Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-03-09
FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


which should pass both Houses of the
Legislature and receive the Governors
approval. In the Senate, however, on
Wednesday last, it met with determ-
ined opposition and after long and warm
debate was finally passed by small ma
jority. 1t WAS claimed by Mr.. Craig, of
San Francisco, that "the Bill was blow
at the Public School System and directly
in the interest of sectarian and sectional
schools" but he offered no argum ent to
prove the assertion, because probably
none such could be found. Other prom
nent Senators followed in a similar strain,
favoring the teaching of German and
French in the Public Schools by special
Teachers hired for that purpose-such be-
ing paid, we are informed, about double
the salaries of English teachers. Much
fawning and trucking to the foreign ell
ement in our population was INDUCED in,
such twaddle being very nauseating, not
only TO native-bor Americans but also
to the more intelligent of our naturalized
citizens.
The Public School is literally the cor
ner stone Of American Institutions, the
success of our form of government resting
upon the instructions given our children.
The more American we can make their
education, the better American citizens
will they become. That this cannot be
done by teaching them foreign languages
in the Public Schools is plain. When n
foreigner declares his intention to become
a citizen of this Republic, he solemnly
renounces all allegiance to every foreign
prince or potentate and more particularly
the sovereign of his native land. In do.
ing so he agrees to become an American.
and in SO doing he adopts the language Of
our own people as well as the freedom
which our laws guarantee. The love OF
country Is noble trait of the human
character and there are few who do not
thrill with affection for the land which
gave them birth. That our foreign born
citizens should indulge this love offatber-
land is natural, but we claim that their
children born on American soil, claiming
the advantages and protection of Ameri-
can institutions. should be instilled with a
pure, noble and patriotic love for this
land. Should be educated at the public
expense in nil branches which will assist
them in understanding those institutions
and aid them in becoming intelligent, in
dustrious and self maintaining citizens,
worthy Of tho prond name of Americans.
This cannot be accomplished through the
medium of foreign languages, but by n
thorough English education.
Were we to introduce into our Public
Schools the German and the French ton
CUES for the benefit of children with par
ents Of those nationalties, where would
the matter end ? One foreigner has as
much right to have children learn ais ma
tive language as another, and if each
should be granted this privilege our
schools would be turned into veritable
Babels, in which every language in the
world would be taught. The very idea is
ridiculous and we cannot believe that even
a respectable portion of our foreign born
citizens can seriously demand such an in
novntion.
Already our Pubic Schools-intended
for use-are becoming by far too orna-
mental. A good, substantial, sound Eng
lish education is all that was ever con
templated by the founders of the system
and all that should be asked. Give each
and every child thorough training in
reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic;
let them understand the geography Of the
world and the history of tho United
States teach them to write an ordinary
business letter in pure English this is
what is required by the masses and every
child is entitled to such Instruction.
When this is done the duty Of The public
is performed. After that, ornamental
branches may be all very well, but they
should not be indulged in at the expense
Of the needtul, which is too often the
case. OF what use is n superficial knowl-
edge of any foreign language to young
man or young lady, who cannot compose
a grammatical English sentence or tell
what three weeks board comes to at 800
n month? We have no objections to
parents instructing their children in any
language they think proper NJ home OF
elsewhere, but we do ohject to any ian
guage but plain English being taught in
our Public Schools.