udents began to drop out. Then, owing either to the decrease of
students or to the lack of money, the school was closed.

In a large Portuguese colony at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a township
evening school was established in 1917-18. It was well attended, but
after two months the school was closed on account of lack of funds,
though it was very much needed.

In regard to an experience in establishing a Methodist evening school in
the Italian colony at Canastota, New York, the county school
superintendent made the following statement:

The greatest problem in the education of Italians here is how to
educate the parents. In 1915 they organized at the Methodist church
an evening school for the Italians. About forty students appeared,
and attended the school for about three or four weeks. They then
gradually ceased to attend the school. The causes were several:
there appeared a doubt with them whether the teachers and
supporters of the school were not trying to induce them to join the
Methodist church; second, there were no regular teachers, the
lessons were given by volunteers, and this resulted in
irregularity in teaching; third, a certain amount of shyness was
apparent. If such an evening school were to be organized for them
with no religious connections, and if it were a regular school, the
Italians would attend it.

In Holland, Michigan, where there is a large, long-established Dutch
colony, there was an evening school, but the attendance declined, the
people claiming that they had no time to attend it.

At South Deerfield, Massachusetts, in a Polish colony, there was
established an evening school a year or so ago.

It was a good thing for us [explained an elderly, bearded leader of
the colony]. Quite a number of our people attended it, but the
great majority did not. They simply did not want to, for they had
lots of work to do at home. Perhaps their bashfulness was the main
obstacle. You see, people with beards and lots of children do not
feel well in school. Look at me. Wouldn't I feel awful there?

In Woodbine, New Jersey, a large Jewish colony, the local manager of the
Baron de Hirsch fund, in charge of the financial affairs of the colony,
stated that there are evening classes held in the public schools during
the winter. Adults may attend these classes, but they do not. General
subjects are taught in these classes