The students will be able to achieve the following by the end of the course.
First—
to help instill a cultural pride in each student and good feeling about one’s self.
Many students are unaware of the various cultural contributions. It is hoped that by examining the Italians, other cultures will be illuminated.
Second—
to illustrate what contributions were accomplished by the Italian-Americans.
The Italians were instrumental in creating a positive attitude for New Haven. Other cultures have followed the same path as the Italian-Americans.
Third—
to record feedback from each student in class based on a questionnaire to determine what contributions of Italian culture or their own culture they are aware of.
Various questions on accomplishments will be asked and answered.
Fourth—
to determine how the past will influence the future.
Students will discuss possibilities for cultural changes.
Strategies
To present this unit, it is advised that the following be introduced in its assigned order.
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A.
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The City
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A brief description of New Haven. Discussion on the past, present and future considerations.
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B.
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People
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Why the Italians migrated to this region and the effects of the migration.
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C.
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Influence
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What accomplishments were attributed to the Italian Americans and how did these contributions influence others?
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D.
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Cultural Preference
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The Italians lived and worked in their own clusters. A discussion on the effects of this phenomenon.
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E.
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Values
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What is a value? A discussion on how values are perceived. The Italian-American values, how the environment or region may effect values.
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F.
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Organization and Organizations
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How each culture, in particular the Italians found strength to survive through various networks.
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G.
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Legacy
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What can we expect from our own heritage? Have we learned what the Italians achieved?
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Unit Summary
Week One: Background of the Italians in Italy
Students will learn about the role of the Italian government in the migration, also their role in farm life and poverty. The family unit will be discussed; how the Italians supported their families, why they exited to other countries.
Questions to be considered include: What are the responsibilities of the family members? Who is the dominant decision maker? Why? Was the decision to leave Italy beneficial to the family?
During this week of discussion many ideas and facts should surface. Various projects will be assigned to reinforce discussions. Students will research their own family tree to determine what their heritage is and if it may include any Italian ancestry. Family tradition will also be explored as it existed in Italy.
Background brief
The Italians arrived in New Haven around 1872. They came here to escape the poverty of Italy. The Italian government wanted to industrialize Italy at the expense of its people. There was little reward for the unskilled laborer and the peasant farmers of Italy. Over eighty percent of the people depended on agriculture for a living but the Italian soil wasn’t always ready for crops when it was most needed, nor were the means and equipment updated for efficiency. Many Italian farmers and laborers lived in villages perched in the hills to avoid the lowlands which offered the constant threat of Malaria. The rain washed
topsoil of the mountains which caused Malaria swamps. It wasn’t unusual for a farmer to walk miles to reach their land and once there, they had only archaic tools to use for their work. The rain fall complicated farming to the point that it wasn’t profitable. The rain fell in the autumn and winter in heavy amounts which proved devastating for the farmer’s ability to successfully farm. Wages were low for skilled and unskilled worker. The worker averaged between sixteen and thirty cents per day.
Week Two: The Migration into the American Cities
During the second week the students will be exposed to the effects of the great migration on Americans and Italian-Americans. A discussion on “Just how hard life was”, the rewards and benefits of life in America, the cluster or village phenomenon that each city became a part of, and the repercussions to this style of living. Job opportunities will be discussed along with climate and farming differences that made America ideal for migration.
The students will learn about:
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1.
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Values and traditions that were taught to children and passed to other children
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2.
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Education
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3.
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Contribution of the Italian-American
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4.
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Responsibilities of members of the family
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5.
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Religion
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6.
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Recreational including good things to eat
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Students will participate in class discussions and be assigned tasks to explore some of these questions.
Background brief
America was offering two to three times more money and better working conditions. Land was plenty. Soil was abundant. Taxes were negligible and compulsory, military service was non-existent. These attractions and more made North America ideal for the two-thirds of all Southern Italians that migrated. Many others traveled to South America, Brazil and Argentina.
The principal cities in America around the turn of the century were New York—145,433, Philadelphia—17,830, Chicago—16,008, Boston—13,738. Other cities included Newark, New Orleans, Providence, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and New Haven, Connecticut. New Haven’s total population was 50,000 in 1890. Of that total 2,990 were Italian, by 1900 4.9% lived in New Haven.
The Italians encountered many problems after arriving in New York’s docks. The immigrants were sickly and many died from Cholera and other contagious diseases.
The Italians followed the Irish into various arrival neighborhoods, such as Oak Street, The Hill and Wooster Square. However the Italian immigrants of the 1880’s—l900’s felt the anti-Italian discrimination practices that followed them into American Cities. The Italians were easy prey for “Americans” because of their inability to speak English soon after their arrival. This created small communities of Italians throughout the city. These villages were staked out by entire provinces of Italian families that left Italy for New Haven. These American branches were welcomed relief for the Italian families that knew no one. The tendency to segregate themselves from other Italians was a natural process for many immigrants because they felt little or no affinity to their compatriots from other areas of Italy. Most spoke dialects which other Italians couldn’t understand, therefore they felt more comfortable among themselves. The family within this structure was usually father dominated and mother centered and tended to be both strongly centralized and supportive.
