The literary digest . of a total of 2,000,000 in the Army presupposea larger backgiound of illiterates in civil life, and the world-war has greatly emphasized the importance of Americanizingthe foreign-born population of the United States. One whohas been engaged on this problem in New York City, MissSarah Elkus, sister of the former Ambassador to Turkey,teUs us that in one New York factory seven hundred em- civics, based on the simple rules of the Board of Health and thetenement-house laws, and citizenship, covering the history andideals of the United States, are part of the course of instruc
The literary digest . of a total of 2,000,000 in the Army presupposea larger backgiound of illiterates in civil life, and the world-war has greatly emphasized the importance of Americanizingthe foreign-born population of the United States. One whohas been engaged on this problem in New York City, MissSarah Elkus, sister of the former Ambassador to Turkey,teUs us that in one New York factory seven hundred em- civics, based on the simple rules of the Board of Health and thetenement-house laws, and citizenship, covering the history andideals of the United States, are part of the course of evening schools, which might seem designed to meet thesecases, do not, however, quite coA^er thv bill, as this social workerpoints out: First of all, the worker is tired when the days toil is over,and he or she prefers amusement to instruction. Secondly, theforeigner who speaks no English finds the evening school uncon-genial because he is at a decided disadvantage when surrounded by more advanced pupils who. A SCHOOLROOM IN A CIGAR-FACTORY. Where the workers learn EngUsh and good citizenship. The New York Board of Education provides ateacher and equipment for any factory where a class of twenty-five can be organized. ployees are making uniforms for the soldiers of the UnitedStates [November, 1918], and not one of these workers can speakthe English language. It is a fair speculation what they andother workers like them thought about the reasons for whichthis country went to war. Miss Elkus gives in The NationalEfficiency Quarterly (New York) an account of her efforts tointroduce the study of English language, civics, and citizenshipin stores and factories, and at present she reports that sixty suchclasses are under way. The New York Board of Educationprovides a teacher and equipment for any factory where a classof twenty-five can be organized, requiring only the earnestcooperation of the firm. Many firms are found who are willingto furnish artificial light and space fo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidliterarydige, bookyear1890
