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SEATTLE SCHOOL CRUCIBLE FROM WHICH FOREIGNERS COME AMERICANS

Institution on Main Street Take Youngsters of Various Nationalities and Teaches Them Loyalty.

FLAG SERVICES PART OF DAILY INSTRUCTION

Oath of Allegiance to United States Given Frequently, to Little Ones -- Know No English at Start.

Seattle's educational system for the making of good Americans where the note of patriotism and loyalty to the nation and flag resounds above everything else, and where budding childhood representing a dozen different nations is Americanized -- this is the Main Street grammar school, situated in the heart of the city's cosmopolitan center, at Seventh Avenue and Main Street.

Class, creed or color knows no distinction among the merry group of pupils. In the classroom and at play, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Austrian, German, negro and Italian children mingle freely. The pupil enrolls at the institution barren of any knowledge of the English language, but, through sympathy and kindness, yet firmness and application, he picks up the rudimentary foundation of the American tongue.

Americanizes Hundreds.

For seven years Miss Ada J. Mahon, principal of the school, has had charge of Americanizing hundreds of foreign-born pupils. They come to her the raw produce and they leave with a good working knowledge of the English language, a wholesome respect for the United States and a fraternal love for persons of all nationalities.

One of the first things to be learned is the oath of allegiance to the United States.

Several times every week, generally just before the resumption of school after the noon recess, Miss Mahon orders a flag drill and a brief patriotic ceremony. Standing in long lines and facing the Stars and Stripes, held on the first landing of the stairs, the pupils salute the flag, recite the oath and sing "The Star Spangled Banner," "America" and patriotic songs with all the vigor of expression at their command.

Japanese predominate at the school, there being 172 pupils of this nationality. Of this number, twenty-seven were born in Japan. China has the next biggest quota with fifty-four. Thirty-five of the Chinese delegation were born in China. There are thirteen other pupils, including Russians, Austrians, Germans, Italians and two negroes.

All of the mischievous traits of the American child are instilled in the make-up of the Oriental, after he has been in school for a short period. But petty, innocent mischief is the limit, according to Miss Mahon. The Japanese and Chinese have a wholesale respect and love for their teacher, whose word is law. The Oriental is not to be found around the corner saying harsh things about his teacher for he is ever inspired with a love for her.

Parents of the Oriental pupils take a decided interest in the progress their children are making at school. They are also appreciative of the efforts of the teachers and frequently visit the school building to have an interview with Miss Mahon or her staff of six assistants.

English Most Popular.

English is the most popular, yet the hardest of all the subjects for the Oriental to grasp. Five months is the average length of time that is consumed by the pupil in grasping a working knowledge of the language. There is a room set aside at the Main Street School for all pupils who do not know any English. It is known as "the foreign room."

Here they are drilled in the rudimentary points of English, being first taught the words that will be the most useful to them in everyday life. After they gain a fair understanding of the language they are distributed about the various class rooms, according to mental development.

Has Four Grades.

The Main Street School is limited to four grades. After the pupil has passed this mark on his road to education, he is transferred to a grammar school with eight grades.

One day last week a teacher in the kindergarten division at the school was suddenly taken ill. Until a relief teacher could be obtained Miss Mahon assigned Taj Miyagawa, a 12-year-old pupil, to take charge of the class. The pupil-instructor took up the work and taught the class until the other teacher arrived.

"The ambition of every one of these pupils is to speak the English language well so they will be equipped to enter business in this country," said Miss Mahon. "They are exceptionally studious and anxious to learn."