The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-08-24
LOCAL CoRREsPoNpEXCE.
Tho German Language In the Publle
schools.

Tho German Language In the Publle
schools.
To the Editor Of the lntelligeneeE
On Wednesday last the Board OF Ed.
uCAllon unanimously passed q Fesolu~
tlon TO introduce the study Of the Ger.
man Language Into our public schools
at the beginning Of the next scholastic
year. Some people cannot, perhaps, at
present see the advantages resulting
I9Gtl this change, and, do not, perhaps,
therefore. sufficiently appreciate the
wisdom Of the Board In this matter.
Again, some Of those on whose behalf
The petition waStntrOduoed may posi-.
bly, not receive the boon with sufficient
gratitude, and may even oppose the
plan Intended for their benefit, Fear
Ing that feelings such as these on the
part OF some people might possibly Ia.
tefiere with the successful carrying out
Of Inc plan at present proposed, would
beg leave, Mr.. Editor, 10 submit 10 the
public very plain and simple stale
ment OF my Views on the subject.
II we glance at our congregational
schools, we hud them almost every.
where In sickly condition, not per.
haps 80 much with regard 10 numbers
as classification and discipline. Even
In large cities where an efficient stat Of
teachers IL employed In German schools,
go that each branch receives proper at.
tention, the study OF the English Ian.
guage has ever been and continues 10
bs n secondary matter. But In most
Of the German congregational schools,
as Is the case In Wheeling, only one
teacher IL employed, whose duty II IL
10 instruct only Ia German, the entire
school composed OF pupils varying III
age from six 10 fourteen. Ia the nrst
place, under such circumstances, the
children cannot possibly make salts.
factory progress even In the branches
prolessed 10 be taught. In the
second place their instruction in
English Is totally neglected; and In
the third place, since there Is no COM
pulsion on the parents, the children
are sent 10 school or kept at home, as
may seem convenient. From all this
there results very poor instruction,
very unsatisfactory discipline, and very
Irregular attendance.
On the other hand, the Public School
System, though perhaps not perfect, IL
yet decidedly keeping pace with the
march Of progress In this country, and
IL thorough and effective. Itguarantees
q sound education to all, without the
additional expense required In copgre-
gatIonal schools; II Is enabled also TO
furnish as many OF the very best
teachers as the classification Of the
pupils according 10 ago and ability
may Justify, and since It does not
depend for It's continued existence upon
the monthly or quarterly payments
OF parents, who at one time feel dlspoa.
ed TO send their children, and at an
other 10 keep them away, It may be and
Is, perfectly independent. Hence, It fol.
lows, that we find In hepubllc schools
u much more thorough and extensive
course of instruction, a much better
state Of discipline which Ia the result of
their independence, while the munlcl.
pal authority with which they are arm-
ed enables them TO enforce a much
more regular and steady attendance
1t Is source 0! regret that by many
Germans In this country, the English
language Is considered OF less Impor-
lance than tho German, and II Is not
unusual to find children naturally
bright and talented, utterly unable 10
read or write letter In the language
almost universally employed around
them. Parents with such views are
guilty OF gross neglect In bringing up
their children In such ignorance OF the
language Of their adopted country.
On the other hand, the advantages
offered by this change TO the American
children ought not TO be overlooked.
America Is fortunately a home for
whatever people on the face Of Gods
earth desire 10 enjoy religious and civil
liberty, and hence millions have emil
grated TO her attractive soil, and MIL
lions nre on their way. The great ma-
JorIty OF these are Germans, who bring
with them from the fatherland their
honesty, their Industry, and their Ian
guage. It would be difficult, nay, Inn
possible in most cases, for these emf.
grants 10 acquire with their citizenship
the ready uso OF Il foreign language.
Most OF them Rre advanced In years,
obliged to toll daily for means OF
subsistence, ard able 10 devote but
little time to the study OF the En-.
gllsh language. Yet these people come
In daily contact with Americans.
work for them In their shops and
stores, and call for aid on American
physicians and lawyers. German girls
on account Of their steAdIness and In.
dustry, are hired as servants In Ameri-
can households, and Germans of both
sexes coming to this country, and Will.
ing to work, lind employment very
readily on their arrival. All this proves
that the Germans and Americans are
mutually dependent on each other :.
and II this be 50, 1t Is self.evideuL that
1t would materially add TO the comfort
and happiness OF the German, II be
could speak TO his American employer.
and receive In return a kind word In
his native language and on the other
hand, that 1t would be very beneficial
TO the American doctor, lawyer, or
merchant, If he could fully understand
his German patient, client or customer.
II there be anything that would have
q tendency TO promote thorough and
cordial union between thetwo nation.
alities,i 1t must be the cultivation OF init
mate relations between the young; an
end that cannot be better attained than
byteachlng them In the same school,
room, and IN the same languages. In
this way they will best learn 10 know
and respect each other, 10 understand
each others feelInRs,and enter Into each
others sentiments, and the spirit Of
philanthropy, and patriotism will be
enlarged and ounobled.
In conclusion, II may bs added that
the closing Of the Congregations
schools need not Interfere with any
religious instruction that the pastors
may deem 1t 6t to give 10 the children
OF their charge. Other congregations
can II they see proper follow the ex..
ample OF Z!on's Church, and set apart
Saturday mornings for religious in.
structlou. +. G. Ii. LAMpE,
Pastor Of lions German Lutheran
Church.
Wheeling, AugaSt2Sd, 1869.
POLICE CoJJRT-Thp follOvInu cauas