,
best methods to keep their houses clear
are gradually taught 1.-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 children
They gladly seize upon the opportunItj
afforded for Approximation, and ar,
| eager to learn the language and custom o
the country, It often happens that the,
are not content with the learning the.
obtain in the public school. but Grove
| the summer schools conducted by tn
Presbytery. They learn quickly, and attic
a few months sewing is taught to the girl
and manual training to the boys.
i They are surrounded with CLEANLINESS
moral and physical, and made to feel tina
if they are to become real citizens of tn
country they must learn and follow tn
mental and physical lessons taught t,
them by the young women workers Re
suits have been most gratifying sa.
leaders of the movement
Reaching the man from southern Flu
rope is perhaps a little more difficult, bu
when once reached. authorities declare
he seldom goes back either to his forme
mental state or his native land
Patriotism is the first theme of tn
workers. not meaningless platitudes, bu
practical lessons in the advantages @
living in America Often these lessons ar
turned to good account, as in the case c
40 young Russian who recentlv trans
formed Bolshevist society in Pittsburg
into classes which are now engaged i
learning English.