Page Twenty

THE JEWISH NEWS

Refugees Adjust Rapidly

289 Newcomers to Detroit
'Reveal Excellent Becord

Replies to Questionnaire, Made Public by Dr. Maurice R.
Davie, Yale University Sociologist, Show Economic
Status, Americanization, Contributions to War Effort

Recent immigrants in Detroit (usually referred to as
"refugees") have exhibited a remarkable degree of adjust-
ment to American life and conditions, according to informa-
tion received from Dr. Maurice R. Davie, Yale University
sociologist, who is completing a study begun last year.

The study was conducted
tionally by the Committee for the
Study of Recent Immigration
from Europe, of which Dr. Alvin
Johnson, of the New School for
Social Research, is chairman, and
had the cooperation in Detroit of
the Resettlement Service of the
Jewish Welfare Federation. The
complete report will be published
in book form early next year,
and some general findings will
soon be available in a Public Af-
fairs Committee pamphlet. The
following information is based
on advance tabulations of the
Detroit returns:
Altogether 289 questionnaries
were returned, representing from
one-fourth to one-third of the
refugee families estimated to
have settled in Detroit. Of the
285 reporting religion, 259 were
Jewish, 16 Christian and 10
"none".
Many Highly Cultured
Two hundred forty were born
in Germany or Austria, and prac-
tically the same number report-
ed their last citizenship to be
Austrian or German.
The intervention of the war
prevented many of the immi-
grants from bringing over the
other members of the family.
Only 103 report no close relatives
abroad. Thirty-four have spouses
or children and 134 have parents,
brothers, sisters in Europe.
The high proportion of educa-
ted people in the refugee group
is one of the chief characteris-
tics distinguishing it from other
immigrant groups. Of the 197
who answered this question, 43
graduated from college or receiv-
ed post graduate training in Eu-
rope; 30 others had some college
training, and 33 were high school
graduates.
Economic Adjustment
Economic' adjustment in this
country has been very good con-
sidering that more than one-half
arrived in the United States in
1940 or later, although to be
sure this period represented peak
war-time employment conditions.
The median income of the 178
employed full-time was $50-$74
per week and 32 reported week-
ly earnings of $100 and over.
Some interesting shifts are
shown between the European and
American occupational • experi-
ences. Eighty-two were propriet-
ors or managers in Europe; only
42 were in these occupations
here. On the other hand only 35
followed clerical or white collar
occupations aboard, and 73 in the
United States. Only 7 were skill-
ed workers in Europe as against
18 in America. There is a rise in
semi-skilled workers from 13 to
34 and in unskilled workers,
from 2 to 10. There were 60
women who were housewives in
Europe, as against 44 in this
country. Forty-six were students
in their home countries, as
against 44 in this country. Forty-
six were students in their home
countries, as against only 19 here.
Surprisingly enough, the profes-
sional group shows the least
change: 43 in Europe, 40 here.

Their Living Conditions
The immigrants were asked to
evaluate their own living condi-
tions and social status in this
country as compared with Eu-
rope.
Roughly speaking, as the fol-
lowing figures show, about half
experienced no change either in
living conditions or social status.
The other half, on the whole, are
enjoying better living conditions,
but a lower social status:

Present Living Conditions
Better
93
Poorer
52
Same '
136
Social Status in U. S.
Higher
40
Lower
97
Same
741

Americanization Record
The level of Americanization
can be measured by a number of
scales. One of them is the pro-
portion and rapidity of naturaliz-
ation. Here the figures are well-
nigh perfect. Of the 138 who ar-
rived prior to 1940, 112 have at-
tained citizenship, and 23 have
filed applications.
Another measure of American-
ization is familiarity with the
English language. This . can be
guaged from the type of news-
papers read. Only 12 read non-
English papers, 269 read English
language papers, and 3 read both.
Another guage is school attend-
ance in Detroit. Only 50 report
no schooling since immigrating,
67 have attended citizenship
classes, and 124 have attended
various types of schools from
elementary to college and pro-
fessional.
A third index of Americaniza-
tion is reflected in social con-
tacts and types of friends. As
for organizational affiliation, 86'
belong to American organiza-
tions only, 65 to recent immig-
rant groups only, 47 to mixed
groups. Only 26 have no organ-
izational connection, while 65 did
not reply to this question.
Helped War Effort
During the last four years, one
of the best indication of Ameri-
canization was undoubtedly con-
tribution to the war effort. Here,
too, the refugees' record is ex-
tremely good. Only two ans-
swered. But-
269 purchased war bonds
116 donated blood
73 had members of families
in military service.
The War Records Bureau of
the Detroit Army and Navy Com-
mittee, maintained by the Jew-
ish Welfare Federation, contains
the names of 140 recent immi-
grants from Detroit who have
served or are serving with U. S.
forces. (Four of them were kill-
ed in action, and many others
received awards and decorations).
The picture, as revealed by
the study, amply confirms the
impressions of those who have
been in close contact with the
group, that the recent immig-
rants are becoming rooted in
American life and have shown
an amazing tempo of adjustment.
Of the 287 who replied to the
question about post-war plans,
281 said they intended to remain
in the United States, four were
undecided, and only two intend-
ed to leave this country.

Friday, NoverrUer 21,194V

S ebody's Child

This article, based on information from
the files of the Jewish Social Service
Bureau deals with an important phase of
the social services carried on in Detroit's
Jewish W el f a r e Federation agencies.
—Editor's Note.

