Its purpose the firm expresses in II.  PURPOSE OF SCHOOL these words:  “To hasten assimilation 1.  Firm’s statement necessary to national unity, to promote industrial betterment, by reducing Statement in general the friction caused by failure to comprehend terms directions, and to decrease the waste and loss of wage incidental to the illiterate worker.”

“When a girl understands English 2.  Head of firm’s statement and has been taught American business and factory methods,” says Mr. Sicher, “she doesn’t hesitate and Statement in concrete blunder; she understands what she is terms told and she does it.

“Intelligent employees do much better work than illiterate ones, and since we can afford to pay them better wages, they are much more contented.  From a business point of view, the school is a good investment.”

The instruction that has accomplished III.  METHODS OF INSTRUCTION such remarkable results has been eminently practical.  “There 1.  Practical education was no time to spend in teaching the girls anything but the most necessary Teacher’s statement things,” explains Miss Meyers, “for I of her problem could have each one of them for only forty-five minutes a day, and there was much to be done in that time.

“Here was a girl, for example, who Problem concretely could hardly say ‘good morning.’ shown Here was another who had never written a word in her life, either in English or in any other language.  The problem was how to give each of them what she most needed in the short time allotted Statement of general every day.  This essentially plan practical training I organized under several subjects, each of which was broadly inclusive.

“When I undertook to teach letter 2.  Letter writing writing, it meant teaching the English language, as well as writing and spelling.  It meant teaching the geography of the country, the postal regulations, and the forms of business and personal correspondence.

“In teaching arithmetic, I use money 3.  Arithmetic and show them how to make change by means of addition, subtraction, and division.  I also ask them to keep personal expense accounts and to make out reports of the work that they do.

“Civics included American history, 4.  Civics the lives of our statesmen—­for these girls are so eager to be true Americans that they want to know about our great men—­the origin of legal holidays, the merits of our system of government, the meaning of citizenship, and the essence of patriotism.

“Hygiene is another important 5.  Personal hygiene subject.  American standards of living, personal cleanliness, and sanitary regulations have to be emphasized.  To aid in counteracting the effects of long hours at the sewing machines, we have physical culture exercises.  Instruction in first aid measures is also given so that they will know what to do in case of an accident.  The nutritive value of different foods in relation to their cost is discussed to enable them to maintain their health by a proper diet.