Americanized Education
Instead of the traditional academic education, Ellis Island teachers focused on preparing children for their life in the United States. Italian immigrant Angela Pirrone (Weinkam) arrived at Ellis Island in 1924 from Italy. She and her mother, hospitalized after inspection, remained on the island for a month. Weinkam recalls learning English, as does Naomi Fader, an immigrant from Latvia.
In an interview with Ellis Island oral historians, Fader says, “I leaned English. I learned to count. And they, they had a school here for the children. It was lovely. They sang American songs.” The Daughters of the American Revolution taught the children about American culture, history, civics, and what it meant to be a good citizen. The school also kept the children occupied with arts and crafts, music, physical activity, and every child’s favorite time of day, snacks. Weinkam remembers having graham crackers and milk every afternoon at 3:30 pm.
