The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-08-13
shall German be Taught in the Public
Schools2
ROCK IsLANp. Auguat 1s, Is

Rock ISLAND, August 10, 1877.
To the Editors Of the Argus.
GENTLEMEN: There is not the least
doubt In our mind that you acknowledge
the influence tbs German element has
gained in this country. This has become
so obvious that in most communities, where
it forms proportion 81 the whole popula-
ton as it does 10 our city, the boards of
education have deemed it proper to intro
duee the German language into their pub
lie schools, either ss one of the common
school branches, or, ct least, as an &C.
complishment.
A petition for its introduction into our
public schools, which has been in circula-
ton but few days, and already contains
hundreds Of signatures of our best German
and native citizens, will be submitted to
the board of education. While We are
convinced that you know every reason
speaking in favor of such step, we yet
beg to allow US the privilege of sub
hitting some of them to your readers,
/. The Germans want their children to
learn the German language, not from
know-nothingistic principles, but because
they would like to bring within their
children reach those great moral acquire
ments this language offers to them through
its exquisite literature, written for children,
and unequaled by that of any other nation.
The earlier this literature is Enclosed to
them, the surer they will come into pos
session of the many fine qualities which
the Germans claim as peculiarly character
istie to them. Heretofore they were
obliged to gain this end by keeping up pri-
vate schools, thereby imposing very ex-
ira tax upon themselves, but they think
that our school board might show the
same liberality to the Germans here, form
ing about one-third of the whole and nearly
one-half of the tax-paying populations,
which the boards of education extend to
them In similarly situated places.
2. After the introduction of the Ger
man into our public schools, the majority
| Of the Germans will send their children to
those schools exclusively, and this will be
the sewing of seed which will yield re-
munerative harvest to our community; fol
don't you think it to be certainly but de.
sirable to have all of our children taught
in the same schools, in order that they
may imbibe the great democratic principle
| of equality from their earliest youth
And if ohis great end be greatly forwarded
by the teaching of German in our public
schools at cost OF few cents p. a. to each
houseowBer, should this not be sufficient
to induce the school board to grant our
petition?
3. But there is another as important
reason to the natives to do so; for to then
a knowledge of German is a sure capita
which to those working for salary viii
yield a good interest in the shape of al
increase of that salary, while bushes
proprietors will get that interest by tn
saving of German clerk-h hire, which i
almost indispensable throughout the Who'll
country.
4. In most cities, where the Gerna
population is as strong as it Is here, an
even in such where it is great deal less
the German has been introduced by en-
lightened aud unprejudiced school board
and is being taught with success in Mi
waukee, Chicago st. Louis, Cleveland
Buffalo, New York and other cities to
numerous to be mentioned. Even in sue
cities having the dubious honor of bein
the birth places OF Kuownothingism,- "a
Baltimore and Louisville-the German
instruction in the public schools is fxe,
institution. In New Orleans the teachin
of German and French in the publ
schools even is not deemed to overtask tn
pupils mind nor the parents pOcke
Yea, in several states it has become la
that wherever twenty FIVE pupils desire t
: learn German. the school board has to PR
vide teacher for them.
If the right system is adopted, which, {
= course, cannot be done at once, the exit
expense caused by the teaching of Germa
10 our pnblc schools will not much. exeee
that of it's introduction.
We hope these reasons are sufficient
z induce you to favor our petition. If al
f more arguments shopldl be needed, the
II will be sent to you by
Yours very respectfully, Z. h,
for the petitioner