Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-20
PREPARATION FOR CIT 1zENsH1p.

The Herald has just received a letter from Rob
et S. Coleman of St. Paul, chief naturalization ex-
a1niner for the federal Naturalization service in that
city, expressing qualification over the action taken
by the Board Of Education in inaugurating night
schools IN Grand Forks, and rendering the cooper
alton of his bureau in the furtherance of this work.
Mr.. Coleman, because OF the field which he occu-
pies, is in a position to be particularly we'll inform
ed concerning the need for better educational ia
c%ilities for certain groups OF our immigrant popula-
ton. He is constantly brought into contact with
llliteracy among immigrants who hope at some time
to become American citizens, and because these per-
sons are usually beyond ordinary school age, the or
binary school facilities do not meet their needs.
Hence the naturalization work OF the government
stands in close relationship to the work Of the even
ing school.
In connection with the special feature of natu-
.r~alization Mr.. Coleman says that his office stands
ready to furnish, free of charge, textbooks and GER
tain other literature intended 1or the use of foreign
born persons who are preparing themselves for ad-
mission to citizenship. Undoubtedly this informa-
ton will be welcomed by the local school authori-
ties, and steps will be taken to utilize the facilities
thus offered in SO far as they are adapted to local
needs.
The work OF the evening school has an import
ane bearing on the immigration problem and on the
work of naturalization. Those who come to us
from abroad without ordinary school equipment
need instruction, not merely in order that they may
pass certain examinations and thus be admitted to
certain privileges, but that they may be better fitted
to take their places in American community life as
workers, thinkers, neighbors and friends. For many
the evening school provides the only available
means of instruction.
OF course, the work is not confined to immi-
grants or to the illiterate. There are educational
deficiencies arising from a multitude of causes which
leave young men and women ill-equipped to per-
form their proper work in the world. The problem
of earning a living is an ever-present one. The work
of the day occupies most Of the hours Of the day.
Unless evening instruction is within reach educa-
tional development, in most cases.. stops. The pre-
%sentation of opportunity often develops the tenden-
cy to take advantage of opportunity. The commu-
nifty which presents to its youth this additional
means for growth and development is doing. a SPLEEN
did thing for itself in raising the general standard
of its citizenship.
incidentally, and by no means of least import
lance, is the influence which the night school may
have on the work of the day school. The public
school has become so much a part of our life that it
is taken as a matter of course. Children often at
tend school because they must, and develop little
real interest in their work. The boy who is inclin-
ed to fritter away his time in school may be set to
thinking when he sees the young man in shop, store
or factory, after a full days work, denying himself
an evenings entertainment in order that he may
receive some Of the training which his younger
|neighbor esteems lightly and which, in his own ear
lier youth, he himself may have rejected. The young
lad is apt to conclude that there must be something
in this Educational stuff" after all, and be inclined
to put more ginger into his work now in order that
he may not need to do it later. /,
We need not look for any of that Attic salt in
AfEKc - &EE H&%r