Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-30
SERVICE CITIZENS
MAKING HEADWAY IN
AM{R|CAN|zAT|ON
Activities and Plans Outlined by
Director ]. Fl. Odell, at
Meeting Today.
WORKING TOWARD
BETTER EDUCATION

How the Americanization workers of
the Service Citizens are endeavoring TO
bring home to the foreigner the value OF
being Americanzed, and the far-reaching
plans for the Improvement of all things
and persons in Delaware through better
education were prominent features of the
report of DIR. Joseph II. Odell, director
of the Service Citizens of Delaware, at q
quarterly meeting of the board of directors
held in the Library Building today.
Another encouraging fact was the adding
of nearly 200 names of new members to
the organization from all parts of the
State.
Henry p. Scott presided and owing TO
Charles Warner having to leave before
the meeting was over, Mr.. Scott permitted
Mr.. Warner to make report for special
committee that had TO do with the con-
sidering of applications for funds from
various organizations with which to carry
on their work.
An appeal for S526 with which to pay
various persons scattered throughout
Delaware Tor the proper recording and
registration of births was recommended
by the special committee. An appeal
for 5000 from the Childrens Bureau
Of Delaware, with which TO do a special
line of work. did not meet with the APP
proval of the committee
Mr.. Warner explained that there were
two fixed agencies-the State Board of
Charities and State Board Of EduCation-
under whose supervision the special work,
relating 10 chldren's education would
come. that should arrange for It, He
admitted that il might be establishing
an unfortunate precedent IN thus refusing
hut that because OF the two State agencies,
having more direct relation, his committee
thought IL best at this time TO refuse the
request. The directors so concurred.
DIR. Odell presented his report and at
the beginning referred to the work being
done in Americanizing foreigners and
called upon Miss Helen Hart in charge
of that work To make a verbal presenta-
tion OF its activities.
Miss Hart explained in much detail
what was being done 10 make the foreign !
crs yealize that America wanted them and |
their families, and the need for them be |
coming citizens of this land She said 1
that while both the State Board of Educa-
ton and the Service Citizens were help /
ing them. they were being urged TO rally |
about the night schools as the central
fixture of their community.
Miss Hart said that particular emphasis
Was beng put on the community meetings
and that through social pleasures, recrea-
tlon, dancing and singing efforts 10 make
the foreigners feel that they were at home
here and wanted were showing good |
results. She asked women TO volunteer
TO go to the homes of foreigners and aid
the women in attaining an education in
English. The father attends night school,
the children go to day school, but the
mother is being left behind in the Ameri-
canization melting pot.
Miss Hart also spoke of the Trouble
Bureau and its work Here the foreigner
is aided TO any matter here his absence
of language is likely 10 make him victim
of unfortunate circumstances or vicious
persons. The bureau while but recently
established has done such commendable
work and its clientele IS increasing weekly. |
Mrs. Preston Lea spoke of the work
beng done in the night classes and was
greatly pleased with the results attained.
At the conclusion of DR.. Odell's report,
which was fled, Ms Charles r. Miller |
told of the work being done 81 health
renters throughout the city, stating that
he children and their mothers were being
gotten into physical fitness to attend night
:lasses at the health centers. and that the
health agencies were working IN close
harmony with the Service Citizens in
his educational work.