•

E

VERY WEEK somebody's
child comes to the Jewish Social Service
Bureau for help—a child in need of food,
in need of love, in need of shelter, in need
of a home. It is always SOMEBODY'S
child—a mother's, a father's—and it may
be a child who has both parents, but no
home.
Why do these children come? Each
child wants his own, his very own par-
ents. But there may have been a death
of a parent, or illness, physical or mental;
or desertion, or separation, or divorce.
Then, too, whether we like it or not, there
are parents poorly equipped for Parent-
hood. These are the whys.
What kind of children are they? All
ages—from birth upward s. Blonde,
brunette, tall, short, fat, but more fre-
quently thin. Lively ones that can meet
the world half way, and sad, bewildered

ones, Some are smart, some not smart
at all, some in good health, but usually
more s who are run down. Few happy,
most unhappy, all of them wanting and
deserving the happiness of a decent child-
hood. They ask that which you as parents
try to give your own children.
That which we give through the Jew-
ish Social Service Bureau to OTHER
PEOPLE'S CHILDREN is not charity. - It
is common-sense insurance for the future.
For the health and reputation of the Jew-
ish community of tomorrow depend on
how well this job is done today.
EVERYONE WANTS A MIRIAM
Miriam had everything, including the
"3 B's". She was blonde, beautiful, bril-
liant. She had a spirit and an outgoing
Personality that contrasted amazingly
with the squalor of her background. What
she .needed most was a Home, and that,
for a child so richly endowed with natur-
al gifts, was a cinch. It took a relatively
short time to find an ideal home for her
—cultured foster parents, comfortably
situated, lots of affection—all that one
could ask for. It doesn't often happen,
this story-book solution. It really did hap-
pen to Miriam. But—
NO ONE WANTED BOBBIE
Bob was fourteen. He was neither
blond, beautiful nor brilliant. Just plain
neglected, unloved, unwanted and un-
happy. At home, if you could call it that,
poverty, a cruel stepmother, an indiffer-
ent father. He was alone, friendless, an
ugly duckling that no magic wand could
ever turn into a swan. When Bob came
to the JSSB he was a most unprepossess-
ing youngster—stooped shoulders, thin,
missing teeth, finger nails broken. Not a
pretty picture, but it was Bobbie. The
Bureau could well have used a magic
wand just then. Lacking that, it used
what it had—case worker, physician,
dentist, psychologist, psychiatrist—all the
resources at its command. • The doctor
said "he is undernourished, he must have
plenty of good food"; the psychologist said
"he must not be pushed in his school
work"; the psychiatrist said "give him a

chance in a simple, kindly home where
too much will not be expected of him."
The case worker, pooling this expert ad-
vice and using other agency resources,
f ound-
A HOME FOR BOBBIE
It was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cohen.
They became Bob's foster parents; their
home became his home. The Cohens gave
him what Bobbie had mighty little of in
the past: kindness, sympathy, affection,
and above all, the moral support he need-
ed to accept himself. Although of moder-
ate means, the Cohens were wealthy in
patience, tolerance and sensitivity to what
children need.
They also had an endless amount of
love for children. And that is perhaps
why they could keep it up. Many were
the times Mrs. Cohen wished she had a
magic wand. Bobbie seemed so unre-
sponsive. Progress was slow—two steps
forward, one step back, again and again.
But never two steps back, only one!
Many, many times case worker and
foster mother worked and planned to-
gether. Bob could get very little from
school. He was wasting his time, he said.
He left school. With Mrs. Cohen's help
and encouragement he found a job. He
lost it. Again and again. It seemed as
if nobody wanted Bob even as a worker.
But Mrs. Cohen learned not to be dis-
couraged.
"It's all right, Bobbie, don't worry.
Maybe that wasn't such a good job. Come,
eat your supper, then we'll talk. Wait
and see, you'll get another job."
And he did. The time came when Bob
got another job—and held it.
A success story! Bob the ungainly,
the unwanted—working, and on his own.

He came to see the case worker to show
her his first suit bought with his own
earnings. "Mr. Cohen went with me to
buy it." He displayed his bank book.
"Mr. Cohen made me open an account."
He told about the presents he received
on his birthday, and he was all smiles.
The story might have had a different
ending if Bobbie hadn't come to the Jew-
ish Social Service Bureau. Thousands of
dollars were spent on Bob, in money, ef-
fort, time, service. Expensive? Indeed,
yes! But much less than society might
have had to pay in broken lives, unhappi-
ness and the cost of courts, police and
jails.
But not all the money in the world can
really 'buy those things that the Cohens
had to give. Without their kind of foster
parents the Bobbies of Detroit would not
have nearly the same opportunities for a
wholesome, decent childhood.
WANTED: FOSTER HOMES
The Jewish Social Service Bureau is
in urgent need of more foster homes.
Reasonable rates are paid for board, and
clothing, medical care and spending money
are supplied in addition.
Foster parents do not make a profit
but neither are they expected to spend
any of their own money. Suitable foster
parents can make a real contribution to
the Jewish community. And they can also
obtain real satisfaction out of providing
a home for somebody's child. Applica-
tions should be made to Miss Goldie Gold-
stein, Jewish Social Service Bureau, 5737
Second Avenue, TRinity 2-4080.

