Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-23

German in the Public Schools.
Meeting Of the Board Of Trrstees-A Long DiscHs-
son On the Stbjeet-T Teachers Of he G:rnda
Lonsaa9e 10 BE- Employed.
special meeting of the Board OF Truste'
Of Public Schools was held last evening at their
rooms, on 9Th street. near Z, for the purpose Of
eleciiug teachers Of the German language in
the schools, at which were present all the
members except Messrs. Wilson, Murtagh, and
Lawrence. Mr.. woodw ward was in the chair:
Mr.. g. ID. Carts, Secretary. Mr.. Richards,
Superintendent Of schools, was also pr,-s1i
Mr.. yashon, from the Committee on the
Study OF German Language, submitted a
report in which they say rhat from ae Super
| iniendep' ''they earned thar ne Ia n = of
pupils Gus IF pursuing IN sud q err
| man, was, in each and all of the grammar
| schools, considerably In excess OF the numte-
required by the City Councils as condition
precedent TO tie formation Of classes 10 bat
| study. But, at this point q diversity OF sentl-
ment seemed TO prevail in the committee
Whuc a portion Of them thought thti the
au'nOrIty conferred by the Councils in the
matter at issue fully justified such speedy
action In the premises as APPEARS to be de-
nanded nop while the programme Of studies
wsr me ygsp 10 Psoees, OF oLsess
duction OF German would operate as an amend.
ment - the course of study already es,ab-
ish' q, that authority could be exercised only
under he restrictions imposed bv article 81, OF
our bylaws, which declares that ssNo ameud-
ments 10 the bylaws Of the Board, or the T dies
and regulations OF the schools, shall BE- made
unless IL be proposed in writing at a stated
meeting, and receive at a sub eQueut staten
meeting the vote OF two-thlrds of all tue mem.
ters of The Board" Under these ci-cum stances
Il sc med appropriate to your committee that
the matter should be remanded to the copsid
GRAFTON Of the entire Board
Mr.. Vasbon, II bring the question directly
before the Board. submitted a proportion toat
tie German lang Gage be introduced in the
chools.
Mr.. Dulin raised the point that under ar,i
Gle 21st no amendment could be inside y the
IIFsi but IN order that the brs n shoald be
proceeded with. tor which ~ mpe,iog was
called, be would move ID susp q that article
The Board could not transact the bIs,nes for
WIS suspended.
The Chair decided that the motion was out O:
order.
Considerable discussion eusued q. 10 the
power Of the Board 10 suspend its ru,ss. during
which Mr.. Moore Sad that II the law of the
Corporation WIS mandatory on this Bo I'd,
their duty TO execute Its provisions was clear
Mr.. Nashon offered a reeolutIon. thar tho
act Of the Councils Is mandatory in ITS char.
arter, and that II Is the duty OF this Eolrd TO
act in accordance with II forthwith. a requis,t,
number OF pupils In the different ~cnooIs
having express'd L desire to pursue t,a -iaJy.
Mr.. Mcclellan co7t.udeC ther th' .1c' We,
not mandatory, - the Councils bad not n ed
the words "uireci' or instruct" which are
mandatory, but the word "Iu thorize- He held
that the lar .uage WIS plain. ana re trustees
had the discretion to procI ed OF not Toss
forth that the act IVES mandatory one Looked
ike reflection on TIE Councils, aud he did nol
'eye hey MT Mt in the pas. age Of this bill 10
do Otherwise than give the b ard d.scre .ionary
power.
Mr.: Richards said tina, wter tie bill wa
penCing In the Aldermen The II I y % i,
word sauthorJZe" was not discussed. 1t was
the impression that the trusice| would nfcrc,
ire law as soon IS po- sible. He held iai tn
law authorizing the Establishment of twenty
eddt ional schools recently pissed WIS obIi
gatory on the trust: as soon e. the want of
such schools made ii Necessary. He believed
6erman could De laugh in the schools without
interfering with other studies, and it would
aid me pupils in MASTERING their English
studies. He had no personal II cling in this
matter, and would, If he found that Tue study
OF Germsn inierlersd with other studies, rec.
ommend ma. it OF dropped. He weuId ST gee,t
that the question be taken du, Guy az To
whether il shall be introduced.
mr.. Mcclellan followed Mr.. Richards say.
ing that he could not believe the members OF
ne Council Intended 70 make this act mauda-
tory. He thought that any member of the Board
snew more OF the wants the schools than the
members of the Councils, and alt Ja be
could not eJdoIse tue resolution offered BY Mr.
