C6 &-y F 499 ^^=s=s==z^=^=^=i^ .C6 C58 Copy 1 Report of the Work of the Cleveland Americanization Committee of the Mayor's Advisory War Board July 1917 -July 1918 A MERICA has so recently awakened to /\ the necessity of having a country whose jC ^ people are united by a connuon language, customs and ])urposes that all work along this line has been more or less experimental. The Cleveland Americanization Committee started out with a desire to accomplish certain results but left the methods to be determined as the work developed. Through this elasticity the activities have gradually brought to light certain principles as l)eing most effective in accomplish- ing the end. We are therefore, in tiiis report, giving them precedence over the activities them- selves, because we regard them as fundamental in building a permanent foundation for future work. At first it was necessary to spend much time visiting the leaders of the various races so as to allay very natural su.spicions as to our designs. For years because of our indifference, our foreign- l)orn residents had become segregated in groups with their own stores, schools and community life. Suddenly with the war came a heralding in the newspapers of the need of stamping out this un-American condition accompanied at times by rather hastily considered statements as to the radical measures deemed to be necessary. The.se statements created in the nund of the foreign- born uncertain feeling as to their citizenship status. Because of their unfamiliarity with American ways it seemed to them that arbitrary compulsion, which they came to America to avoid, was again looming over them. Si)eaking of the relation of the two great groups of native-born and foreign-born Americans to each other. President Wilson says: "It has been a very touching thought to nae sometimes to think of the hopes which have dra'mi these peo- ple to America. And I can imagine that they have expected here something ideal in the treat- ment that they will receive, something ideal in the laws which they would have to live under, and it has caused me many a time to turn upon myself the eye of examination to see whether there burned in me the true light of the American spirit which they expected to find here. So my interest in this movement is as much an interest in ourselves as in those whom we are trying to Americanize, because if we are genuine Ameri- cans they cannot avoid the infection." To give the native born a sympathetic under- standing of the backgrounds of the foreign-born, their political inspirations and social gifts ready for this country to make use of, we have secured the services of Mrs. Eleanor E. Ledbetter, who for some years has been the very successful di- rector of a foreign branch library, to make a survey of the races represented in Cleveland. The article on the Slovak race is now in the printers' hands and work on the Jugo-Slavs has already been begun. If we are sincerely desirous of having all of our people learn to speak English, because we recog- nize its value both to them and to us, we must take into consideration their physical and economic situation and arrange the classes accordingly. During our long period of neglect they have not been led to feel the necessity of learning Enghsh. So far as we know, there is only one factory which demands the learning of English as a condition of employment. Those who after a hard day's work have the ambition that prompts them to hunt up a class in an evening school need not be considered here. They are already Americans in spirit. The great majority of our non-English speaking residents, however, need urging. Es- pecially is this true if they are illiterate in their own language. The most satisfactory time for the classes, therefore, is as a part of the day's work. The Extension Department of the Board of Education, in charge of Dr. A. W. Castle, and his assistant, Dr. E. P. Wiles, has the direction of all the English and Citizenship classes for the adult foreign-born. They wished to try the ex- periment of putting their teachers, specially trained in Americanization work, into factory classes. Our part was to serve as the contact between the factory managers and the Board of I V» ^=====1======= Education and to help organize these classes. '^v Because it was a new experiment we did not seek ^ to lay down rigid rules for their regulation. We arranged the classes in whatever way seemed to :;j suit best the conditions of each factory, thinking .• that the most successful one would demonstrate ^ the best method. During the year, classes were organized in the following industrial plants, one hour a day, two days a week for English, and in some classes an extra day for citizenship. American Can Co. 'Cleveland Provision Co. — American Stove Co. part time *H. Black Co. — part time Cleveland Worsted Mills Cleveland Akron Bag Co. Co. Cleveland Hardware Co. 'Columbian Hardware Co. Cohn-Goodman Co. Emscheimer-Fischel Co. 'Cleveland Fruit Juice Co. — Federal Knitting Co. part time *Kaynee Factory. — part time 'Ferry Cap & Screw Co. — *I,ampson & Sessions Co. — full time full time *L. N. Gross & Co.— full time 'Willard Storage Battery Co. 'Globe Stamping Co.— full 'Foster Nut & Bolt Co.