New Britain herald., 1921-09-02
APPROXIMATIONS
 IN NEW BRITAIN
Foreign Born Numbering 8,575
 Attend Meetings in s Months

The naturaltzing Of 7b foreign born residents Of New Britain 1t the last session Of the naturalization court and the large number who plan 10 become Clttzons next month who have been taught the laws and customs of this country. how to read and write. who and what our government Is and tho proper respect for the flag and what |. represents through the local Amer Irhnizzation bureau and it's director, James E. O'Brien. has gone d long ~av towards eliminating tho tlltter- aey of this city. This Is shown by the following extracts from MT. O'Brien's report.
 Tn appealing to the Committee of One Hundred on America ton of alien residents. former Mayor outx- ley in hlS circular letter of April %. 1918. said in part: There Is an urE- ent need for immediate action here in New Britain in stimulating the study of the English language. in developing the understanding of American gov ernment. institutions and ideals, and In promoting of the assimilation and naturalization Of the alien residents" ''Anti-American propaganda to con- vert un-Americanized masses into an enti-Ameriean population is being con- dGcted by enemies of the United states Most of the industrial dtffi- Sulties arc fomented among aliens"
 On May 1st. 1918. the Committee Of One Hundred met and decided to gc Into this matter thoroughly. After considerable information was com piled. as the result of questionnaires sent out to other municipalities and a survey of Now Britain showed the need of concerted action. a decision was reached. that some leader should be sought to start the machinery go- inE.
 F. P. o'Brien was chosen to direct fhtS work of Anerieanization as well as to supervise evening school instruc- ton. Hts task was by no means an easy one. still with the solid backing of tho Chamber of Commerce. the Manufacturers association and the school board. much rapid progress 1 waA made to carry out the Mayors dictum.
 As a war measure. tho value of Araerieanization not only in New Britain but throughout the entire l country is SO we'll known that it ! would bs superfluous to make mention ! od it here.
 One Of the outstanding results was the\ popularising of the evening ! schools. tho enrollment increasing in 1 leaps and bounds. so that at the | pr csent time IL compares very favor | ably with other cities of the state and 1 nation.
 Three years have elapsed since the | introduction of the work into New Britain and with the exception of five months, during which time the work was temporarily suspended. owing to the lack of adequate funds. the work has been under the direction Of paid director. '.-a
 New Britain as we'll as other cities throuEhout the country had entered I upon tt readtustment and recon struction period, which was an inevtt- able aftermath of the world conflict Various organizations throughout the country. which were formed for the purpose of helping America win the war. died or at least lay dormant It was the opinion ot the city Americanf- Zation committee that Americanization work also would have 10 undergo re- adjustment and reconstruction in or der to meet present needs and condi- tions.
 It was thought adv1sable that the  dual o%ice of tAmericanization director and supervisor of evening schools should be divorced. the supervision of the evening schools to bc left. in the hands of the superintendent of schools and the principals of tho three even ing schools. The duties Of the Ameri- canization director to be confined to the arousinE and fostering of a de- sire on the part of the foreign born to mako use of these schools. This insptrational work to be done with the cooperation Of various clubs. so- cietief. churches. semt-public organf- xations and factories.
 Through the hearty cooperation Of the Chamber of Commerce, a dinner was held at the Elks club. 10 which were invited ministers. priests. racial leaders. business men. manufacturers. city officials and others. The dinner was z pronounced success. the con- Fensus of opinion being that there was a broad held here in New Britain to SOW tho seeds of Americanism: all present assuring the director and hts