Nashon, he wss IN favor of the intrcductIon of
re German language, and intau'si - en- ,er
Mr., Clarke said tuis law was no m ~ tatory,
the words .sshatI' or "dirCct'' COZ I'm An "a
He argued that il tbe study of G.,msa sin.
Ioduced il world interfere With the other
studies He was in favor Of Introducing the
German language In the s"-r1is did moi
crowd out other studies, but uule, the course
WIS extended in the Grammar schools h.
could not 81 thar 1t could be Id rod uccd wilt
out interfering With others studies
-, NJ, J; 5: BOYD Offered Re }ln!ops That
the German le1gu? Se in the public Cnools al
tue pr ut tire as OF douoa.Ll u.ii,,y; but
With view Of e.vipg the mate. iI'r I, 4,
moe .s1chers on such terms 8 Id under such
gu'atiors ss shall not coufiics With the
Pi ut course CT IDs,iuct-on a tue several
grsT m ar schools, subj to the oprovsl of the
seysraIsub-I O.Ics aud ihat tie e. .,.Initt o.
the 1nirCduc .on Of roe &c man II ..aye. n
conn tim " b the SuperiIt "a q, -, eau'hor-
'iors He r. Sardsd the Introduction Of G .rn. an
rs OF doubtfnl utility, esp cially when the
choiavs have so nsdv stadiFs - to r~lui.e
AL their tune. He could not see how a class Of
ni''en could I z conducted without interfering
not Only with their own studi~s, but the stud1s
of the whole school. He had be IN told by a
meal bel oithe Council vino vo. ID for the bill
bror mt 10 beIr-tbat It wa politics. ca.
sure viii him and he voted for il.
Mr.. Ri,oards stated that he b. d visited the
GlsT mar Schools ard spoken o fbe pupils sz
10 whether or not they WISH II study Ger
gsn, requ6s NJ apswers the follow rig day
and more " N baif he'd EXPIRE ed such desire
tbs study should, how yer, be coofins 4 to the
moIe advanced pupils. This bill WIS not a
particular hobby With him. although be favored
the measure. He ha1 visited schCois where
q e. mai eod EgiIS.. were ,sukut, and he
DC SIC yed that Cne a,ds d the otter. The German
element was becoming power in toe land, anu
here they paid consider ole pc, Ton OF the
taxes, perhaps re lriy oRe-thiId. If ihe Ger
mans are kept oct VI the schools, they al co J..
unue 10 keep up sort OF clanishness, and the
test m3Dner TO brc TX 70 down Is ~ I. .cniny
their language IN our schools, for many ara
anxiops 10 lend their children to our public
schools, but desire tIat their own language
should be taught rs well as English
Mr.. Erov remarked that a great objection
10 the Introduction of German was that n
would eIteil additional expen e for books He
dId not think tbat II was Jus, to pay sicaers of
Ge.man 81 200 per aunum, while teachers OF
OTTER branches were toIliDg a longer time aud
over Larger schools al less Gums. He respected
the German tor they were frugal and indus
trIODs, and be WIS IN favor OF AmerIcauizing
Germans but not OF Germauiz' AmsrIs ms
ard he could not recognize their dema ADS 10
that end. IL, however, the study OF that lau-
gus &c would be Tdvaniag eous TO pupils in the
English studies, be had 10 objection 10 the trial
being made.
Mr.. Dulin said that be had come prepared to
vote iof TIE mVa SUIT, FOR be W. : aware what
advaatage 1t would e. 10 I.e pupil s, -pecialIy
II they subsequently settlet IA -. ouI :, Gin.
cinnatI, and other such citie :, where q large
proportion, and sometimes nearly the entire
pop ulafion spoke tint Iangures. but be cab.
mlttCd thai the Bo I'd could No, act on the
me sure at This meeting. He SPOKE of having
once lost his way In 81. Louis, and hs gre At
difhcplty IN finding II Ueclpse be did not uu.
ders,aud the German langusge
m han oh fba