— time will pay part time 'Grasselli Chemical Co. — 'National Screw & Tack Co. part time — full time 'Joseph & Feiss Co. — con- dition of employment '(The company paid for either half or all of the time taken by the classes.) Total enrollment— 698. The most practical time was found to be at the end of the day's work, ranging from 3 to 6 o'clock. Only two plants held their classes at noon. Some incentive to the learning of English either re- garding it a condition of employment or paying part of the men's time, is a great stimulus, at least until the employees have become convinced in their own minds of its value. To demon- strate this value to them and make the vocabulary acquired applicable to their work, the teachers have co-operated with plant managers and fore- men, giving shop terms to the students as soon as they were able to understand. This links their study immediately with their work and makes the advantages much more apparent. There are a great many men and women of foreign birth who feel diffident about going to the public schools. Some are ashamed to be seen going to school at their age. ]\Iany will not bother to go if it takes them out of their way. To meet these objections, da.sses have been lo- cated wherever a sufficient number of non-Eng- lish speaking people could be gathered together, the teachers being regular Board of Education teachers under Dr. Castle's supervision, the same ■ 3 . - as in the public schools. The foreign churches which have furnished convenient locations for such classes are as follows: North Congregational Church. Holy Trinity Church (Rumanian). St. George Church (Lithuanian). St. Ladislas Church (Slovak). St. Mary of the Nativity Church (Slovak). St. Wendelin Church (Slovak). Hungarian Reformed Church. St. Paul's Church (Croatian). St. Emerick's Church (Hungarian). St. LawTcnce Church (Slovenian). St. Theodosius Church (Russian Orthodox). Church of the Holy Ghost (Ruthenian). Hungarian Lutheran Orphanage. Total enrollment 495. Verj' successful classes were also organized at Charity and Lakeside Hospitals and at the East End Neighborhood House, with a total enroll- ment of 222. It has been a great problem at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, to deal with the soldiers who speak no English — as many as 3000 such men being there at one time, and so there seemed a great opportunity in Cleveland to organize "hurry-up" classes for drafted men, that they might acquire a slight knowledge, at least, of English before they left. The time was short but a beginning was made among class 1-A men at Fullerton, South High and St. Mary's Schools with a total enrollment of 116. The Y. M. C. A. did the organizing as they wished to form a contact with these men before they went to camj) and because the educational work at the various cantonments is under their supervision. The Board of Education did not feel authorized to use its funds for the conducting of the special clas.ses located in private institutions such as churches, hospitals, social settlements, foreign halls, etc., so because during this crisis we wished to reach immediately every available group of non-English speaking people, the Mayor's Ad- visory War Committee appropriated a sum suf- ficient to do this, the teachers being the regular Board of Education teachers trained in Ameri- canization work and supervised by Dr. Castle's staff. This same fund paid for the "hurry-up" classes. Dr. Raymond Moley of the Department of Political Science, Western Reserve University, and a member of our Committee, was given charge of the Citizenship classes for adult for- eigners, including the training of teachers and preparation of material. His was a new con- ception of training for citizenship, aiming to take in not only the material necessary for the securing of naturalization papers, but also to in- clude a discussion of all institutions and organi- zations which combine in forming our social structure. This broader citizenship work was carried on in over 30 classes held in connection with the regular English classes, the enrollment being over 900 with an average attendance of 600. Besides these classes, special naturalization classes were maintained for the specific purpose of pre- paring men for the naturalization examination. In order to recruit these classes, individual notices were sent each month to men whose two year period after filing their fu-st papers together with the five year's residence in the United States had elapsed. More than 3000 such letters were sent out during the past school j^ear. Special attention was given to such men as had failed in the examinations before the Federal Examiner. For use in these classes Prof. Moley wrote a small booklet entitled "Lessons in American Govern- ment." It is an interesting fact that whereas the attendance in citizenship classes in former years diminished very materially by Spring, this year the attendance increased from 150 to 200 during the winter and to 400 after May 1st when Prof. Moley arranged with the Naturalization Examiner to hold the examination at the class rooms, eliminating the waste caused by the trips which the men made to the examiner during the day. The value of this work assumes a larger significance when it is realized that heretofore a man often tried many times before he passed, an average of 80 per cent of those taking the examin- ation failing. It