Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
ARE THE GERMAN LUTHERANs OPPOSING
THE BENNETT LAW. ENEMIES OF
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

w nen opposing the SO-caleQ Benn6Ct
Law the German Lutherans are often
charged with enmity against the
English language. For how could a
person otherwise so friends of the
Bennett Law argue) oppose law that
requires this only, that his children
learn & little English?
But this argument is false altogether.
We are in deed and in fact no enemies
of the English language. 1t is true we
do not admit that the German language
is a foreign language, as some are SO
willing to look upon it; having been
spoken already by not small number
even Of the population of the old
colonies and at present spoken by
millions of the inhabitants of our states
and territories-1t is no more foreign
language than the English language,
which like the German was not spoken
by the Indians nor is it probable that it
was spoken by the mound builders, but
was brought here from foreign lands
But though we insist and hold, that the
German language is not foreign Ian
guage we well know and admit, that The
English is the adopted official language
of this our own free country and even
to many of us our fatherland.
The English, as things are, is for
good deal of our welfare in this life, and
we know and say, it is right that the
American people should learn this
language. Therefore, knowing this, we
do not neglect the study of the English
language. We do not bring up our
ceildren in ignorance thereof, but
wherever and whenever it is whether
within our means we teach English in
our parochial schools. And thus,
besides thorough religious instruction
which indeed we deem the most necess-
ary for the individual and for the city
and state, and besides a good knowl
edge of the German language, we give
our children an English education equal
to that and even better than in many
public schools; and where our means
are insufficient to do SO, the terms of
the parochial schools are often SO
arranged as to give the children all
opportunity to learn also some English
in the public school.
But figures will tell better than words.
Carefully prepared statistical tables Of
recent date show there were in 1888
1889 before the passage of the Bennett
law 207 German Protestant parochial
schools and grades in which English
was taught even as much as twenty
hours or lessons per school-week, to 139
such schools and grades III which no
English was taught. But the parents of
the scholars that went to the latter
kind Of schools, did not neglect the
English. In 81 cases all the scholars,
and in is cases nearly one half or more
attended both the public and the private
parochial school. In four cases all the
scholars attended the public school
before they, in order to be prepared for
confirmation, went to the private
schools. In II cases the percentage Of
these parochial school scholars that
attended the public school is not stated
while only in cases the scholars of
such parochial schools as teach no
English did not attend public school
and in cases no report is made on
this point, and even more there were 3
schools in which English was taught 6
hours week all the scholars of which
attended the public school also; in two
cases the parochial scholars were
instructed hours, in one 1?3 hours, in
two cases 10 hours per week in the
English language and they attended the
public schools besides.
Considering these figures carefully
does the benevolent reader believe,
that we oppose the Bennett law from
enmitv against our English language? ?
or does it look as if we did not know
what is for the benefit and welfare of
our own children? Does it not appear
from the above, that we endeavor to
give our children even a better and
more perfect education, than they
receive in the public schools? We are
indeed although opposing the Bennett
law, no enemies of the English
language.
REv RTTTNpp