Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-10
AUGMENTATION
School Ready 10
Train Citizens
Glasses Open Sept. 10
To Import Ideals
Of Government
By MAUDE f. ALTON,

The Americanization School OF the
Public Schools of the District of Co.
lumbia will open day classes Mon
day. September ID. at 10 am. and
evening classes at pm. of the same
day.
All public schools have as their
chief objective the preparation OF
students for entering life as citizens
Of democracy. The school is
specifically concerned with citizen
ship since it is here that many new
Corners to our country come If they
wish to prepare for the great step
of naturalization A man or woman
about to have conferred upon him
the greatest gift nation can be-
stow should understand the basic
principles underlying the Govern
ment to which he is to pledge allie
glance.
The Naturalization Service under
James l.. Houghteling. Commissioner
of immigration and Naturalization,
asks that all schools cooperating
with the service bring to the petit
TONERS not merely the facts of gov
eminent and its functions. but these
democratic principles upon which
our Government is based. This the
Americanization School attempts to
do, using homely illustrations from
community life. aiGing petitioners to
experience situations which clarity
the meaning of these principles and
trying to visualize democracy by
living. in some measure democracy.
Examinations Each Month.
Some laws have changed since the
last session of school, and there will
be many questions which may be
answered by the staff or referred to
the proper naturalization officials.
Examinations for naturalization UNI
der the direction of Senior Examiner
P. j. Phillips and Examiner Eugene
Cole are given each month at the
school. Following the examination
+ based on understanding of the prln-
ciples of government, petitioners are
called to the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia
Here again a representative of the
school checks each case for the
schools so that the public schools
retain a record of the thousands of
petitioners who have been natural
lied after preparation in the school.
Closely allied with the study of
principles of government are the
language courses. A newcomer to
our country cannot become citizen
for five years with some eXcep-
TONS, but when men and women
arrive in Washington from various
countries of the world. many find
their way to the characterization
School promptly. They come at this
time not for preparation for citi-
zenship. but for language. This is
a most important first step; for
without a common language there
can be no clear understanding
English is taught as a modern Ian
guage using direct methods and the
! vernacular at once as the language
of instruction.
Language LcdIIleu nd plulN.
1t is amazing to note the rapidity
with which the great majority OF
students learn the language, and as
they learn the language they also
learn of the customs and ways Of
the country. Current events art
used in all classes as basis for dis.
custom There are various grade!
in this department of the school
There is a special coaching class fol
children who are sent on to thu
regular graded schools or high
school as soon as they have sufficien
English. A kindergarten is opened
for 5-year-old children and a nurs.
cry where small children may be lef1
While mothers are in classes.
The third part of the school meet:
the needs of men and women who
have never before had an opportu-
nifty to attend school in any land
Here are American-born as we'll as
newcomers and here we see the JOY
of passing from an illiterate to lit
crate. We believe this means much
for future citizenship.
The staff of the school includes
in the day and evening classes, Mrs
E. H. Wood. assistant to the princi-
pal; Miss Marion V. Ball, Alder,
Blum, Mrs. E. N. Borg. Miss Elizabeth
G. Boyle, Mrs Marion L. earle, Miss
Dorothy j. Donnally, Mrs. Caroline
K. Gray, Mrs. Katherine D. Gross
S. H. HaneSSian, Miss Grace NJ jan
ney, kindergartner; Mrs. Dorothy J
Miller. Miss Vera Parker, Mrs. Mar
garet M. Ryan, Miss Gladys Tapley
Mrs. E. H. Turner. Miss Adrian
Spelta. in charge of nursery: Mrs
Helen c. Kiernan-Vasa and Mrs. G
M. S. McClintock.
AssOcia ton Active.
The Americanization School is
probably best known in Washington
| through its active student organiza
ton, the Americanization School As
ISOLATION. This is body of students
former students and friends. It's pur-
poses are educational, cultural and
patriotic. It's outstanding presidents
the first, former Chief Justice Wal
ter I. Mccoy, and the present presi-
dent, Col Frederic A. Delano, have
greatly aided the expansion of the
general interest in this organization
The vice president and business
manager, Mr.. Hanessian, is planning
a year of unusual activity.
Some of the activities for mex
year are the annual bazaar, Decem.
Der and 5; A. S. A. Library. three
evenings week. 7;30 to Gas, lee
lures and social meetings; reception
to new citizens, monthly; A. S. A
Band, music appreciation evenings
dances, immigra ton and naturaliza
lion aid and meeting of citizenship
section, monthly.