The National tribune., 1893-03-30
LEARNING LANGUAGES.

The Mexicans in Arizona are bright ex-
ception to the rule among the non-English-
speaking elements of our population. They
are opposing the teaching of Spanish in
the public schools, for fear it will interfere
with instruction in English. There is sound
common sense In this. There is a great deal
Of nonsense about the teaching of languages.
Decades ago. when Europe was divided into
| little bits of countries, and man could
hardly take long days walk in one direc-
| tion without getting into another Nation
| where people spoke different tongue, it
was necessary for man with any motion
In him to learn several languages. But the
agsiomeration of these petty municipalities
into great Nations, and the great de-
velopment of means of travel are steadily
reducing the number of languages, and
also the necessity for the mass of people
to learn any other language than that of the
country they live in. In this country not
one in 1O0-probably not one in 1.000-has
practical use for any other language than
English. As matter of fact, it is doubtful
II any one ever really does learn more than
one language. 1t is a matter Of history
that, of all the hundreds of thousands who
have attempted il, no man ever achieved
distinction in writing any other than his
mother tongue We hear a great deal of
stuff about people speaking other Ian
guages "as fluenuy and correctly as a
native" bat it is exceedingly doubtful
If this is ever the case We see evidences
to the contrary every day. All of US
know Germao, French, and other foreign
born fellow-citizens who have lived among
us for years. They are our equals intel
lectnally, and many of them have special
gifts for languages. They have had every
opportunity for learning English, by con-
slant association with English-speaking peo-
pie and constant practice in speaking the
language. Many Of them can write English
correctly. Yet how many of them
speak English SO well as to not indicate
their own nativity When we see what i'll
success they have what hope is there for
any of us to properly learn foreign tongue,
giving as we can, and do, not one-hundredth
part OF the time and effort to acquire it that
our foreign iellow-citizens do to acquiring
our speech?
We believe that it is quite well to give
every pupil in our schools some rudiment-
airy instruction in French and German, be-
cause The literature of these tongues is very |
rich; the people who speak those languages |
are great factors in making every-d day his
tory, and every well-informed man and |
woman should be able to correctly pronounce
the French and German names and phrases, |
etc, which are continually appearing in the
books and newspapers. Further than this is
wasted effort in the great majority of cases.
foreign language in their business can take
special instruction. The others had much
better devote their energies to acquiring a
good command of English, and to acquaint-
ng themselves with The natural sciences, o
Of which is becoming every day
more important for all classes of people. 1t |
Will be vastly more important to the success
n life of every boy and girl to have
Of chemistry, physics, electricity,
and law, than to have as matter
Nc of another language.
If another language is to be studied the
laims of Spanish should be considered.
70 the south Of US are countries having a
'panish-speaking population of nearly
100000. This population is going to in
rease very rapidly, and we are going to
AVE business and other relations of enor-
nous magnitude with them. While it may
ot be worth while for the classes of pupils
~" "D"u' Az Si"oue,e w pay mucn etten-
ion to Spanish, by the time those who are
ow entering school for the first time are
eady to begin their business careers there
viii be strong demand in business and
manufacturing circles for young men and
women who understand Spanish, and this
hculd not be lost sight Of by our educa-
DIS.
Hare y0u done y0Rr daty in gefti,,o one a,o,.