History-Los Angeles: Russian Rush to Schools (1906)
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History-Los Angeles: Russian Rush to Schools (1906)
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Posted: 15 Jun 2008 11:09PM GMT |
Classification: Query
Russian Rush to Schools - Hundreds of the Molokane Now Obey Law
Arrest of One Youngster for Failing to Attend Has Good Effect on Colony, and Teachers Require an Interpreter’s Services in Enrolling the Children
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Drastic measures have been adopted by Attendance Officer Ayers to compel the Molokane to respect the school laws. As a result of the arrest of an eleven-year-old Russian boy, Carl Michaelovich, hundreds of quaintly-dressed children are flocking into the schools of the Eighth Ward. The attendance at the Amelia Street and Ann Street schools yesterday broke all records.
Flagrant violations of the school laws have made the stringent rules a necessity. The utter disregard of the colonists for a court summons or special orders from the Juvenile Court became a problem which the board of Education was obliged to solve. Warrants for the arrest of many little non-attendants were issued. At least one was served and the small culprit was put in jail.
This has had a wholesome effect on the parents who persisted in keeping their children out of school. Now there is such a desire on the part of the colonists to educate their children that the schools are overcrowded.
MONEY A MOTIVE
Certain there are who had ulterior motives in thus evading the statues, the little Molokane have an earning capacity which is keenly appreciated by their parents. The dollars brought in by the boys and girls who ought to be in school help solve the question of feeding a family of ten on a father’s wages of $2 a day.
That the law could reach those who do not desire to send their children to school seemed impossible to the simple-minded former subjects of the Czar. They believed themselves the sole custodians of their offspring. Their awakening has been rude.
Officers who sought to enforce the school laws among the emigrants from the frozen steppes were confronted with surprising ignorance. When told they must send their children to school the peasants refused to understand.
Then came the arrest of little Carl and the colony was thrown into a panic. That the law could really reach a child because it did not go to school was a revelation. Almost every family was guilty ad fond mothers hugged their darlings more closely to their breasts and feared every time a policeman passed the house.
START ALL AT ONCE.
But the Molokane have seen the point. Yesterday every boy and girl who has not attended school thus far was arrayed in his or her best bib and tucker and the face shiny from much washing was started for the American schoolhouse. Fearful of refusing to comply with all the requirements many were in the school yard an hour before the first session.
Never before have teachers had such a task to register squads of pupils. Fast flew the willing fingers and scores of quaintly-dressed little ones were enrolled. But at last, it was necessary to employ an interpreter.
Hereafter the teachers of the Ann and Amelia Street schools will be assisted by a Russian interpreter, and teaching the Molokane their letters will be less difficult.
“The Molokane understand they must obey the law,” said Officer Ayers yesterday. “We have the situation well in hand now, and have the assurance that the children will attend school. The arrest of the little fellow would have been followed by many more arrests, but unless there is a change it will not be necessary to take others into custody. For a time matters were serious.”
It is said there are 2,000 Molokane children of school age in the city.
Those who are in touch with affairs in the Russian colony declare it is only ignorance which causes the Molokane to disregard the law. They explain that the freedom of America has the effect of making them believe there is no law for them. They are a peace-loving people, it is explained, and only desire to know what they must do to conform to the laws of the United States.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File); Dec 11, 1906; ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 - 1985), pg. II
Arrest of One Youngster for Failing to Attend Has Good Effect on Colony, and Teachers Require an Interpreter’s Services in Enrolling the Children
=========================================
Drastic measures have been adopted by Attendance Officer Ayers to compel the Molokane to respect the school laws. As a result of the arrest of an eleven-year-old Russian boy, Carl Michaelovich, hundreds of quaintly-dressed children are flocking into the schools of the Eighth Ward. The attendance at the Amelia Street and Ann Street schools yesterday broke all records.
Flagrant violations of the school laws have made the stringent rules a necessity. The utter disregard of the colonists for a court summons or special orders from the Juvenile Court became a problem which the board of Education was obliged to solve. Warrants for the arrest of many little non-attendants were issued. At least one was served and the small culprit was put in jail.
This has had a wholesome effect on the parents who persisted in keeping their children out of school. Now there is such a desire on the part of the colonists to educate their children that the schools are overcrowded.
MONEY A MOTIVE
Certain there are who had ulterior motives in thus evading the statues, the little Molokane have an earning capacity which is keenly appreciated by their parents. The dollars brought in by the boys and girls who ought to be in school help solve the question of feeding a family of ten on a father’s wages of $2 a day.
That the law could reach those who do not desire to send their children to school seemed impossible to the simple-minded former subjects of the Czar. They believed themselves the sole custodians of their offspring. Their awakening has been rude.
Officers who sought to enforce the school laws among the emigrants from the frozen steppes were confronted with surprising ignorance. When told they must send their children to school the peasants refused to understand.
Then came the arrest of little Carl and the colony was thrown into a panic. That the law could really reach a child because it did not go to school was a revelation. Almost every family was guilty ad fond mothers hugged their darlings more closely to their breasts and feared every time a policeman passed the house.
START ALL AT ONCE.
But the Molokane have seen the point. Yesterday every boy and girl who has not attended school thus far was arrayed in his or her best bib and tucker and the face shiny from much washing was started for the American schoolhouse. Fearful of refusing to comply with all the requirements many were in the school yard an hour before the first session.
Never before have teachers had such a task to register squads of pupils. Fast flew the willing fingers and scores of quaintly-dressed little ones were enrolled. But at last, it was necessary to employ an interpreter.
Hereafter the teachers of the Ann and Amelia Street schools will be assisted by a Russian interpreter, and teaching the Molokane their letters will be less difficult.
“The Molokane understand they must obey the law,” said Officer Ayers yesterday. “We have the situation well in hand now, and have the assurance that the children will attend school. The arrest of the little fellow would have been followed by many more arrests, but unless there is a change it will not be necessary to take others into custody. For a time matters were serious.”
It is said there are 2,000 Molokane children of school age in the city.
Those who are in touch with affairs in the Russian colony declare it is only ignorance which causes the Molokane to disregard the law. They explain that the freedom of America has the effect of making them believe there is no law for them. They are a peace-loving people, it is explained, and only desire to know what they must do to conform to the laws of the United States.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File); Dec 11, 1906; ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 - 1985), pg. II