The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-07

THE Turn Verein of Milwaukee has Is
sued set of resolutions relative to the
bill introduced in the Legislature repeal
ing the law permitting any foreign Ian
euage to be taught in the common
schools of this state. The resolutions
are of denunciatory sort, and rather IN
temperate in language, while containing
palpable misstatements. The bill Is de-
nounced as an outcome of know-noth-
ingism. race, hatred and animosity to-
ward the public schools" and "a frivolous
insult to the great German American
population of the state" The purpose
of the bill, it states, is ito prohibit the
teaching of the German language IN the
public schools" "all Turner's, German
American citizens and voters are re-
quested to watch the votes of their ire
spective members"
AS matter of fact the bill singles out
no language, but prohibits the teaching
of any foreign language in any public
school.
No one will question the praise be-
slowed upon the German language by
the resolutions, or quarrel with the state
| ment that 'the German race has done
more than any other with one exception
| for the foundation, the development and
preservation of the United States" The
| whole question is, what is the proper
function of the public schools? Can
they in addition to the common school
| subjects which it is imperative they shall
teach, give instruction in any foreign Ian
| guage? Is their capacity to give the IN
struction for which common schools are
instituted, lessened by attempts to teach
in addition thereto any foreign language
These are the questions to be con
sidered and not these of Partially Oh
hostility to any nationality. The latter
have no place in the consideration OF the
question and should not be injected. The
Milwaukee Turn Verein seems more dis
posed to awaken prejudice than to dis
cuss the question on its merits.
| Iut StuoolS VI tlllo ChdNO oi
hardly competent to give the needed in
struction in the English branches. Thei
efficiency is still further lessened by thu
imposition of foreign language. Thu
universal testimony of teachers is to thu
effect that the school suffers by the at
tempt to teach a foreign language anC
without the compromising advantage
of giving the pupils any additional know
ledge of the foreign language taught
Not one teacher in a thousand in tn
common schools is competent to give in
structioR in two languages. If the write
of this were a member of the legislator
, he would vote for the Slupecki bill an
solely on the ground that the good Of tn
public schools demand it.
There is not the slightest hope how
ever that the bill will pass, as the legisls
ture will be more likely to heed the threa
J contained in the closing resolution of tn
series adopted by the Turn Verein t
watch those who favor the bill. than t
give calm consideration to its merits
The present law however could be in
proved by an amendment having Engiis
taught continuously for a certain TIM
and the foreign language continuously &c
certain time. Teachers competent t
teach both could then be secured. Th
members of the Legislature need have n
! fears OF the effect upon their political a!
pirations of the passage of such a
amendment. Though there is no caus
f for fear in prohibiting the teaching {
any foreign language in any school, th
average politician does not think so.