New Britain herald., 1924-12-13

These figures speak for them- selves.
 "Illiteracy at home is the cause of poor work in English by many children in school.
 Also, it is the frequent cause of a child's missing the meaning of words and sentences in history and other subjects.
 Statistics regarding this point are on file in the superintendent office.
 I'll. Economic reasons.
 An educated mother will buy more intelIigentiy and spend her money more wisely. storekeepers In foreign sections of the city often impose on women, who do not know how to judge wisely, or how much the goods are worth.
 "A knowledge of English usually affords some help in investing the family funds to better advantage.
 This naturally results in better living conditions and opportunities for the children.
 I'll. This would aid in securing good health.
 Doctors and nurses are hammered In giving directions to non- English speaking people. How can these people understand unless there be a capable interpreter? In some cases there is such an interpreter. but in many there is not. One doctor said We could get more done if the peo- pie knew English
 'IV. This would enable widows to apply for state aid.
 "A widow who knows too little English to become a citizen, is not eligible for such aid. Some widows In New Britain, with little children have not been able to receive state aid for this reason.
 "V. The children of non English speaking parents present great prob lems.
 "The unity of family life often is destroyed because the father and children go to work or school, and learn American customs and Ian guage, while the mother remains a foreigner in every way. As the gar becomes wider, the other members of the family come to hold the mother In disregard. The children do not obey her. She Is unable tc train them or 10 assume the place which the mother should hold 1T the home. For example: A child Of l2 years may control his mother. He irterprets for her fin the store and other places. He may bring home report card showing deficiency il studies and department, and he mis' interprets this to her. She believes him, because she cannot read. ol he brings home stolen articles and tells her that they were given tc him. He imposes upon his mother in every way and literally rules the home.
 "Homes of this type, where the mother cannot control, are feeders for our institutions. There IS large nreponderance of second generation foreign children, q. e. children ol foreign-born parents) in reiorha' tories and juvenile courts.
 But when an American teache' comes into the home and the chil' dren know that their mother IS u contact with her, their atti'uae changes. They cease 10 pull lht wool over her eyes, and she becomes better able to control them.
 The petition was signed by Mrs B .B Bassette, the Woman's cluo Fstella A. Dickinson, supt. City MS sion; Mrs. Mary HNggerty, repre- sentinr Catholic Women's BeneVo lent Legion; Mrs, Douglas A. JonhS ton, College club; Mrs Laura I. see I've, First church missionary; Agne' NJ. Fox, president of N. B. Chapter Conn. Council Catholic women Greta F. Brown, librarian New BTU ain Institute: Mary A. Gaffney, re i gent. Daughters Of Isabella; Mar ion Brown. president of Y, w. H. A. | Mrs. Isaac D. Russell, st. Mark