has been found that the loss of wages because of futile trips amounted to thous- ands of dollars a year and what was far more serious, that the repeated failures directly trace- able to poor instruction led many men who would have made good citizens to give up in despair. In happy contrast with the former condition stands the record of Prof. Moley's courses — -90 per cent of those who took them passing their naturalization examinations satisfactorily. Four special citizenship classes for women were formed from the foreign auxiliaries of the Women's Suffrage Party and held in the foreign halls which had been their regular meeting places. Perhaps the most important evidence of prog- ress in this year's work in Americanization classes will be obtained from a consideration of the vari- ous locations rather than the numbers. Certain classes established more or less as experiments worked out very well, and with their successful results will lead to a tremendous increase in next year's enrollment. In order to give a complete view of the work, all Americanization classes are listed below, although in the case of the regular evening schools the only part played by the Americanization Committee was in advertising them. Total Registration: a. Regular evening schools (not includ- ing citizenship) 3457 b. Citizenship classes 974 c. Factory classes 698 d. Hospital and settlement classes. . . . 222 e. Church classes 495 f . Foreign Hall classes 75 Total 5921 Number of students who were American born 79 Number of students who were Foreign born . . 5842 Total 5921 Number of teachers 105 Most of the classes were composed of both men and women which seems the natural and satisfactory way. The following races were represented : Armenian Moravian Austrian Negro Bohemian Norwegian Croatian Polish Danish Portuguese Dutch Rumanian Finnish Russian German Ruthenian Greek Serbian Hungarian Slovak Italian Slovenian Jewish Spanish Lithuanian Swedish Syi ian Because the problem of teaching Enghsh and Citizenship to adults is so different from the teaching of children. Dr. Castle wished to de- velop a corps of teachers who would be specialists in this work. He consequently carried on an Americanization Institute during the weeks of September 17 and 24. 1917, which all prospective teachers of Americanization were required to attend. This was followed by a weekly lesson for all who received appointments as teachers. At this Institute Dr. Castle gave the direct method of teaching English, and Prof. Moley the new conception of citizenship. The Ameri- canization Committee issued posters announcing it and distributed .500 application blanks to the alumnae of Western Reserve University, Normal School, members of the College Club, etc. Then for the "America-First" week held during the last week of the Institute to advertise the open- ing of the night schools, the Americanization Committee printed and distributed hundreds of posters to the foreign churches, societies, halls, saloons, libraries and schools. Fifty thousand handbills were given the school children to take home to their parents and 15,000 special hand- bills for women were distributed by the workers of all social organizations having home visitors. The Cleveland Public Library has given us valuable co-operation in all our activities, be- sides carrying on the Americanizing work in which it is constantly engaged at foreign branches. It has been working among our foreign-born for many years, directing their reading in both Eng- lish and their mother tongue; urging them to at- tend English classes and even going into their homes to make them better acquainted with what is best in America. No more effective social workers can be found than the librarians at these branches. Many of the foreign born, handicapped by ignorance of English and without any knowledge of our customs, are bewildered by the technical- ities of the many new war measures. To assist them by interpreting these measures in their own language an Americanization War Information Bureau was established at the Old Court House with a Secretary and Assistants who spoke the principal languages. Perhaps the most valuable aid was that given during the filling out of the questionnaires when foreign speaking volunteers were secured by the Bureau not only for work at its office but to assist many of the local Draft Boards. With this questionnaire service comes the aiding; of foreign born residents of Cleveland who originally registered in other cities through- out the country. Another service of the Bureau is the translation of passports, birth certificates, etc., and the referring of cases needing special help to other agencies such as tlie Associated Charities, Attorneys' War Service Board and Legal Aid Society. All such services are free. The most important services rendered from July 1917 to July 1918 were as follows: Draft Information 6,148 Questionnaires 16,901 Affidavits 9,436 First Paper Applications 1,093 Referred to Public and Social Agencies 4,012 While many women came in for assistance at the same time as their husbands, it was found that the average foreign woman at home was not reached in regard to her problems. So in co- operation with the International Institute of the Y. W. C. A., office hours for information were established twice a week