UTILIZE SCHOOL BUILDINGS
There is always in every community a quota of these advanced students preparing for naturalization. The course which they take distinctly answers the questions, "What is our American Democracy?," "How did it come to be?," and "How does the government work and serve?" Functions of government, protection of life and property, civic improvement, industrial democracy, and appreciation of rights and duties of citizens, all of these topics and many more, are made a part of the student's equipment. Fortunately the ideals of the United States are flexible ideals in the sense that they are receptive to contribution by the foreign born. Surely the new citizen who regards the date of his naturalization as "the best and proudest day of his life" is going to give of his best to his adopted country.
The backbone of the adult alien education system is the carefully graded and supervised evening class held in the public school building. Acting upon the Massachusetts policy of making the place of meeting as convenient as possible, there are frequently several school centers in a community. The policy in Massachusetts has always been to conduct classes whenever and wherever they would best meet the needs of prospective students. Thus in addition to school house classes, groups meet in their national club rooms, in libraries, and even in coffee houses.
Another type of instruction is found in the home class, which may well be regarded as the most inspiring of all the classes. Mothers of families can hardly attend eve- ning school, so the school must come to the mothers. Accordingly a trained teacher meets a group of five or more mothers in one of their homes. This teacher's obligation embraces far more than mere language instruction. With a sympathetic approach and a warm understanding she brings a breath of genuine Americanism into an atmosphere that is definitely alien. More than that she is an advisor, a helper, and a guide to these women who are facing the serious problem of making a new home in a strange land.
The fourth type, namely, the factory class, may be termed the favorite child of adult alien education in Massachusetts. Nowhere has it been operated so successfully. With complete co-operation of industrial executives, students are recruited from among employees. Classes meet at noon or immediately following the evening whistle, within the walls of the plant itself. Groups of men gather sometimes in the aisles between the machines in a textile mill. Perhaps the class meets in a corner of the foundry. Now and then the industry prefers to provide a fully equipped school room. In any event, the important point is that these students are reached in familiar surroundings and thus introduced to the advantages of learning, however simple it may be.
