The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-08-01

Mr.. PIEPER assumes throughout, in
his communication in last weeks Nord
Weston, that.all parochial schools are in
charge of persons thoroughly convers-
ant with the English language. No doubt
some OF them are. But the writer has
been introduced to teachers of parochial
schools in this county with whom cor.
versation was extremely difficult for the
reason that their knowledge OF English
was almost as limited as the writer's
knowledge OF German. Teachers OF pub
lie schools have at various times informed
the superintendent that the teachers of
parochial schools in their neighborhood
were unable to converse in English. Some
time ago the writer was informed that
Mr.. Pieper himself stated that not twelve
OF the young people of his congregation
couldfully understand sermon preached
IN English. The writer while principal
of public schools frequently had pupils
who had been attendants of parochitl
schools, join the classes of the schools of
which he was principal, and in every case
they were compelled to enter grades
much below what their age and natural
capacity made proper. This state OF
affairs may be found in the schools of
this city to-day. Pupils who have chang
ed from parochial to public schools admit
that In the former, comments, explana-
tons and directions are given in the Ger
man language, even when the recitation
is presumably in English.
lJ is an easy matter TO believe this as
the writer has found the same method
In vogue in few of the public schools
of this county.
Mr.. Pleper states the whole. matter in
brief when he says intelligent concern for
the future of the children demands they
be taught English. This is Just the pos
ton the writer takes. But as there are
some parents who if left to their own yo-
lition, will fail to give their children any
education, SO are there schools which IL
not subject to supervision viii fail to
teach those things which are most need
ful. 1t seems as unwise to thunder OBJ
jections against law requiring English
to be taught as it would be to assert
Chou shalt not kill" is a superGuous in
junction.
Mr.. Pieper is previously in error when
he charges that the present agitation has
its origin in hostility to German. 1t is
solely N cfc Of
designed for the good of the rising &c
Grafton. If all the parochial schools were
placed in the hands of people competent
to give instruction in English and if such
instruction was given, not one unkind
word regarding them would be heard
from the friends of the public schools.
Mr. Pleper can not speak so severely
OF the skulking Bennett law and the
skulking fashion in which it was passed
by the legislature as to call out one word
of defense from this paper. If it was
believed the parochial schools were neg
lecting the language which must be re-
garded as being of greatest Importance
III this country, the legislature should
have the courage to act directly and OPP
emily and not in the sneaking fashion
which was adopted. The law in question
is simply an sinanimate mass of words,
lacking in vitality because the legislature
was fearful it might offend some one.
while conscious of the need of some leg
islation in the direction indicated by this
abortive attempt.
The parochial schools made sad mis-
take in defeating the bill which would
settle the matter as to whether English
instruction was given in them or not. IF.
as Mr.. Pieper claims, it is taught il all
the parochial schools, the law would i'm
pose no hardship. If it was discovered
that some of these schools failed to do
| their duty in this respect, then informa-
ton would be gained whereby a wrong
| could be righted. 1t was a bill which
sought nothing by indirection and was
defeated not because its merit was in
doubt but because OF the votes behind
the circumstances against it.
TEACHFRS' INSrPTTII'pE'