Week Three: Victory Over Hunger
This week will be devoted to the universal appeal of food.
Class participation and discussion on a variety of foods and their significance—
victory over hunger
, the origin of macaroni, how to prepare a number of dishes, how to make a cannoli, the unity of a family dining together, preparing the meal together, the garden and fruits and vegetables.
Students will discuss how to begin a garden, what to grow and if weather or season permits, a small one will be started with the types of Ethnic foods available and how they differ from the Italian-Americans.
Background brief
The preparation, cooking and eating of Italian foods in the warm company of relatives and friends takes on an almost ritualistic significance among Italian-Americans.
It may very well symbolize the family’s victory over hunger. The love affair with food began almost immediately when they arrived in New Haven. Fresh fruits, tomatoes and vegetables were the favorites to grow. The family would gather and prepare all the garden grown crops and homemade pasta, the “meal” served as a time to relax and talk about the day’s events. As time went on, the Italian influence in New Haven was and still is prevalent. Many Italian bakeries and restaurants flourished. Fresh vegetables and fruit stands could be approached almost anywhere in New Haven. Fish carts with a variety of delectable fish, oysters, clams and lobsters from New Haven waters could be sampled. The Italians of Wooster Street specialized in the best pizza and Pepe’s, Sally’s and The Spot are known around the country.
Week Four: Entrepreneur
We will discuss the business abilities of the Italians and the many organizations. Students will learn about how businesses were started, where money came from to start businesses, managing ability; home buying will also be included with notes on mortgage money.
During the week, class discussions will center around success and failures of known businesses in New Haven. Newspapers will be used to chart a few stock market developments. Specific stocks will also be explored. Magazine articles will be used to substantiate discussions, how loyalty became a part of business in the Italian communities, who worked in the businesses? Was it always family? What businesses were the Italians mostly involved in and why?
Background brief
Italians were great organizers (campanilismo), loyalty is credited with the start of many business ideas. Organizations were places to gather and to seek help. In 1930, eighty (80) clubs, 10,000 member organizations and Italian owned banks, lent money for home buying Italians. Money came from accumulated resources. Slide show presentations will follow. Students’ folders will be discussed and shared.
Conclusions
This unit has been designed to help students begin to think about the influence of the Italian immigrants in America and specifically New Haven. It is meant to stir curiosity about the student’s own heritage and to enlighten their knowledge of themselves. The students will have the opportunities during this unit to explore and digest information that would never have been available with the loyalties and sacrifices that were made. Pioneers, adventurers who came here with little knowledge and understanding of the new world. All the ethnic groups started a new life in America in a most difficult fashion, many similarities existed. The Italian-American story may just mirror the plights of all others that have surfaced. Perhaps by researching our past, the present will be easier to understand, the future easier to attain.
Contributions :
Amadeo P. Giannini—
Founder of Bank of America
In 1904 Giannini opened his first banking office, which in those days he called “The bank of Italy”.
Salvatore Giordano—
President of Fedders Corporation
Manufacturer of air-conditioning equipment
Jeno Paulucc—
President of the Chunking Corporation
The leading processor of Chinese food
Fiorello LaGuardia—
Mayor of New York City
Former Mayor and the first Italian-American of national prominence.
Arturo Toscanini—
Music Conductor
Enrico Caruso—
Opera Tenor
GianCarlo Menotti—
Composer
Attilio Piccirilli—
Italian-American Sculptor
Harry Bertoia—
Contemporary Sculptor
Enrico Fermi—
Physicist and Nobel Prize Winner
John Cairdi—
Poet
Frank Sinatra—
Singer
Perry Como—
Singer
Dean Martin—
Singer
Benjamin F. Biaggini—
Chairman of Southern Pacific
Edward J. Debartolo Sr.—
Ohio shopping-center and sports magnate
Jeno F. Paulucci—
Minnesota frozen-food processor
Frank D. Stella—Detroit businessman and civic leader
Michael Bennett—
Broadway choreographer (
“
Dreamgirls
”
)
Francis Ford Coppola—
Moviemaker (
“
Apocalypse Now
”
)
Gay Talese—
Author (
“
Thy Neighbor’s Wife
”
)
Jack Valenti—
Motion Picture Association of America
Robert Venturi—
Architect, “father of postmodernism.
