The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-31
IN. Ksve.,,o. OF osrm.. oA,ldre..
raE GERMAN POPULATION or NEW YORK.


The committee TO whom has been referred the
memorial Of 529 residents and eitizens Of the Nine
teenth and Twentieth wards. praying that the
Beard of Education would aid them to provide
for she education Of their children would most
respectfully report
s That they have visited the wards in which the
petitioners reside, considered their memorial and,
from Investigation, come to the conclusion that the
objects of the petitioners one Of the mos impor
tant 70 the general welfare of the CITY, and deserv-
ing Of speedy attention the part Of the school Of
Rcer Of those wsrds
The petitioners represent that they themselves
have about 600 children; thst from 500 TO 1000
children Of German parentsge and Of suitable age
to attend school live in their section Of the city;
that the children Of many emigrants who have ar
rived during the last year two, wholly unac-
auainted with the English language, and are there
by deprived Of advantages in our public schools
which are held out to Others; that the petitioners
mostly belong TO the lab0ring classes-are compare
lively poor and unable 10 provide for the education
Of their children. and what they desire is, teach
ers who understand both the German and English
languages SO that with the greatest facility, and
without embarrassment, their children can be
taught English, AND be thus speedily fitted to en-
braoe the advantages, and, with the American born
enjoy equal and the fullest benefit Of our public
schooss and thus fit their children to become Amer
lean citizens, fully understanding our laws, aud
rightly appreciatiDg our glorious institutions,
/. A moro laudable desire your committee could not
lssk for.
The German school referred to in the memorial,
and proposed MS primary is in the basement Of
German church in Forty-irst street, Nineteenth
ward, near Seventh avenue, and might aocommo.
date 25O children Ward school, No. IL, Nine
teenth ward, in Fortieth street, between Seventh
aAd Eighth avenues, near the German school,
which last week had in he male department an
average attendance Of 252 accommodate 300
n the female $50 can accommodate 270, and in the
primary department 527, but which cannot accom-
mOdate over 500 The public primary, No 36, on
Fsrty third street. between Eighth and Ninth
avenues, is full and the public school, No. 49,
Forty seventh street between the Eighth and Ninth
avenues, last week, in the male department,
averaged 2S7, could seat comfortably 300. The fe-
U1Ale department averaged 225, could accommodate
300 and the prim4ry averaged 400. and is said to
befuli. In view OF these statistics, the officers of
the Nineteenth ward, if they cannot appoint suita
BILE teachers in ward schools who understand both
languages, might deem it advisable for the time
bong, TO establish primary in the basement of
the German church alluded to, and in that way, in
measure, meet the wishes of our German citizens
and IS the children thereof shall become qualified,
f1hser them to the upper departments of the above
'Ained ward and public schools which are not now
fun. -~'-,'7- 49,.
: As the memorial Of the Germans should first have
sbSen presented to the ward officers, whose province
1T sis to establish schools and appoint teachers,
your committee, hereinafter, annex resolution re-
commencing its adoption by the board, referring
the whole matter TO the officers Of the Nineteenth
and Twentieth wards believing that due considera-
ltibn will be given to the sams. ttH thf#~t \
'smI,Bst before we leave this application, with the
permisson Of the Board OF Education, we would add
to tho abeve, as further and more specific reasons
why We regard this memorial oDe of the greatest
Importance to this city 81
I Il is estimated that in The city and county of
New York there are about 100, 900 Germans. Al
lowing five individuals to family, we have 20, 900
German families and giving one child of suitable
ago to attend school TO each family, have in our
midst $1,000 children OF German parentage, whose
education Is of vital importance to the government
under which We live Shall not this vast multitude,
Who In process Of time, are to have much to do in
the management of American institutions have all
NECESSARY facilities for instruction in our common
Seeh0ois Is il not the intention Of our school
law, that educational provision should BIO made for
every child between the sgs Of four and twentyone
,years in CITY. from whatever nation GLASS of
people they might spring?
p But we are told by our German citizens, that
large number of their children cannot avail them
eclyee OF the advantages OF our school system be-
c1Hee they do not understand the English language
tASt our English teachers cannot communicate to
tt6em on account ola diversity of language.
4 This some OF school officers, by careful in
vSstigaticn, are convinced is the case, and are |
roady to advocate the appointment in schools,
far - 10 requisite of German teachers qualified
may be found necessary, can give to children of |
German birth explanations in their vernacular |
league, that thus DO idom or accent may be an |
obstacle, and that, free from all embarrassment by
reason of foreign birth, language, prejudice, the
German youth may with speed enter upon the study |
Of the English branches Of education
The truthfulness of this statement has been amply
tested. Our German residents and citizens have
sent their children TO common schools; but, be-
cause such children had recently arrived in this
country or because the German was their vernacu-
Iort and
receive instruction conveyed in the English Ian
guage, they were chased with those inferior in age
and aNshments and finding their situation un-
pleasant and embarrassing. ultimately became dis
couraged, and left the schools.
These facts have operated powerfully upon the
minds OF our German CT liens in establishing, and at
great expense in supporting, numerous schools of
their own while, at the same time, they have
borne their share Of public tax for the support Of
common schools
:. But probably not one half Of German parents in
this oity are able TO pay tor education; and, conse-
qucntly, vast numbers Of their children now in
the streets, (notwitbm andiug the desire of their
parents TO the contrary detitute of proper mental
culture, ana growing up in ignorance and vice.
No nation or people on earth have taken greater |
interest in public instruction than the German- |
have more numerous and excellent literary institu-
tieas-done to Zurich the world with the pure
elements of languages aud the arts and sciences
have had more learned men.
And shall such people he deprived Of equal and
ample privileges for the education of their offspring
the fendest desire of their hearts, in this land of
equality-the existence of whose government and |
institutions depends upon intelligence and virtue?
IL such people cannot educate their children, they
must, above all Others feel the need of help and it
should be granted them |
Should the school officers of the wards in this city,
where the Germans numerous (and il can be |
dene without any increase Of expeuse) appoint |
teachers of German birth, able to teach the Eng |
ish language and the English branches Of educa. |
ton, the immediate result would be that thousands
Of German children who now from necessity and |
at great expense, educated in private German |
schools, or because Of the poverty Of their pa
rents, rowing in the streets of city and excluded
from q correct knowledge Of our institutions would
be brought under the benign influence Of our pub. |
lie schools, would have teachers who could sympa-
thize with them would feel at case and at home in