Evening star., 1950-11-23

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First Of o series of articIes on speciol
schools in the Districts public school
system.
born people most surely speak Of
a new inner perception of friend
illness toward all peoples Of all
countries. They-of many ma
tions, of many religions, of many
cultures-are learning English.
They are also learning interna-
tional understanding. as they
study and work together in their
own little United Nations-the
Americanization School, Of the
Nations Capital.
They Write Own History Text.
In a short mimeographed His
tory of America" which they re-
Gently prepared. students of this
Americanization School say in the
opening sentence:
Before 1900, no persons had
any idea of this country"
Today-in 1950-there are per-
sons in the. world who have, to
say the least. had little oppor-
tunity to have any idea of this
country. But Americanization
students are eager to learn. They
are here with hope and courage
and with faith in America.
They 90 on to say in their self
written history booklet, Under
the Government of the, United
States of America all persons are
safe and free. All persons have
the chance to be happy"
"Sees Them Through"
The name, "AmericaniZation,"
specifically means the instruction
of immigrants in English, civics,
American history. and other
studies designed to prepare them
for life in these United States.
Washington's Americanization
School "sees them through to citi-
zenship." When immigrants en-
roll some know not a word of
English: others know a bit. But
they learn it by the usual proc
esses of listening and speaking, of
looking and writing.
They also learn it by the more
unusual processes of washing,
weaving and other work activities.
For example, in some of their own
countries clothes are washed by
beating. In which case. the learn
Ing process comes through steps,
first, of using the old-time wash
board and "scrubbing" the clothes,
then, later, of mastering the mod
ern electrical washing machine,
with all it's contraptions.
Americanization students also
weave. The first rug made by the
student is for the student, the
second for the school and the
third for the schools big annual
bazaar. Beautiful rugs they are.
And one feels they hold threads
Of international understanding.
Talk Is in English.
Conversations at the school, |
during classes and during wash
ing, weaving and other colorful
activities, are in English. so that
learning English will be expedited
in every possible way. When a |
newly entering student has had |
some English in his own country
he may be asked questions in Eng
lish, as was the Chinese boy next
in line for an interview in the reg
istration Office. Very, very slowly
the principal said:
"Son, .how far did you go to
school in China?"
II was q graduate of junior
high school," the Chinese lad re-
piled in clearly enunciated Eng
lish, though a bit slowly spoken.
"And yet you want to go to
Junior high school here?" again
slowly and understandingly quer-
led the principal
even the busy principal, or one
of his associates, to accompany
new student to a classroom and,
in clear, careful words give an in
PRODUCTION such as:
This is Miss Ryan. who will be
your teacher" These words were
spoken the other day to a young
Russian mother. whose 3-year-old
girl with the patience of child
hood. stood by throughout her
mothers first visit to the Ameri-
canization School. The husband,
wife and child were among recent
arrivals of displaced persons in
Washington.
You may bring the little girl
to school with you until some plan
is made for her care" the mother
was told, and she smiled under
standingly and with appreciation.
Since her arrival in Washington
she has been tutored in English,
and with the slow and careful
enunciation of the Americaniza-
ton teacher, she caught her mean
ing-but perhaps most of all, she
felt her sincere interest.
Typical Learning Situations.
Observing here and there what
goes on in this unusual school, one
sees or hears:
"Yes, SIR" was the unhesitating
reply.
This seemed all satisfactory, and
the Chinese student who had
learned some English in his own
country was evidently off to a
good start in one of the Junior
high schools here, where he was
to be referred.
Security" was the reason given
by the principal for the boys de-
sire to enroll in junior high
school, even though he is junior
high school graduate in his home
land. He will gain security and
self-reliance by his decision and
later be better able to tackle the
senior high school with confidence.
Friendly Doorway.
The principals Office is the
friendly doorway through, which
students initially find understand