Evening star., 1940-01-14

and who now supervises the Americ
1000 foreign-born adults each year
Unlike many school principal
seclusion of a private room, Miss
Alton has her desk in the first-f1oor
corridor of the school, where she
personally receives all who enter
the building.
II discover many problems in this
way" she explained, which other
wise I would miss"
The happy voices Of children could
be heard from the kindergarten at
the far end of the corridor, as Miss
Alton discussed the problems which
are often as complex as the back
grounds of the pupils who gather
in the old building at Tenth and H
streets NV. The children, sons and
daughters of the adult students,
whose birthplaces include nearly
every country in the world, are
taught and supervised in the
kindergarten, while their mothers
study the English language and the
principles of American citizenship.
Word Foreigners"
Noypr TTSod in SchOOI
Miss Alton and her efficient staff
have spent many years assisting the
newcomers" (the word foreigner is
never used in the school, it was eX-
plained to understand the princi-
Piles of government as well as the
rules of American citizenship.
Miss Atoms first experience with
the problems of Americas foreign
born was during the World War
when she taught foreign-born SOL
diers at night school. Her first asso-
Citations with the old building, too.
began during the war, although at
that time it was used as an emer-
gency hospital and not a school
building.
II was one of the volunteers who
worked in the building during the
flu epidemic she explained, land
I can still vividly recall groups of
sick officers and men, daily brought
into this building"
Miss Alton told how she realized
at that time the need for American
ization education among the for
eign-porn adults of this country
and how, although she loved kinder
garten work, she believed a more
interesting and wider field of work
would be found helping to educate
these people to become intelligent
American citizens. She also became
interested in the legal problems con-
nected with naturalization and at
tended court frequently in her de-
sire to help ambitious but bewildered
newcomers" struggling with q
strange language and the COM
plexity of new laws.
Miss Alton conducts classes both
day and night throughout the sum
mer and winter. Her work seem.
never ending.
Don't you get tired?" she was
asked.
There is never q moment o.
monotony." she replied. For any
one interested in psychology and ir
the humanities the work is not
diflcult-it is a JOY" she added.
Students Range From
Laborers to Scholars.
Miss Atoms students have in
cluded the highest and th~ lowest
A brilliant Siamese scholar, study
ing Americas naturalization laws
is an equally enthusiastic pupil with
the humble Italian laborer learning
to speak English.
"We find the learning processes as
we carry them out in progressive
educational work apply to the adult
just as they do to the child" Miss
Alton said.
"And, like children, the grown
ups are happy in their achieve
ments. Achievement" she added
contributes to happiness.
Although she finds no time for
hobbies, Miss Alton admits that her
particular love" is the Americana.
ton School Association, which she
says has made possible the success
full and constructive work of the
school by its aid and assistance tc
students and members.
Miss Alton is a member of the
Soroptimist Club and chairman OF
the organizations Vocational Guild
ance Committee. She is legislative
chairman of the department of
adult education of the National
Education Association and was for
merly president of that group. A
native of Iowa. she accompanied her
parents to Washington at an early
age, is graduate of Eastern High
School, holds a B. A. and a mas
ter's degree from National Univer-
sity and has taken many courses at
George Washington University and
at Wilson Teachers College, where
she is now member of the fac
ulty.