The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-09
The study Of German In the Pub
He schools.

u. LOUIS OesPAtGu.
Considerable Understanding been man.
Heated in the question Of continuing or
discontinuing the study Of the German
Language in the public schools, several
members Of the school board have been
investigating the matter in order TO as.
certain the exact status OF this branch OF
study. One Of the most earnest inyesti.
gatorsls E. A. Becker, Esq, member from
the Second ward, who has. given the sub.
lee, careful attention. He recently ad-
dressed communications TO q number Of
superintendents In various parts OF the
country, asking whether the German Ian.
puage was taught In the schools under
their supervision and with what success.
Hehas thus far received the following
statements % the result Of his efforts,
which may exert an important influence
In The discussion Of the subject in st.
Louis:
lie instruction, Augusta, Me, Writes:
q the German language is not taught in
any public school in Maine. We have
no German speaking communities, and
yery few individual Germans among our
people"
cago public schools, writes; .We have
Germantaught in our high and grammar
school departments only; not in the pri-
mary department. [oar grades and de-
partments are the same a. yours:l We
employ eighteen teachers OF German elias.
sea and one special teacher to overlook
The instruction. We have 1900 pupils
taking German" 4.
Miss P. W. sudlow, superintendent Of
city schools, Davenport Iowa, writes
. lie German Language Ia taught in our
public schools. 1t may be studied BY any
In any grade OF the schools. About ZOO
NOW are studying. They recite once each
day and are taught to read, write and
sneak the German, in upper grades the
grammar Of the language. Your second
question, with what successr Is more
Idif6cult 10 answer. The classification in
German Is necessarily subordinate 10 the
English, and thus the latter is often hin-
dered, and yet we feel justified in saying
that good progress Is made In German,
and he progress in English Is not retar.
ded. In the schools where the German ia
studied by the greater number OF the pul.
nils The progress in English branches Is
eausIly good with that OF the schools
vheie but few study German, and the aS-
erape age Of the pupils as they pass from
grade 10 grade not higher"
~. Burna, commissioner OF common
schools, Columbus, Ohio, writes: may
saw that the German language is taught
10 some extent In the schools Of Ohio, es.
peci,lly in the cities. Generally, however,
Ia The sub-districts Of the State It L. not
taught. The law makes provision for 1t
II demanded by seventy five resident Tree
Holder, representing at least forty pupils
who wish 70 study t. l an not prepared
to speak concerning what success 1t has
III, Neapel, superintendent OF public
schools, McGregor, Iowa, writes: Ger
man has been taught In our schools with
menurabie success for the last five years,
win greater success during the last. In
INV opinion Il may be made . very sue
eessial and uieIuf study"
MA. Newell, superintendent OF pub
lie instruction, Baltimore, Md, writes
al would say that German Is taught IN
the City High school Of this city, IN 3 Ger.
lain number OF the public schools called
Epelish.G German schools, and in q small
number of schools in other parts OF the
st,ie where there happens 10 be q conaid.
cradle population. The pupils make "a
mucb progress In German Is in other
stndies. and their learning Of German
docs moi seem to interfere with their
lEnvlish. The principal advantage that
zee, however, is in aecustomtng the
German part Of the population 70 the
public schools, and rendering Inc
schools popular with them.'
q. ". Won Coeller, superintendent Of
Of public i~nstruction, Des Moines, Iowa,
vrite,: German Il taught in q number
az our schools as 4 branch. The law
provides that all other branches must
be laugh. in English. There are but
fev Of our graded schools which teach
German below the High school. Daven'
port !. one, I think McGregor, BurlIng'
ion, and perhaps Keoknk, are Others"
d. d, Northrop, secretary Of the State
boardof education, New Haven, Conn.
wIites; aThe German language Il moi
taught In the public schools Of this State
Except as an optional study In some Of
our high schools."