The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-09

foreigner Mr.. koerner thinks there is no
need OF concern regarding his future.
The constant effort of the "non-Eng-
fish speaking foreigner" is to acquire
knowledge of the prevailing language OF
the land. He feels that he is handicapped
without it, and he does not rest satisfied
until he has attained this sine qua non.
It is not what the state demands of the
citizen which inspires him, but what his
success in life necessitates. There are
few persons OF foreign birth in this county
unable to speak English. There are
many native born who are. This latter
fact is due largely to the counsel of such
men as Mr. Koerner.
There IS no person more dangerous
enemy to our non-Englsh speaking peo-
pie than he who advises them that it is
not necessary to success in life in this
country to be conyersant with the Eng
lish language. In Manitowoc county one
who is willing to plod along in the noise
less tenor Of his way" may not find a
| lack of knowledge of English serious
deprivation. But let him try to rise
above his surroundings and his wings are
clipped. 1t is not a sense of duty to the
| state which should prompt parents to
| give their children a knowledge of Eng
lish. 1t is duty which they owe thier
children.
The parent is not always competent to
| give the instruction which the child
should have. He is not always the best
| Judge of what instruction the child
should receive. There is not parochial
school in the state whose course of in
struction is modified to suit the patrons.
II there be, it is good one for children
to avoid. But Mr. Koerner's paper OBJ
iects seriously to the states debating
what the Chi q shall be taught and de-
nounces it as an understandable interior
ence with parental authority. Who pre-
pares the course of study pursued IN
parochial schools? The writer ventures
the opinion, and feels satisfied that facts
will bear him out, that there is more lati-
tude given the parents wishes, and un-
wisely, In the studies pursued In the pub
lie then in the parochial schools. Does
not the parent surrender his natural right
to the physician who prescribes for his
| child? There are on an average one
hundred children between the ages of
and II on the streets Of Manitowoc every
day while school is in session. When one
hears them using foul language sees
them sucking cigar stubs and notices
their progress In rowdyism, the conclus-
ion is irresistible that interference with
parental authority is the only safety for
these children.
Why does not Mr.. Koerner object to
that portion of the compulsory law which
prohibits children under thirteen years
of age from working in factories? Is it
not an interference with parental author
ity? There are many persons IN this
county, native born who have passed the
period of childhood and are unable to
read or write. But the state should be
powerless to compel the unnatural par
ent in such cases to do his duty, because
the law designed to be remedy might be
tortured by disingenuous critics into a
scheme to punish parents who do their
| duty
The address referred to lays great
stress upon the provision that the child
must attend school in the city town OF
district IN which he resides. Though this
limitation as to place is cured in the fol-
lowing section still the tense of certain
verb used is the gist of the whole plot to
tear children from their parents. A law
must be construed so as to make its pro.
visions harmonic. This is the rule OF
| courts. The general intention of the law
when the language is ambiguous or when
an lmpossibility Is required, guides. The
.'has otherwise been given" means,-iust
what Mr.. Koerner says it does not,-''is
| being given" Otherwise the law de-
mands an impossibillty. The compulsory
period may be divided into portions OF
consecutive attendance and it was this
fact which, doubtless, caused the perfect
tense to be used. It is HAIR splitting. al
the best, and fully as strong an argument
can be made in favor of the view that has
been given" does not necessarily mean
completion of the compulsory period.
But the law of 1879 required attendance
on the district school. The parent was
required to appear before the board and
give reasons for the non-attendance OF
his child at the public school. If the
child attended any other than the dis
trict school the parent had to make q
written report OF such attendance. Why
did not this law stir the wrath of Mr.
koerner for its interference with parent.
alsauthority?
MIR. koerner fortunes the law to sui,
his purpose when he considers the valid
excuses for non-attendance. He assumes
that attendance" refers solely to the
public school. But the law says public
or private school, 1t is the child who
does not attend either public or private
school whose parents are called to &C.
count and made to furnish valid excuse
| for such neglect. The private school is
placed on the same level with the public
school and attendance there saves the
parent from inquisition by the school,
board The law is lame in not empower
ing school officers to make inquiries as
70 whether English is taught In the pri
vate schools which pupils attend. School,
boards have nc power to declare what
school pupils shall attend. Their poweI