The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-09-17

general discipline Of the room, ana IN
Giving to pupils not belonging to the
German class, that individual attention
of which all stand in need. When the
time allotted to the German IN this room
shall have expired, let the teacher oil
German pass to the room OF the next
higher grade, the rectatlons in this room
being SO arranged that the German shall
be the second class in order; and so on
through all the divisions in which the
language is taught.
The plan which l have suggested Is,
essentially, that which has been adopted
in the schools of other cities, and 1t has
elsewher proved eminently success. "A
committee of the Chicago School Board,
in speaking Of this feature in their plan,
SAWS: ESPECIALLY has the plan by when
the teacher of German lnstructs IN the
rooms of the different grades, given great
satisfaction, thereby avoiding tae inter
ruptions accident to the departure oil
those studying German from their rooms
to the German class room | am aware
of disposition 10 interpose legal bar
rier to the German either us II regular or
An incidental branch OF study IN the
schools; it being claimed that the
law provides that an the primary
schools shall be taught orthoSraphy,
read ng penmanship, arithmetic,
and geography" 1t Is true that the law
specites that these branches ShIa De
taught, or in other words that they Shd!I
not be excluded; yet 1t is not to be sup
posed tina. the trainers of the law, or the
! legislature in adopting 1t, INTENDED ny
this clause, to deprive the Board OF hdu-
cation o. the option of introducing otheF
branches, but to provide that these essen
tial, fundamental studies Shatt not Dc
omitted. The law IS SO trained ana
wisely. that the Board Is eft with some
option. some latitude OF action, III TINS, lis
in other matters. The law nowhere pro-
vides that the Board may or shall APP
point Principal over one OF these
schools. The word Principal, or It's syn
onym is not to be found III the law. But
who is going to venture To assert That,
because the law is silent in the matter.
the Board of Education is without au-
thority, or that it is debarred the right to
appoint Principals tor these schools.
The important and Indispensable office OF
Principal is creation OF the Board OF
Education and not OF the law.
The evidence corncS u us from all
quarters that the German language IN
the schools of other cities has proved u
success. That it has in no wise retarded,
but on tho other hand has facilitated the
progress of pupils in their English stud
les. That it has largely increased the al
tendance and added to the interest felt
by citizens in the prosperity Of the pub
lie schools. That thousands who were
sent to private and parochia schools,
have lett them TO attend the pubic
schools, and that the Protestant pnrorhiai
schools have in minority of Instances
been closed.
That no other circumstance has tended
more ciltctuaIly to render the American
and German elements "thOruughly
homogeneous, or in other words, to
"AmcricaniZc the German element.
With this testimony from numcrou,
and wholly reliable sources; we are led
to the irresistible conclusion that II the
German instruction IN the public schools
of Wheeling has not been productive OF
like results, there are faults or errors IN
our method OF instruction, or III the plans
which have been adopted with relation to
this branch OF study in the schools, Jor
lChich rsmCdiss Utdy BE- JOuHd.
In those cities in winch the German IL
struction in the schools has proven most
successful, it is carried through all the
grades of the primary schools. In st.
Louis it commences with the 9TH, or
lowest, grade. In Cincinnati, with the
f., or lowest, grade. In the latter, from
ten to twelve thousand children, or lqore
than half the number enrolled in the
schools, may be found in the German
classes.
In September, 1872, | took occasion to
recommend plan or course Of lnstruc.
ton in German, which, had 1t been adopt
ed ana carried into effect ut that time
would, MN confident have proved most
satisfactory in its results. II desired, 1t
can again be brought ~ the attention of
the Board.
The value and Importance OF knowl-
edge of the German language, and the
wisdom and the cXpedicncy of making It
"A feature in the common school CurrIcu-
luul, are not discussed IN this paper, for
the reason that the resolution of the
Board calls for no opinions upon these
points. My own views are we'll known.
| was favorable to he introduction of the
study, and more than once recommended
II before the Board took action in the
matter. And, although it has not been
the pleasure of the Board and otthe Com
mittcr, to favor the method OF instruction,
and the plan otadaptation to the general
course OF Instruction in the schools, which
| have from time to time advised, / have
nil along favored its continuance, and
given it my wurmcst support, and expect
To continue To do so, IN the conscientious
belief that its Importance entities 1t to Il
place among the branccS of education re-
aured to be taught in the common schools.
NV reasons for this belief will hereafter
as they have been heretofore, be given
upon all proper occasions, when called
for. Respectfully Submitted,
+. ). WILLIAMS
Superintendent.
DR.. Hupp offered the following resoIu-
ton;
| ReSOirCd, That the plah recommended
bv the Superintendent in his report to
the Board, to make the German a regu.
lar branch of study III the schools, coming
in ms regular class cxerbise in the rooms
from the &C. division To the Grammar
school, inclusive of both, be adopted and
that the principals and teachers i'll the
schools be instructed to arrange the class
exercises in the manner suggested.
Upon the vote to adopt this resolution
MIR. Collier demanded the ayes and nays
and the resolution was adopted by the
following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Bowers, Ewing, Hupp,
Hess, Scott and Nockler-o.
Nays-Mcssrs. Baird, Collier, Miller,
Sic wart and Todd.
DR.. Hupp offered the following rcso-
luton, which was referred to the commit
tee on Rules and Regulations for report:
WHEREAS, a rule Of this Board has
. ! q no, A.,