The Portland daily press., 1890-04-11
The Argus nd the schools Again.

me Areussnd the Schools Again.
on wednesday harning the PRESS sub
mitted 70 its esteemes contemporary, the
Eastern Argus, the following question:
supposing the parents of huh,red children in
Portland had delegated to the Cathiice or pro1aa
tant clergy what the Bishop of Wiscsesin styles
lneir inalienable right to educate their .hldren
as they see fit and the Catholic OF Protestant cer
~ should establish a school for the education ~
those children and decree that the English Ian
guaee should be excluded from 1t and nothing but
reading In the French language be permitted,
wouIa or would not, IN the opinion of the Argus,
ling that school to give instruction the equal OF
that OF the public school?
To that the Argus makes answer as fol.
lows
To your hypothetical question (hopelessly
Tangled up IN one sentence containing no fewer
than lO2 words), for which ''categoricalo ans
wer is expected, we would respectfully reply in
may be not; who knows?"
A few days ago the Argus pronounced a
law, passed by the legislature of Wisconsin,
clause of which declared school that did
not give instruction in reading, writing, aritb-
metic and history in the English language
nor school within the meaning of the act.
Outrageous" But when we ask IL if II
would justify the State of Maine in interior
ing to compel private school in Portland.
which had excluded the teaching of reading
In the English language, to give instruction
in that branch 1t replies 'May be and may
be not. who knows" Now the hypotheti-
cal case which we put to it and the real
case of Wisconsin are Identical If the
States interference in Wisconsin to COM
pei teaching of reading In the English
in private schools is outrageous, as the Ar
gus has declared, why would 1t not be out
rageous in Maine? Does the Argus think
there is not so great need of instruction In
the English language In State filed up, like
Wisconsin, with foreigners. as there is in
Maine, where the foreigners are compare
lively few? But the Argus declares that
the Bennett law practically forbids the
keeping in Wisconsin of private schools in
which the German language is the only
language used; hence it is direct blow at
the educational interests as well as at the
personal liberties, of the German population
OF Wisconsin" 1T is undoubtedly true that
the Bennett act does practically make it i'm
possible to carry on private school in Wis
consin for the instruction of children be-
tween the age of seven and fourteen years
from which instruction in the English Ian
guage is excluded. But that is not blow
direct or indirect at the educational interests
OF the Germans of tina. State or anybody
else. 1t is quite the reverse. Here are chill
dren of German parents growing up in, and
intending to become citizens of, a country in
which the prevailing language is English.
It's the national language The proceed
lngs OF all legislative bodies, National and
state, are in that language, the laws are de-
Dated and published in that language.
Ninety-nine one hundredths of all the bust
ness Of the people is transacted in that Ian
guage. Is 1t allow at the educational in
tetest OF any other interest of these
children soon to become citizens of |
such country to require them to |
De instructed in the English language? |
were the State to look at this matter purely
from the standpoint of the interest of each
individual child would 1t not be guilty of the
worst kind OF cruelty If 1t allowed them to
grow up unequipped with the very first and |
most Important requisite for gaining a liveli-
hood, namely, the ability to read and speak
the language Of the country?
But, says the Argus. the Bennett case is |
an Invasion of the liberties OF the Germans
what liberty is invaded? Not the liberty to |
send their children to private schools for the
very first section of the law recognizes the
private school. 1t says children between
The age of seven and fourteen shall attend