Education of the Immigrant: Abstracts of Papers Read at a Public Conference under the Auspices of the New York-New Jersey Committee of the North American Civic League for Immigrants, Held at New York City, May 16 and 17, 1913. Bulletin, 1913, No. 51. Whole Number 562

To the people of no other country is the problem of education of immigrants of so much importance as to the people of the United States. No other country has so many men, women, and children coming to its shores every year from all parts of the world. In many of our cities and towns, and in some of our States, the people of foreign birth constitute a very large proportion of the entire population. It is reported that the immigrants stopping in New York City last year were from 98 different countries and provinces and spoke 66 different languages. In one school district in Pennsylvania there are children of 29 different nationalities. Many of those who have come to us in recent years are from countries having meager provisions for public education. According to the Federal census of 1910 more than 25 per cent of the foreign-born population of 3 States was illiterate, from 15 to 25 per cent of 5 States, from 10 to 15 per cent of 11 States, and from 5 to 10 per cent of 21 States. In only one State was the percentage of illiteracy of the foreign-born population less than 5. The proper education of these people is a duty which the nation owes to itself and to them. It can neglect this duty only to their hurt and to its own peril. No systematic effort has ever been made to work out the best methods therefor. We have little definite usable knowledge of the varying characteristics of the several races. We are ignorant even of the surest and quickest way to teach them to speak and understand English. To work out several phases of this vital problem of the education of immigrants and their children should be the task of the bureau, and the bureau will gladly undertake it whenever sufficient funds are made available for that purpose. In the meantime, this bulletin, which contains the substance of papers and addresses presented at the public conference on the education of immigrants held under the auspices of the New York-New Jersey committee of the North American Civic League for Immigrants at the College of the City of New York, May 16 and 17, 1913, may serve to at least call attention to this problem and to the need of a more careful, systematic study of it. Topics covered include: (1) Domestic education of the immigrant; (2) Immigrants in labor camps and isolated communities; (3) Education of the immigrant child; (4) Education of the immigrant adult; and (5) Evening schools for foreigners. [Best copy available has been provided.]