Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-12-17
Make Report
on Illiterates
in State of Maine

/ iHc loliOWlnS report on Hitter
ates in Maine" was made at the re-
| cent annual meeting of the United
Americans in Portland, by Executive
| Secretary Almon S. Bisbee:
! "A survey of the State of Maine
has been made by the United Ameri-
cans In cooperation with the State
Department of Education, in which
the number of illiterates in the State
as we'll as the number Of organiza-
i tions doing Americanization work
| will be indexed. This survey is near
| ly completed
The organization of the United
Americans was formed Dec. 3rd, 1920
and was incorporated May 21, 1921.
Although the organizations purpose
at the beginning was to protect
America against anti-government
propaganda, it was recognized that
such propaganda has its origin in
groups of newcomers to this coun-
try, who have not been treated pro-
! perly by our native-born population.
therefore, it was decided to carry
out an educational program among
our foreign born and illiterate peo-
| pie. The 1920 census of Maine indi-
Gates that there 20,O4O illiterates in
the State of Maine 5000 of whom are
or native parentage. DR.. Augustus
y. Thomas, State superintendent of
schools of Maine, is educational di-
| rector for the organization and he is
! planning during the year 1922 to
have at least 1000 of these illiterates
enrolled ch o1a OnI
1900 were enrolled in evening school
in the State last year.
Since the United Americans have
been organized, three patriotic con-
certs were given in Portland City hall
and one in the State House, Augusta;
IL patriotic and Americanization ad-
4 dresses have been given before Ro-
tary clubs in Portland, Lewiston, Au-
burn, Biddeford, Saco, Bath, Bangor
and Waterville; five addresses before
Chambers of Commerce of the
State; six High schools; seven
oranges; 10 teachers conventions; l.
Women's clubs: six churches and
two meetings of the American Le-
gion.
Characterization conferences have
been held with II patriotic organiza-
tions and industrial firms Ameri-
zation committees have been ap-
pointed by the Chambers of Com
merce of Portland, Lewiston, Auburn,
Bangor and Bath. Similar commit
tees have been appointed by a large
number of Women's clubs, including
the Womans Literary Union, Coun-
Gil of Jewish Women, League of
Women Voters. and the Colonial
Danes. A committee has also been
formed representing the motion pic
ture houses of the State and through
the work of that committee, moving
picture houses will handle Ameri-
canization films when they are cir
cuited The. Portland Recreation
commission included Americanization
films in their moving picture enter
tainments in the parks of Portland
last summer.
For the first time in the history
of the State, an AmcricanizatiOn
school was held at Castine last sum
mer during the week of the State Su-
perintcndonts' conference from July
IL to July 1G. This summer course
teachers and workers with immi-
grants who realized that they need
ed training fof their work. There
were 80 students in attendance at the
two sessions held every day during
that week. The instructor of the
school was Philip Davis, lecturer
on AmericaniZation and immigration
of Boston University. This school
was held under the auspices of the
United Americans and the State De
partmcnt of Education. Certificates
were presented to those who attend
ed each of the regular sessions. These
certificates were sent by the State
Department of Education at Angus
Ia.
In order to carry out one of the
uh2GcS Of the general Americaniza-
ton prc:ram for the state, an
A,l&t riran,zation supervisor, Miss
Itai. ]. .hhrahamsOn, was appointed
to Cr"&Ni-c and conduct English
classes foT Immigrant women who
woe unable to attend evening school.
The AlnC nCricanization supervisor has
headquarters in the State House, Au-
gusta, and at the office of the United
Americans, u Casco Bank building,
Portland.
Two classes have already been or
ganizod. one for Italian mothers at
130 Federal street and another of Ar
meni&n women at the Portland Fra
tclnity house, Portland of which
Miss Elsie c. Mutt is the resident
worker. A survey of the public
schools of Portland is being prepared
by an Americanization council rep
resenting nine Womens' clubs. in Or
der to ascertain the names of those
| mothers who would like to learn
English, but cannot leave their
homes because of younger children
who do not go to school and cannot
be left by their mothers.
Seventy five of the largest libra
ries in the State with the endorse
ment of the State librariap. Henry
| f. Dunnack, are to cooperate with
the United Americans in arranging
special shelves for Americanization
books The Portland High School
Art Department has conducted an
Americanization Poster Contest, the
winners of which were presented two
books by the executive secretary.
"On Constitution day, last Sep
tember, patriotic meetings We're held
by State Oranges, each of which had
hpan Sent 1pttp,. Tho ~,