Americanization Activities
The John B. Stetson Co. Americanization program three years ago, adopting the slogan "Every Stetson Employee an American Citizen, able to read, speakand write the English language.”
We have 976 foreign born in our employ, representing 26 different nationalities. Twenty-nine per centof our employees are of foreign birth. Six hundred and fifty - six are full citizens. 187 applied for their First Papers and 130 have their Second Papers. Only three employees have not taken any steps toward citizenship and those are not old enough to apply. We have assisted 160 in securing their Final Papers. All who have applied for their First and Second Papers , in addition to the 160 who received their Final Papers, have been assisted by our Americanization representative.
We have Americanization School with an enrollment of 200, conducted under the direction of the Board of Public Education . The Board of Education furnishes a principal and eight teachers. We furnish an Americanization Superintendent and eight Foremen, who act as Secretaries in the eight classes. The classes meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 4.30 to 6.00 o'clock . Eight classes are maintained with an average attendance of 20 per class and a term average of 76.64% .
Twice a year we have a social and entertainment for the foreign born and their families. Music, Magic, Moving Pictures and an encouraging address are a part of the entertainment. After some refreshments, the children are invited to use the sliding board and enjoy other games provided for the occasion. Altogether, the affair is a real family party.
Th Officers of the Company and Foremen and their families commingle with the men and their families and all enjoy the spirit of good fellowship that pervades the entire program. We forget all about making hats and learning lessons and enjoy an evening of real pleasure.
When the men and their families go home they have formed a tie of friendship and good feeling that cannot help but make the relations of the men and the management just a little closer and more fraternal.
We have never undertaken anything that has been more productive of good results than our Americanization program .
M. D. Gehris , John B. Stetson Co.
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