The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-28

AT a recent session of the Board of
School Trustees, among other com
mittees appointed, was one to exam
inc into the subject of teaching Ger
man in the public schools of this
city. The committee submit the
following report, embracing a plan
for the more general teaching of that
language in the schools. which the
Board of Trustees are anxious to
adopt. if the necessary room can be
secured to accommodate the increased
number of scholars, which it would
naturally attract.
As the report is very full and ex-
plains itself, no comment thereon is
necessary.
To the Honorable Board of Trustees, and
the superintendent of the Public Schools
OF Evansville, Indiana:
We, the Committee appointed for
investigating the present condition of
German in the public schools, and for
proposing plan, according to which
this language may be taught practi-
calIy and to the best advantage, after
having possessed ourselves of all the
information possible, and having WIS.,
| tied the classes in company with the
present teacher, submit the following
First. The prime object of Ger.
man in the public schools is, that his
native language be preserved to the
German speaking citizen, that there.
fore an opportunity be offered him to
enable his children to acquire a per
feet command over the German Ian.
guage. Another object in the study
/ Of German In these schools, is to en-.
able the English speaking pupils tt
master language spoken by nearly
| one-half of their eountTymen, and Il
open to them the literary treasures o.
seventy millions Of people.
Second. We declare the plan &C
cording to which the German wa:
introduced in 1869 an experiment
the faults of which have become
clearly manifest during the course o.
three years, and under the experience
of two teachers, for
/. The above named object ha!
never been reached; the German
speaking citizens have been unable tC
derive any benefit from the introduc
ton of their language. The reason
of this is that the German was intro
duced into the upper grades only
which, for various causes, are attend.
ed by but few German-speakini
pupils.
2. Some of the classes were formed
in grades where the English-sreakinG
pupils had not the least grammatica
knowledge of their native tongue.
| 3. German was not made a compul
sorry study after it was taken up. The
scholars could leave the class when
ever they or their indulgent parent,
| thought it fit. The teachers wer;
therefore unable to obtain attendance
and study.
| Third. The plan which we pro
pose for adoption is the following
In order to persuade the German
| speaking citizens to renounce secta
rian schools, the public schools mus
| give them an opportunity to have Their
children taught as good, if not better
German than they could obtain a
sectarian schools. To attain this, thu
| instruction In German.
| l. BAusb OEktu HbnG iOHGSA
for here the greatest good can be &C.
complished, both as regard numbers
and proficiency.
2. Must extend through the sir
lower grades of the schools, for should
the instruction terminate before tn
sixth grade. very imperfect result
would be obtained.
3. Must be instructed into al
schools of these grades; that is, wher
the number of German speaking
scholars wouldjustify the forming o.
glasses.
4. Must consist in reading ant
writing, and, wherever the scholars
are far enough advanced, in grammar
for if these studies receive the prope
care. the German speaking pupil cal
obtain complete control over his Ian
guage.
The English-speaking pupils shoulC
not take up the study of German be
fore they have obtained a certain pro
ficiency in English grammar. Thei
instruction should not begin below
the first grammar grade. and should
be subject to the same regulations a.
other studies in the public schools.
Respectfully submitted.
HENRY Il. BLEMKER,
p. f. SCHNEIDER,