in the St. Clair, Tremont, and Longwood Schools. Each Institute worker spoke the language of the neighborhood and did a great deal of home visiting, trying to instill into the women confidence so that they would come to the school for assistance. The two main objects were to give them information re- garding classes in English and to serve as inter- preters between the principals and mothers re- garding the problems of children. Many of our foreign born residents are planning to return to Europe after the war and some to stay permanently, hoping to take part in a free country whose language and customs they have been trained for generations to preserve for just such a possibility. In most cases they do not realize the conditions which will actually exist. Some hope to go back to find out what has be- come of their relatives and property and to bring their families here if they are still alive. In order to crystallize in the minds of the parents of our school children the reasons for their coming to America and its advantages over their former country we instituted an essay contest on the subject "Why My Parents Came to America." We wished to start actual conversation at home. The contest was limited to children in the 6-A Grade in public and parochial schools. Nineteen hundred and twenty-six essays were submitted. In the majority of cases they showed the results of real discussion and what was more valuable, though unanticipated, they revealed a new anil keen appreciation on the part of the children of the hardships their parents had endured and their braver.y in coming to a new land about which they knew only rumors. Thirty prizes in different denominations of thrift stamps were awarded the prize wiimers, the presentation being made at an enthusiastic public meeting held in the Council Chamber of the City Hall. On the Fourth of July in conformity with the general plans of President Wilson and the Com- mittee on Public Information we developed Cleve- land's first Loyalty Parade, one of the largest and most successful public demonstrations ever held here. It not only gave those of foreign birth an opportunity to publicly acknowledge their loyalty to the United States, but gave those of native birth an appreciation of what a large and earnest part of our population is made up of people who came here from foreign lands. There is one phase of work which has not yet been taken up by this Committee, because it seems a national rather than a local problem. We have found on every hand a great need for books in foreign tongues recounting in simple language the history of the United States and the lives of our great men. Such books would serve to make many of our foreign-born good Americans in spirit even before they learn English and would give them the motive to learn so as to have their full share in the opportunities that this country offers. It would be a stimulus also, if there were avail- able lives of citizens of foreign birth who have made good in America. In all our work we have had the hearty co- operation of the various agencies closely associ- ated with the foreign born people of Cleveland, the Board of Education, Public Library, Social Settlements, Museum of Art, Patriotic Organi- zations, War Committees, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A. and the Federation of Women's Clubs. We feel that we have laid a solid founda- tion, for, besides the concrete activities in which the foreign born have taken part, we are receiving from them expressions of confidence in our sin- cerity and of a desire on their part to join with us. We welcome their co-operation for it is our conviction that in the process of amalgamation every single foreign born group can contribute to our common American life some elements that will make it richer and better for all of us. HELEN BACON, Secretary. Executive Committee Mr. Harold T. Clark, Chairynan Mrs. J. N. Fleming, Vif-e-Chairman Miss Grace B. Drake Mr. Ernest Joseph Judge Manuel Levine Dr. E Mrs. Roger G. Perkins Mr. Carl P. Vitz Mrs. C. W. Webb P. Wiles General Committee Mrs. E. H. Baker Mrs. Willard Beahan Miss Blanche Beattie Mrs. W. C. Boyle Mr. Edward Bushnell Mr. A. W. Castle Miss Alice F. Cook Miss Bertha E. Christiansen Prof. J. E. Cutler Miss Annie S. Cutter Miss Annie P. Dingman Mr. Otto K. Dorn Miss Florence Evans Miss Hazel Foster Mr. Hugh M. Fullerton Miss Alice P. Gannett Miss Mary Gilson Miss Edith Glenn Miss Bell Greve Miss Helen Hanchette Mrs. E. L. Harris Mr. George B. Harris Mrs. E. B. Haserodt Mrs. Ray A. Hauserman Mr. R. J. Hoddinott Mrs. Helen Horvath Mrs. Sarah E. Hyre Mrs. Stella Jacoby Rev. William A. Kane Miss Katherine Kennedy Mrs. Sherman C. Kingsley Deaconess E. C. Klein Miss Hedwig Kosbab Mrs. E. C. Kraus Rev. Hubert J. Le Blond Mrs. Eleanor E. Ledbetter Miss C. Ludwig Mrs. E. C. McCullough Prof. H. A. Miller Mrs. Mary W. Mills Miss Margaret Mitchell Prof. Raymond Moley Mr. DeLo Mook Miss Sarah J. Neuhart Mrs. P. C. OBrien Mrs. Charles Orr Miss Mary E. Parker Mrs. S. S. Saffold Mrs. Henry L. Sanford. Miss Bertha Seebeck Mrs. E. M. Spreng Mrs. L. Ernest Sunderland Miss Blanch Swainhardt Mrs. Howard S. Thayer Miss Augusta Thompson Mrs. Orson Upp Mrs. E. J. Weigel Mr. F. Allen Whiting Miss E. Louise Willmott 10 L IBRflRV OF CONGRESb iiiiii 014 573 624 9 <