Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

'146 THE GREEKS IN AMERICA*^They should learn the English language, shouldabsorb American ideas and recognize that Americansare just as good, if not better, than Greeks.'*'^The chief need is first to fight gambling, by enforcinga jail sentence upon any proprietor whoowns and runs a gambling house ; secondly, to establishreading rooms and libraries with a little morefreedom of association in order to attract the classthat rottens in the coffee-houses. *' *'They need*good teaching.' "^'They need more education in English, morechurches and schools. The future is very bright."Within the last ten years, they improved 100 percent.''^The chief need is education, again education withkindness." "Private teaching in families how tolive, and also the study of English in general."^' They should learn their religion by securing good,honest and conscientious priests.""The chief need—capable leaders and priests whoshall be real priests of our Lord and not moneygrabbers,and who know the conditions in America.We need teachers who are capable of teaching youngchildren of Greek parentage to become good citizensof America and an honor to the land of their fathers.Under good and unselfish leaders, they will make finecitizens. If we could overcome our self-importanceor egotism, we would be a model people.""As to the subject of Americanization and themethods employed, I am not in a position to commitmyself, but I would be glad to see a good deal moreeffort made to help educate the younger generationunder such supervision, that they will learn the Englishlanguage as their vernacular, and be interestedin American history and Americanism, so that theywill not be fanatical Greeks, but well developed citizens,able to use their unbiased judgment for social,political and religious matters. I am afraid this part