”
Buzzie Bavasi—
Executive V.P. California Angels
Tommy Lasorda—
Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers
Billy Martin—
Manager, New York Yankees
Joe Paterno—
Penn State football coach
William V. D’Antonio—
American Sociological Association
John Lo Schiavo—
President of University of San Francisco
Edmund D. Pellegrino—
Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University
Questions:
To be asked of Italian-Americans
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1.
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Do you instinctively think of yourself as Italian, American or Italian-American?
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2.
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Have you ever felt conflict between the Italian part of you and the American demand on your nature?
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3.
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What particular insights or advantages do you have from your Italian background?
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4.
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If there is one thing that you think as an Italian American you do not share with others? What is it?
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5.
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Name some Italian-Americans of whom you privately most proud.
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To be asked of all others
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1. Have we benefited from the Italians migrating to America? Have we benefited from other cultures?
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2. What contributions have been made?
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3. Should we attempt to stop any future migrations to America . . . or control?
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4. Has the Italian-American migration influenced our future?
LESSON PLAN #1
OBJECTIVE—Students will visit two restaurants to compare styles and discuss the experiences.
MATERIALS—
Transportation, if required, pencil and notebooks, money.
PROCEDURE—
Students will visit two different ethnic restaurants and taste the food, compare the differences and talk to the managers.
CHOICES:
Restaurant #1—Italian food
Any number of Italian restaurants available, most students prefer pizza, notes taken on cost, ingredients, owner dialect.
Restaurant #2—Jewish food
Students prefer the Deli, Westville location idea for sandwich testing. Notes taken on cost, ingredients, owner dialect.
Restaurant #3—Mystery restaurant
Students choose a restaurant at random, walk in and try to determine ethnic culture by reading menu, ingredients, dialect.
LESSON PLAN #2
OBJECTIVE—
Food lesson to prepare a “cannoli.” This lesson will teach the student a variety of educational lessons.
MATERIALS—
1 1/2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 T sugar
1/4 c. shortening
1 egg yolk
1/2 c. dry white wine
vegetable oil
(cheese filling)
2 lbs. Ricotta cheese
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
3 oz. sweet chocolate broken into small pieces
1/4 c. chopped pistachio nuts
confectioners sugar
PROCEDURE—
Sift together flour and sugar. Cut in shortening. Stir egg yolk into wine. Add to flour mixture. Mix dough until stiff. Divide dough in half, roll out as thin as paper. Cut into 3 1/2 inch squares. Place cannoli forms diagonally on pastry squares from point to point. Draw remaining 2 corners loosely over Cannoli form. Moisten underside of overlapping corner with wine. Press corners together. Heat oil to 375—. Fry 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown turning occasionally. Drain. Cool. Use pastry tube or teaspoon to fill shells with cheese filling. Sprinkle nuts on filling on each end. Dust center with confectioners sugar. Makes about 25 shells . . . can be frozen.
EVALUATION—
Informal evaluation by the teacher.
LESSON PLAN #3
OBJECTIVE—
To determine what difficulties students would encounter if they found themselves in a new situation that perpetuated discrimination.
MATERIALS—Classroom pads, pencils.
PROCEDURE—
Teacher will set up role playing situation similar to Italian-American plight i.e. student will act out problems possible in applying for a job. One student will approach another in search of a job. Students in class will take notes on adlib adventure.
EVALUATION—
Students and teachers will evaluate play.
LESSON PLAN #
4
OBJECTIVE—
To help reduce discrimination against stigmatized cultural groups and to provide them equal educational opportunities.
MATERIALS—
Classroom discussion format
LESSON—Role Play: 5 students will sit on panel and discuss the discriminatory practices that are directed at any 5 ethnic groups. e.g. Italians, Puerto Ricans, Irish, Blacks and Jews.
Name any alternatives to discrimination.
STRATEGIES—
To create a school atmosphere which has positive institutional norms toward victimized cultural groups in the United States.
LESSON PLAN #
5
OBJECTIVE—
To discuss the school’s role during and after the migration millions of immigrants into the United States.
MATERIALS—
Classroom discussion format
QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION—
1907. Peak year of mass migration to the United States, a movement which brought 46 million immigrants between 1820-1974.
“The Common School changed the immigrant, but the immigrant altered the school, says Historian D.B. Tyack”.
Discuss Tyack’s statement and list on board all the changes that were made for the school and immigrants.
EVALUATION—
Students will be asked to evaluate their input. Teacher will record input and feedback.
1901 Poem by Yale Student
Sydney Deane
Lamenting The Passing of a Once-Aristocratic Neighborhood
The old white church in Wooster Square
Where Godly people met and prayed.
Dear Soul! they worship many there
Italian mothers, man and maid.
In gaudy Southern scarves arrayed
The horrid candles smolder where
The Godly people met and prayed
alas the fall of Wooster Square.
