Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... TEACHERS' MANUAL THE LANGUAGE OF AMERICA When the course of study and the texts which are now used in the Americanization Schools of the Army were developed by the writers at the First Recruit Educational Center at Camp Upton, there was a conscious attempt to make as the warp and woof of the "Lessons" a propaganda for that school, for more education by the soldier and his home folks, for the Army, for the United States Government, and for America and American ideals. It was assumed that all suggestions of proper habits and virtues are most effective when camouflaged and especially when the learner unwittingly becomes the teacher of those duties and ideals which it is desired he shall get. In the "Lessons" the learner is not told that he should sleep with his windows open, that he should brush his teeth and clothes, stand erect, sit erect, take care of his appearance, and respect the great men and the flag of our country. Instead the learner becomes the reader or the writer of a letter to a friend in which he tells that he has developed these desirable traits, attitudes, and virtues, and suggests indirectly or directly to this friend that the latter could do the same and attain the same virtues and attributes. Throughout, the learner suggests the very virtues to himself which he seems to be suggesting to his friends. The first lessons of the course aim to "sell" the course and the school to the learner; to suggest to him that he wants to learn and why he wants to learn. The first sentence he reads is, "I want to learn English" and the fifth is, "I want to learn to write a letter home." In his eighth lesson he reads as a sample first letter to his sweetheart: Co. B., Recruit Educational Center Camp Upton, N. Y. January 8, 1920. Dear...
