Evening star., 1933-04-14
|SLASHES OPPOSED
| FOR ALIEN SCHOOL
Americanization Association
Pleads for Item in Dis.
trict Budget.

Pleading for continuation of the Dis
trict Americanization School work as
a powerful aid to good citizenship, the
Americanization School Association, in
a statement issued today, declared that
the proposed AZ per cent reduction in
the lump sum appropriated for this de-
partment of the public school system
would endanger the whole Americana
Zation program.
The association pointed out that the
AZ per cent cut has been recommended
by the Bureau of the Budget and voted
by >the House and now is under dis
cussion before the Senate subcommittee
on District Appropriations.
While hearty approval of and gen.
eral willingness to comply with the
Presidents desire to balance the budg-
ct is expressed on all Sides" the as
sociation's statement reads, many Or
ganizaticns and individuals who have
been actively interested in the growth
OF this community project which has
been developed upon the sound basis
needs, are aroused to question the fair
ness or advisability Of so crippling a
vital part Of the school system"
opposed Dy CIVIC EOOZeS.
| The association pointed out that the
reduction also is opposed by such or
ganizationS as the District of Columbia
Federation of Women's Clubs and the
! Daughters of the American Revolution,
both of which have voiced their pro-
! test through representatives to the Sen
ate subcommittee.
| In its statement the association said:
: "a recent release from Judge Walter
I, l. Mccoy, former Chief Justice of the
| Supreme Court of the District and al
ways a sponsor of the school and the
Americanization School Association, of
which he Is now president, says that
until the Americanization School was
established as part OF the public
school system, very large pro-
portion Of those who applied for
citizenship during the Is years in
, preme Court of the District had to
come into court several times before
| they could be admitted because of their
lack of preparation, and even then their
preparation was not very satisfactory.
The court required that the applicant be
able to read and write English as well
as speak it. and after the establishment
of the school. the judges were SO i'm
pressed with the improvement of petit
TONERS, not only in these requirements,
but in their comprehension of the prin-
ciples and functioning of the Govern
ment of the District and of the United
States, that the court came to rely upon
the certificate of the school to the effect
that applicants were qualified in these
respects.
| Graduates Shown Loyal.
| Judge Mccoy states that graduates
of the school have shown themselves
| to be loyal citizens. He says that when
4, petitioner is certified out of the school
as being a good citizen, nine chances
| to one he is one.
| "The Americanization School Associa-
| ton, of which Judge Mccoy is presi-
| dent, co-operates with the school and
| exists for the benefit of the school and
| its work The membership consists of
| pupils, former pupils and citizens of the
| District of Columbia who are interested
| in the work of the school and has
among its active members such out
standing citizens as Col. Frederic A.
Delano, Second Assistant Secretary of
Labor w. w. Husband, not to mention
| many others. The organization was
founded primarily for the purpose of
bringing together the various national
tiles represented in the school, aiding
In upholding standards Of good citizen
ship, assisting its members in adjusting
| to life in this country. It's members are
seriously disturbed over the proposed
curtailment Of the work of the school.
"The steady growth Of the work
Of the school, in spite OF restric-
| tion Of immigration and OF the
general depression, is remarkable in
view of the fact that it is an
| institution entirely free from compul-
sorry attendance. During the school year
of 1872 over 1000 students were en-
! rolled In its various classes, showing
constant increase over previous years.
Petitioners for naturalization who were
admitted to citizenship and had studied
in the school, numbered 355. Examin-
ations are being held in the school by
| the District director Of naturalization.
P. j. Phillips, Thursday OF this
week Examinations of this tyne are
given every month. This month approx
| imately 70 petitioners will be examined
1T is dificult to see how the Ameri-
| caniZation School will be able to func-
| ton efficiently with little more than
| half the funds used dloing the current