The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-10
THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.
Conflict in the Board OF Educa.
tl0n Over Teaching German In
the Public. SchOOlS-MeetingO OF
Special Committee Last Night.


As our readers are no doubt aware, for
some time past the Board Of Education
have been considering the practicRbility
Of dispensing with the teaching Of Ger.
man In the public schools. OF course
considerable opposition was manifested
not only In the Board, but by a number
Of influential German citizens who take
a great interest in the cause Of education.
The Committee on German OF the Board
OF Education consists Of Messrs. John G.
Miller, Henry Hess and Wm. Goering.
Some time ago the Board referred the
subject to them for report, and at the last
meeting Of that body majority and minor.
lily reports were submitted, as follows:
MAJORITY REPORT.
WHEELING, July 10, 1877.
70 Tie Board Of Education:
CONTINENTAL meeting OF the Com.
mittee on German Language, held July
10Th, for the purpose oiinvestigating the
general condition OF the German depart
ment, preparatory to the surrender Of its
annual report, the Chairman, Mr.. John
Miller, remarked that he desired a change
In the mode Of teaching the language, viz:
TO have some taught In separate rooms,
and would therefore make report on his
own responsibility and not MS chairman
OF the committee.
This, gentlemen, accounts for the ap.
pearance Of my report, rs member Of
the Committee on German Language,
which is herewith submitted to you as
required by the rules Of the Board.
Having been present at all the schools
during tue last public examinations, am
prepared to state that the German Ian.
guage in our public schools, excepting
the First and Seventh Wards, has been a
complete success throughout.
A new and very interesting feature Of
these examinations, constitute the "con-
versstion In German" in the grammar
CLASSES, by the scholars. Primary classes
were very good in the Third, Sixth and
Eighth Wards and grammar classes quite
good in the Third, Fifth and Sixth Wards.
BY this examination, ample proof is
had Of the entire efficiency Of the plan,
Us 1t has been in operation for the last
two years; and why Mr.. Miller appears
to be diVguSted with plan, crowned with
such abundant success, and wants instead
to reinstate plan, which was in vogue
and had been tried six years ago, but by
tho wise direction Of the Board, cast
aside as impracticable and unqualified,
ia certainly a conundrum to any friend
Of the public school system.
l wish to call the attention Of the
Board to the following points:
Firstly, The plan as the German is
taught now and az it has been for the last
two years successfully, was warmly re.
commended by the Superintendent, Pro-
lessor Williams, and finally adopted by
the Board, through DR.. Hupp's resolu.
ton.
SecondIy-Gn the First and Seventh
Wards, contrary to the resolution Of the
Board, the German language was not
taught as prescribed, but in tie way Mr..
Miller wishes it taught; the monthly eX-
animation papers and the last public
examination have clearly shown with
what success.
Thirdly-In teaching the German Ian.
guage as it is at present taught in our
schools, there is no clashing between ths
English and German studies, better dis.
ciplinc, an entire systematic arrange,
ment and satisfaction Of teachers gener-
ally.
Fourthly-Thc majority of the Princi.
pals do moi consider the present plan as
in any way detrimental 10 the English
cause, as per letters written by them,
September, 1875, containing their views
on the subject.
FifthIy-The legitimate consequence
Of our present system is the satisfactory
manner in which the primary, as we'll as
the grammar classes, have progressed;
the average percentage Of monthly writ.
ten examination papers being from 50
to 90 and better papers 90 to 05 and 100.
Lastly but not leastly: Mr.. Miller's
speech at tho examination Of the Sixth
Ward, in which he commended nearly
every pupil present and expressed him.
self delighted with the great success al.
tanned by the Sixth Ward pupils in this
very important study.
Very truly yours,
WM. GERING.