The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-09-09
AGAIN
BLAZES TRAIL
KenOsha Teacher Leads
Country in Preparing
Women for the Vote.
HAS MOTHER -GARTEN

Before Tennessee had cut the last
cord that held the suffrage ship in
dry dock, the Kenosha Vocational
School Director 8. F. Randall saw that
the foreign women of its city for
the use of the ballot, according to the
ofhclal bulletin issued today by the
Wisconsin Teachers association.
1t is good American story STORY
OF a bright faced, warm-hearted, Irish
kindergarten; of a group OF shy
Italian mothers and their rollieking
youngsters who must soon grow up in
to American citizens; a story of the
most aristocratic descendants of the
American Revolution and a story of
a wise school teacher who saw his
community's need and made a perfect
adaptation to supply it.
From KiRder-tO Mother-Garten.
Miss Frances O'Hare had been a kim
dergartner at the Balm school near the
Italian neighborhood in Kenosha. Like
a good kindergarten she knew every
mother in her district. They knew her
too, and long experience has proven
to them that she was not only bella"
but their friend. In the spring Of 1920,
Director Randall of the Kenosha Vocs-
tional schools said to Miss O'Hare:
These women in your district are
soon to be voters. Some of them can
not read and write. We must give
them the chance to become intelligent
citizens. Take "a class in the Voca-
tional school and teach them some
thing of their new duties"
So Miss O'Hare went to them. She
pointed to Lovera, Pedro, Antionetta
"Soon they will grow up" she said.
"They will vote. They will know all
about the American government. You
too, will vote soon. Don't you want to
know something about our government
SO that you can help your children to
be good citizens?" They did, because
they trusted Miss O'Hare and loved
their children.
School in a Kitchen.
"But," they said. "We cannot go
to the Escuola'. Who will take care
of the children ?" Miss O'Hare went
back to Director Randall.
"They are interested" she reported,
but they viii not go to the school
building"
They hit on plan. Miss O'Hare
went to Mrs. Galotti. You have
big, sunny Kitchen" she said. "Let
all the women come here to learn
about the government. Let them bring
the babies and the big boys and girls
will take care of them"
And the Plan, Worked.
It worked beautifully. On citizen
ship days the street outside Mrs. Ga
lotti's was full of laughing babies in
charge Of serious faced older boys and
girls and inside, the shy Italian women
learned to read, to mark ballots, and
asked eager questions about their
health officer, the man who gave Tony
his working papers, the policeman, the
truant officer. The work was simple
and confined chiefly to local govern
ment, but later there will be oppor-
tunity to learn more about the state
and the federal government. At the
end came a delightful surprise. The
local chapter of the D. A. r. had been
cooperating with Director Randall in
his other citizenship work.
Americans All.
They said, "Send us your women's
class in citizenship. We want to give
them party"
It was great party, given in the
home of one of the chapter members.
There was an eager investigation O.
vacuum cleaner, shining American
kitchen, and all the many little de-
vices dear to the housekeeper's heart
in any land; an exchange Of recipes,
and anecdotes about babies, little shy
discussion of local politics, and under
all a warm fellowship and the growing
consciousness on the part of both hos
tesses and guests that we are Americans
all and the heirs to a gOodly heritage.
School Opportunity,
The Kenosha Vocational school is
one of forty-seven schools in the state
offering part time, full time, and even
ing courses for all people over four
teen years old, not in the public
schools. These opportunity schools"
make every effort to find out and meet
the needs of the community and to
make it as easy as possible for every
one to avail himself Of this work.