, 1873-05-25
GERMAN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IL AE Lu&&p1 " Ing LfHEh1O 4ttbAh1s
SIR Some time ago. several articles, headed
"Ge1nan in Our Public Schools" and signed
*Third Ware, !" appeared in tho Chicago Times,
and last Aprirs issue OF the Chicago Teacher
contained an article on the same subject, under
the very peculiar heading, ''Our Elephant"
The former articles displayed such Ignorance Of
the subject reviewed that no sensible po1son
could attach much weight to them; but the lat
ter one is more formidable. I say more formid-
able, not owing to any intrinsic merits Of the
article, but because it is known to be the pro-
duction Of the editor Of the periodical in which
position of Principal OF one Of our
go full Of misrepresentation and
nisstatements, and ia SO remarkable
for it's want OF common sense and logic, that
no person whose opinion is worth anything
would attach much weight to it, but for the
poaition Of the writer.
I WAS not aware that German had been intro
duced into the public schools in order to secure
political votes from the Germans but, even il
that we're SO, what OF it? This argument would
amount to no more than the opposite ono,
which have heard suggested, viz: That the
movement got up against the teaching of Ger
man wns for political purposes to secure votes
by pandaring to the prejudices OF the lowest and
most ignorant class Of Irishmen.
No, sir! The subject of teaching German in
our public schools is too important q one to be
made the catspaw of demagogues and Office
seekers, whether German Or Irish It must be
Judged Of on its own morits.
The editor OF the Chicago Teacher, and the
reputed author Of "Our Elephant" conceded
the usefulness Of German teaching as a means
Of mental culture; but, whilst admitting its use-
fulness as q part Of the course Of study in high
schools and colleges, ho is opposed to its being
taught in our common schools.
We're our public schools to bo frequented only
by the children Of the lowest classes Of tho peo-
pie, as is the case in the village schools Of Eng
land and Germany, would advocate the teach
in that case, it would be still useful, oNing to
the peculiar circumstances we are placed H. But
our schools differ from those OF Europe in
this: that they are frequented BY all classes and
very few scholars, after graduating at
seSool5 seS "es conseaaently, pS the standard 1t
teaching must be, and is, higher one than that
OF the primary schools in European countries :,
In all schools in Europe aspiring to standard
OF education equal to that of our public schoes,
taught; and the question for nR to ds;loe y,
whether, situated as We are IN America, T. II
judicious and advisable to teach foreign lnn-
cuage in our public schools. have gwen tue
Subject careful attention, and find tho aasan~
tages of studying one or two foreign languages
too great to enumerate: =.
Ffrst-By studying . foreign language the
people are constantly led to compare 1t WITH
their OWN, and thus acquire better k9oTnleage
ica. educated persons make gross mistakes IN
their other-tongue, which they never would
max. if thew had studied foreign language.
,Soond-Being able to read forsigu authors IN
their own languages lberalizes the n mind, ana
gives one better 3nslgnt lEto aae n'e1atoe,
t':Ss TiirdLA large proportion Of our resident
population being Of German descent, the Ger
man Language ia spoken to such an extent here