The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-18
BOARD OF EDUCATION.'
Anxious Inquiries About Ger
man in the Schools.
THE TWO SIDES OF THE QUESTION,
Superintendent Riddles Monthly Report-An-
nual Statement of the Finance Committee

The Board OF Education held q stated meeting
yesterday afternoon at the hall, corner OF Elm and
Grand streets, the President MIR. william II.
Nelson. IN the chair, and nineteen members being
present An unusually large number OF specta.
tors attended the interest cenering In the debat.
on the question OF teaching German in the public
schools
After the transaction OF some routine business
the report OF the City superintendent for the
month OF January was read and ordered 20 be
printed. Grammar schools Nos. l9, 40, 40 and so (;
Primary departments Nos. IL. SO and S. and
Primary schools Nos. 4. l6, % and 2s. had been
visited. In the 90 classes examined, instruction
In 1853 was excellent, in 70 good and in def
cient; in classes the discipline was deficient,
but the general management OF all the schools
was excellent. In Grammar School No. 80 the
accommodations were altogether insufficient for
the number OF pupils in attendance. Especially
In the primary department OF this school the
attendance was so numerous as to oostruct the
WORK OF instruction. Toe superintendent recon-
nended that a branch OF this school, similar TO
that recently authorized for the Thirteenth ward,
be established. The average attendance OF pupils
at all the schools for January last was $685.,
2,o5l less than Tor the corresponding month In
1878. This decrease was ascribed TO the inciem-
ancy or the weather this year. The total number
o. pupils enrolled on the 31st ult. was $50 more
tran the same date last year. total OF ls43
days OF absence or teachers occurred last month.
being Al days in excess OF the absences In Janu-
AIRY, 1874 The City superintendent deplored this.
IL serious loss TO the pupils and an injury
10 tue schools
Commissioner FAIR called up his resolution
presented at O previous meeting, which was In
tended TO discharge the Committee on Salaries
ana Economy from further consideration OF the
To n 81
pi studies and the study OF German in the com.
mon schools. submitted py Commissioner Baker
nc the meeting OF the Board held on December 16,
1874 and TO refer these resolutions 70 the Commit
tee on Course OF Study and School Books for in.
vestigation and a report on the same.
GERMAN nousEHoLDERs' MEMORIAL.
Commissioner FRAUD stated shat he had been
requested by the Central ORGANIZATION OF the Ger
man Houseowners Association to present to the
Board memorial setting forth the claims the
Germans had for instruction in German In the
public schools The document set out by alludin e
10 the objections against German instruction In
The schools and the expenditure incidenta
thereto. IL could scarcely be considered that the
,ojectors were serious when they argued for an
.xcuslon or German because Of an annual eX-
pense OF $4,000. This was an Insignificant SUN
or such purpose. No money was given oy the
public more freely more ungrudgingly than
money for the maintaining OF the public schools
and for the advancement OF public education.
THIS was not o question OF economy. German
citizens mad long Knocked at the doors Of the
Board of Education before they received what
they demanded. They did not wish now to lose
what they had already gainec, Notwithstanding
the ianatical attempt Of some Commissioners OF
Education to compel them TO retrograde. For this
Bo1rd 10 take step backward would badly com.
pare with the advancing movements OF
sister states in tie West, where German
VAS part OF the curriculum in the puDc SCHOOLS.
German was not foreign language. America
had no language that ougat to be called national
English was imported and adopted. and that
LANGUAGE could not be called foreign which was
spoken oy q fifth part of the population Of this CITY,
German and English were not far removed rom
zach other. IL had been said By Mr.. Charles Fran
Els Adams that the only man competent to write
the history OF the United States was Carl Schurz.
Professor Meitzer Of Berlin had written the best
Eaelisn grammar ever published. Next 10 math-
ematics u comparison OF the languages was the
best method OF inducing tile practice OF mental
exercise. II was not asked to have German intro
duced IN the pubic schools as matter OF predilec-
tion, but because IL was q component part oil
education Inc English language was not crit.
erion Tor patriotism. Further arguments in this
STRAIN formed The prelude TO The following resolu.
flonS:-
THE GERMANS RESOLVE
Resolved That the elm nation OF the German language
unity, with The spirit people,
aud the expenses involved out of proportion the
benefit conferred by the instruction
Resolved That The knowedge Of the German languase
sa requisite component o. education and It Is most pro.
10 bring The possibility OF acquiring within the reach
Resolved That the public schools should afford that
lantude OF Instruction which would induce all parents
means OF Bringing the Children the various grades u
sey IN @ % e m sasss
tntpg more nan NTH oil the popuation OF The city
NEW Srk and inc 81 e p @
,ue patriotism he public schools should furnish the
eu-ge
fesoop + the Board q Eaueaon anu THESE
Schools Of the csnIrai oiganisatea Of the German
CHARLES BOSS.
The memorial was received and referred.
THE STRICTLY AMERICAN VIEW.
Commissioner HERRING then addressed the
Board and said he mad substitute 70 propose,
and proceeded, IN general way, TO oppose the
Introduction VI German IN the pubic schools.
He contenoed that 1t was impoIitic and unwIse 10
make this special provision tor any particular ma.
guage was the great meuium OF communication
IN toe commerce OF the world. and Tor the en-.
questions the tlnle and ne argued that it was
unnecessary TO seeK TO Germanize the public
read the following SUBSTITUTE lor the resolutions
nov under the consideration or the Board, oel1ev.
Ing that It's adoption would justly settle TINS vexed
matter. the Clerk then reao the folIowlDR:-
COMMISSIONER HERRIS0ts SUBSTITUTE.
substitute.fo the anne ndments PROPOSED oy the Com.
miitee Course OF study school Books 10 their
BORT OF December 10, ls7f
Frsf-Ameud the nrst paragraph OF section ~. page
ITO down TO and including the word school" ~ as to
read as ioows:-
''Ieacners Of vocal music, drawing French or Ger.
man, shall be classed as special teachers lhe salary
paid " special teachers shan De a. in- rate Of tU per
year Tor each noni employed IN any school No salary
paid 10 teacner on French, German or drawing
saau exceed $50 per year Tor any one SCHOOL,
secod-Anend section 7 pave E6 so Us 10 read as fol-
lows
Whenever the parents or guardians OF at least ATTY
pupils attending German department In the r II.
ono anu third grades shall desire the introduction u
German French sld languages may be taught said
grades In such departments by more .pecial
teachers designated to give exc asive instruction
language
Whenever the average attendance Of pupils
the study Of German French IN any partment shall
tall below twenty Tor the period OF three months such
study shall thereafter be discontinued IN said depart
m,nt
he only time watch shall be devoted 70 the Dstruc