Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-11
Supt. Graham's Recommendations

being about what the states proportion would have been had a director been ap- pointed at the beginning of the year. finder this arrangement, J. w. Carlevale, who was doing work in behalf of foreign residents, was appointed director in De- cember, his salary, approximately SS0 month, paid by the state. The work was under the general direction of the school committee. monthly reports being sent to the state department of Americanization As far as time would permit, he visited the industries and factories, talked with tho foreign born men and women, and advised them to enter the night School to glearn to speak and write the English language and become American citizens. He was instrumental in organizing two new classes, one at Broadway, the other at the West Side silk mill. This made a total of four classes in the town in Characterization work. The local Girec- tor. besides his work in the night school and industries, helped the foreigners to take out their first and second citizenship papers and conducted large group of men to the superior court to become citi- zens.
 For the coming school year, I believe that the town should make an appropria- tion for the work of this department of Americanization and that a director should be appointed. The cooperation of local civic bodies and local industries should be enlisted, factory classes and neighborhood classes in addition to the night school classes be organized and the work of Americanization projected and made o function as a more important l factor in the work of the public schools. The business of making all people good i American citizens constitutes the highest aim of education.
 In addition to the facts mentioned, here are three lines of work in which a | local director could give valuable assist ance in the night school work.
 Regular Attendance.
 Constant attention should be given to 1 the matter of attendance. Not much is accomplished by establishing night schools unless there is regularity of at tendance by the pupils. Where attend ance is optional 50 per cent. is about the average record. With good foliowup methods this record should be increased to approximately 75 per cent.
 Information Center.
 There should be established a center where people of alien birth could go for information and assistance. A place where they know they would be treated fairly and their welfare promoted Such 8 center should be open daily and al i least one evening of the week.
 Promotion of Naturalization.
 The local director could look up the candidates and assist thera in making out ! their declaration of intention (firs paper) :; advise the candidates to enel the citizenship classes to prepare for the court examination. Each session of the court should be followed by an appro
 priate program at which time the new citizens would be given their certificates This would be more impressive and lenC l dignity to the occasion.
 Experience has taught many things anC
 among them that i've must meet thes
 non English speaking people on thei ground" man who has just come U this country cannot be expected to dis
 card the language and cusoms of ri
 country at once. He must be led to -e tain the virtues of his own country ant accept the better things which Americ , has to offer. He should be taught to dis card his foreign allegiance and learn [ be loyal and obedient to our laws and in s stitutions. The foreigner should 'secur
 enough English to anchor him to tn
 political as well as the economic interest , of his adopted country" The languag is. therefore, the necessary factor in pre- senting the ideals and practices of tn f new world to the new comer 10 brin n to these un-American tongues the Ian . guage, the ideals. the standards of living 3 the aspiration for better things, an Q withal the freedom of action which char I acerizes the well ordered American fam . fly, is work which challenges tn v greatest and best service that the schoo 9 the government and the community, a
 working together, can possibly give.'