The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-02-13

! in favor Of the principle OF the Bennett
| law. One feature of the discussion by
! the advocates of the law was objection
| able, and with reason, to those Germans
who, if it becomes necessary will, be the
| ablest champions of compulsory law
and of an education in English. The
feature referred to was the frequent refer
ence to the need Of requiring children of
German parentage to learn English. To
a person sensitive TO special criticisms OF
his nationality land all of us are sensitive
TO such discrimination there is nothing
more offensive than to be singled out, APP
parently, to illustrate the ne7d of COM
pulsory law. The indignant remon-
STRANGE against being regarded as the
chief justification of the law made it ap-
pear that many Germans who are heart
and soul in favor of the principle of COM
| pulsory English education are opposed
! to it.
Unfortunately the first organized op-
position to the law came from the German
Lutheran synod. This gave the contro-
versy which ensued alb apparent trend
which did injustice to nationality from
which comes the strongest supporters of
the public schools. Then Col. Krez
policy at variance with their traditions
and inclinations. A number of little
parasitic English papers throughout the
state. anti-German in spirit but anxious
to profit by an appearance of devotion to
what they conceived to be German pre-
| judice, tried to make it appear that the
Germans were opposed to the public
schools and that a compulsory school
| law was aimed at them particularly. Many
of the advocates of the Bennett law
answering these special pleaders without
reference to the general question, mad
vertently discussed the question as If 1T
were purly what these DIRECTORS assumed
it to be. The broad question of the right
of the child to be educated, without con-
sidering his parentage, was for the time
obscured by the special and false issue
raised. The German child was referred
to too often; but it was unavoidable be-
cause of the false position In which the
German nationality was placed by those
who assumed to speak for them and place
them in an attitude of hostility to the
public schools. The real friends of the
Germans are those who argued that they
are AMERICAN citizens and they in CON-
mon with other citizens had reason to
regard our public school system with
reverence and that they do so; that the
parent who does not give his children
that education.-so far as his means will
| permit, most conducive to their welfare
| should be compelled to do SO without re-
gard to his nationality; that it is simply
a question of parents duty not of his
nationality.
There has been children raised in this
county to adult age, born of American
| parents, who are unable to write letter;
| there are young Irish-men and women
/ born N this county whose education Is
|
write. is of no value to them. The same
thing is true of French, Germans, Bohem-
ians and Norwegians. Five hundred is a
| fair estimate of the number of people ma
| tive born, in this county, above the age
| of Il years. who may be included in the
| following clases:
n Unable to sneak English.
CD Unable to read or write in any
! language.
81 With education so imperfect that
the ability to read or write is of no prac-
teal value.
This estimate Is not guess" 1t Is
based on knowledge of actual condi-
! tons, and an actual enumeration would
rather increase than lessen the number
here given. Extending the calculation SO
as to include the entire state and is there
not state of affairs presented which de-
| nands remedy?
| The Bennett law In its present shape
is inadequate to produce the reformation
needed. It needs to be strengthened not
repealed or diluted by amendments. 1t
matters not how the child Is to be edu-
/ Gated but educated he should be and he
| should be furnished with the best teach
ers that. circumstances make possible.
here should be no attempt made to
arouse national antlpathies or religious
prejudice, but If either should interpose
without reason let it be fought and not
weakly yielded to. there is no church
which dares wage war against the public
schools and there Is no nationality which
will do so. 1t is not question of nation
atty; it is a question of public eduea-
ton.