Some of the leading industries in the city are now conducting classes in English and plans are under way for organizing classes in about twelve more. English, American history and civil government are being taught in these classes.

About thirty evening schools are open either in the late afternoon or evening for the training of foreign-born adults. From 1,500 to 2,000 pupils are registered in these classes. The attendance is as regular as conditions admit- about 75 per cent. average age is probably between 25 and 30 years.

The

There is a definite movement in progress to Americanize foreigners. It is conducted largely through the Department of Education, although some of the work is being done independently by the Knights of Columbus.

Our teachers have all had special training in Americanization methods and background and such training is required of all teachers who undertake the work. We pay them from $2 to $3 a period, and in my opinion this will be an adequate salary when the work is organized so that one teacher can cover several periods during the day. It would be desirable to effect an organization so that teachers could give their entire time to the work. In that event, they should be paid as much or more than the regular day school teacher-$1,600 and up.

Various estimates given

The above information from George E. Smith, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, was later supplemented by the following letter from him under date of November 20, 1919:

"Americanization work of whatever character naturally comes into my department. All of our night school centers, including our vocational schools, are contributing to the solution of the immigrant problem either directly or indirectly. In many of our vocational schools, foreigners are taking trade courses, not as foreigners but as members of their respective trades. We have now over seventy classes in our night schools which are studying English as a basic subject. It would be impossible at this time to give a detailed report as to the nationalities, age, etc., but the number of those in attendance runs into the thousands.

"We are at present making a canvass of the city to deter mine how many illiterate minors are attending and how many are not attending school, and we shall take measures at once to get into school those who are not in school."

Letter from Samuel B. Botsford, president, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, November 3, 1919:

"By way of reply to your letter of November 4th, asking for information relative to Americanization work that we have done, or in which we have participated, I am enclosing copy of a letter covering the ground pretty thoroughly which we recently sent to Mr. George P. Sawyer of this city.

"I might state further, that at a conference held at this office this afternoon, tentative plans were outlined looking to the correlation of all Americanization work in Buffalo with a view to strengthening it where possible, and also giving widespread publicity. These plans are only in the formative stage, and it is impossible for me at this time to go into further details.

"As to compulsory education of adult foreigners, my position at this time would be against any such action.

Copy of letter to Mr. Sawyer:

"I want to thank you for the clipping from the New York 'Times' which you sent to me setting forth the plans of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, relating to Americanization of immigrants. This is a work in which the Buffalo Chamber

of Commerce is interested, and it is needless to add that I also am personally, deeply interested. Long before the United States entered the war and in anticipation that its entrance was inevitable, and that steps would have to be taken toward Americanizing foreigners, the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce made exhaustive research and collated statistics and other information which afterwards proved the ground work for the establishing and carrying on of intelligent Americanization work in Buffalo.

"At the present time, we are providing offices which are used as headquarters for work of this kind, and these offices have been used in this way for upwards of three years.

"With particular reference, however, to work among immigrants, I might state that the Civic Education Association and the School Department are very active at the present time. A census of factories was started during the past few weeks and nineteen plant owners were called on by Mr. Lewis, who until last week was in charge of the organization. Of these nineteen plants, fifteen have agreed to have classes in the factories during working hours, the City School Department furnishing the trained teachers to give the instruction to foreigners in English and civics. On Monday, October 13th, four teachers of the Buffalo School Department started classes at the American Radiator Plant; two evening classes are being held at the Dold Plant and four or five teachers will go to the plant of the National Aniline & Chemical Company within the next few days.

"Dr. Smith has been conducting an institute at Hutchinson High School for the past three weeks with an attendance of approximately ninety teachers to be examined on Monday next, following which the successful candidates will be sent into factories to teach workers. The School Department has fifty-nine night school classes for men and women immigrants. and fifteen afternoon classes for women only. It is expected that there will be between seventy-five and one hundred classes before Christmas.

"While the above is work being done by the School Department, the work is done in closest co-operation with the Civic Education Association of Erie County, Dr. George E. Smith of the School Department being a part of the Civic Education Association.

“Mrs. Ward J. Pierce, who is now president of the Civic Education Association and who has been very active, was instrumental in securing an appropriation a few days ago amounting to $3,500 toward the Arts and Crafts Exhibition being held at Albright Art Gallery, under the auspices of the American Federation of Arts and Crafts, which is an organization working among immigrants.

"The local organization is working in co-operation with Mr. William C. Smith, Supervisor of Immigrant Education Association, New York State Department of Education, who has an appropriation of $100,000 to cover such work in New York State. The local organization has the benefit of state assistance and direction and has the heartiest co-operation of the Buffalo School department and a number of the larger employers of labor.

"A recent law has gone into effect in New York State requiring the attendance in school of minors between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years, who are unable to speak, read and write the English language. The Civic Education Association is co-operating in the enforcement of this law and has secured the co-operation of fifteen factories so far and the School Department.

"One reason why the Americanization work in this city. and Erie County has seemed to lapse during the war was the lack of newspaper publicity and the fact that the work was done very quietly and had no spectacular features although it enjoyed a gradual and steady growth with no slipping back at any time. The work has been handicapped to some extent by loss of the services of several of the executive secretaries and other leaders, the latest man, Dr. John W. Lewis, having been connected with the bureau only one month when disqualified by our Local Civil Service Commission. They are at present looking for a new man to direct the work. Dr. George E. Smith of the Buffalo School Department has possibly the strongest hold on the work being done and has a sufficient appropriation from the city to carry on the much extended work in the schools and in the factories during the present fiscal year. He is furnishing teachers to the various industrial plants as fast as he can train them to make them competent to educate foreigners.

"Buffalo has now and has had for several years practically all of the machinery which Boston claims to be establishing for all the education of immigrants. The only criticism that might be made of the local work is that it has been somewhat slow but it has been steady and progressive, with no mistakes such as have been made in other cities.

"Again thanking you for sending me the newspaper clipping, and assuring you of my appreciation of your interest in this matter I am."

6. Cohoes

Letter from Edward Hayward, Superintendent of Schools, November 31, 1919:

66

Replying to your favor of November 12th, permit me to say that the population of our city is about 26,000. As to nationalities we have practically all the nations of the earth assembled in our city. There are many Irish, French, Polish, Austrian, Italian, etc., elements.

"The leading industries are cotton and woollen goods, and in these many foreigners are employed. None of the industries conduct classes for teaching English, etc. The public schools conduct night schools and we are urging all foreigners to attend them. The attendance is fairly regular. It is impossible to judge just now as we have just opened our schools. The average age is from 18 to 40. The course covers six hours a week. Yes, there is a movement in our city to Americanize foreigners. We are taking a survey of all the foreign-born residents. To teach adult foreigners we obtain some of our best grade and high school teachers, and we pay them $2 per night for this additional work."

7. Cortland

Data furnished by F. E. Smith, Superintendent of Schools. The estimated population is 13,000, 1,200 being Italian and 700 Russian.

The chief industries employing foreigners are the Wickwire Brothers, manufacturing steel, steel wire, wire netting and nails; Brewer Tichner Company, manufacturing drop forgings; Cortland Wall Paper Company; Cortland Silk Company and the Miller Corset factory. None of these industries conduct classes. About thirty-five adult foreigners attend night school.