Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-21

order till little after 8 o'clock, and about
thirty or forty spectators were prese mt.
Mr.. Benz first spoke, and maintained
thatit was perfectly legal for the board to
permit the teaching of German in the
schools. He then argued that it was bene-
fetal to the American people to have the
German language taught in our schools,
and generally that the German language
is very necessary to complete the educa-
ton of any person.
A motion was made that any person out
side the board be allowed to address the
board on the matter, and in this connection
DR.. Weschler was mentioned as one that
would probably have some remarks to
make.
Mr.. DonnelIy objected to any minister
of any denomination addressing the board
on this subject After a good deal of talk
it was finally agreed that the board should
take a recess of a few minutes in order to
allow those outside the railing to agree
upon certain number of persons to ad
dress the board, objection having been
made by Mr.. Hamilton to having every
body that wanted to speak, as it would
take too long. After few moments the
board was again called to order and, at the
suggestion of Mr.. Albert Scheffer, Mr.. l. V.
d. Heard was called upon to read an opin-
ion that he had reduced to writing
on the question of the authority
of the board to authorize the teaching of
German in the schools, in which he main
tanned that the board had full authority by
law to have this done. He argued that the
schools of st. Paul were not common
schools but graded schools, with different
and larger rights, and whereas the teach
ing of German in the common schools
might not be legally allowed, it could be
allowed in our schools in st. Paul. He
argued that the board had full
authority and could have Ger
man taught in all the schools
in this city. He also reviewed all the
laws III regard to our schools, pointed out
the difference between our graded schools
and the common school, and affirmed that
our schools here in st. Paul do not come
under the head of common schools at all
1t was a very full and clear statement of
the case, so far as the law points are con-
cerned, and was listened to with the closest
attention.
Mr.. Officer claimed that what Mr.. Heard
had said did not hit the subject except as
to the law point. All the members of the
board are of the opinion that the board has
the legal authority. This no one disputes.
The only point before the board is the sim
pie matter of whether or not it is best to
have German taught IN the schools, not
whether it is legal. Mr.. Officer wanted all
remarks confined to this point.
Rev. Mr.. Weschler was the first person
introduced and commenced his remarks by
maintaining that for long time German
had been taught in our schools and he was in
favor of continuing it. He then expatiated
upon the richness of the German language
| and the beauty of it, as we'll as the great
usefulness of it generally in all respects
as an educator. He argued that large
number of German people are COM
ing over here from Germany, and
consequently it should be taught. He re-
GREETED that any member of the board
should object to his speaking because he
was rabbi. He had always been a friend
of the public schools and always intended
to be. According to his opinion 1t was a
mistake to limit the teaching of German to
the high school. The best way was to begin
teaching it to the children, even as early as
ten, eleven and twelve years of age.
Mr.. Eugene Seger thought that some of
the members of the board took too narrow
a view of the matter, and claimed that the
| German Americans had two Fatherlands,
one in Germany and one in America, and
! they loved both lands, and were earnestly
| anxious to sustain the best measures for
! sustaining the schools of this country.
Mr.. Willrich read his opinion, which
maintained that the schools did not ac-
complish what they ought to accomplish
He had no doubt that there were more
studies taught in our schools than the
teachers could teach Or the pupils learn.
| One of the most useless studies was that
! of music. The teaching of this science
he condemned severely as utterly useless,
! especially as it is now Taught. He thought
| the best way was to first attack music and
throw that out, and that German. if prop
erly taught, might be made useful in the
schools Mr.. Willrich attached so many
notifications to all the statements he made
that it was difficult to determine lust
what he meant. He seemed in substance
to say that German was not now taught
we'll IN the schools and that it stood at
disadvantage in consequence of this. but
that If it could be we'll taught it could be
made very useful indeed and should not
be thrown out without careful consider
alton.
Mr.. Jurka and Mr.. Kerker also addressed
the board i'll favor of retaining the teach
! ing of German IN the schools, maintaining
that the knowledge of German was of
greater Importance than the study of any
other language, and generally ex-
patiated upon the Importance of
the German LANGUAGE tn
all pupils, and read an extract from a re-
port in regard to the schools of Chicago in
favor of retaining the teaching of this Ian
guage in the schools. In this report it was
maintained that the teaching of German
assisted the English pupils in learning the
English language.
Mr.. Albert Scheffer was called upon, but
stated that as he only desired to reply to
Mr.. Oppenheim, and as that gentleman
| had decided to postpone mis- remarks, he
| (Scheffer) would wait till Mr.. Oppenheim
should address the board, when he would
reply. He also asked that the matter be
postponed, so that DR.. Murphy, who was
detained at Minneapolis, could be present.
Mr.. Hamilton said that sixteen or seven
teen years ago he voted for introducing
German into the public schools, and had
voted for IFS rntaOtinr L