The record-union., 1894-03-12
GERMAN CITIZENS WILL PROTEST.
They Object to the Abandonment of
German in the Schools.
An Appeal to be Made to the Board OF
Education-They Take Issue With
the ''Record Unfon.''
SACRAMENTO. March II. 1894.

IDS. RECORD UNION: Your issue OF
March 9th contained an article entitled
"The Abandonment of Study" which
created quite an astonishment among our
German-speaking citizens, as you have
evidently been msinformed as to their
sentiments in regard to the German Ian
guage in our public schools. The study
of the German language was introduced
in our public schools almost quarter OF
a century ago by the popular vote. By
an Act of the Legislature the question OF
levying special tax for that purpose was
submitted to the people, and was carried
by an overwhelming majority.
Several times during the past twenty
five years attempts were made in our
City Board of Education to abandon this
study, but they always failed, in cense-
quence of the most energetic protest OF a
large number of prominent and intelli-
gent citizens, and the opinion prevails
that our Board Of Education had not the
power to abandon the study of German,
as it had been sanctioned by popular
vote, and as a special tax had been levied
for that purpose.
At the last two meetings of the Board
of Education another attempt was made
to crush the study of German, and it was
agitated with such undue haste that the
friends of the same had no opportunity
to protest. During the present week,
however, this question gave rise to lively
debating in the societies composed OF
German-speaking citizens, and commit
tees have been appointed to present an
energetic protest at the next meeting OF
our Board of Education.
The teaching of German in our public
schools was highly satisfactory for many
years until year or two ago, when 1t
was Interrupted through the sudden
resignation and disappearance of the
teacher, Professor Lipowitz At the re-
quest OF many citizens another teacher of
German was procured, but experience
has shown that the selection did not give
the desired results. With all due re-
spect to the present teacher of German, as
gentleman and scholar, it is evident
that his method of teaching was not
satisfactory to many parents and they
man study, but they are very anxious to
have their children take up the same
again as soon as the mode of teaching can
be made more efficient.
1t is true that few individuals of
German extraction are Indifferent or
even opposed to the aforesaid branch of
study, but they are not heads of families
and are prompted by selfish motives for
political purposes. In a few days more
you shall be convinced that the German-
speaking citizens of Sacramento are
almost unanimous in favor of retaining
the study of German.
The cry of economy which has been
raised by many is ridiculous, as it is the
intention of the board to retain the same
teacher of German in our high school at
a salary of S75 per month, and the entire
saving would be only $500 year-a mere
trifie.
AS to the value and Importance of the
study of German, l do not share your
opinion. Can any person of common
sense deny that the knowledge of a Ian
guage spoken by almost S0,000,000 of
people, and by about one-fifth of the
population of our own city and county,
is not of a higher value to our ordinary
citizens than the studies of algebra, ge-
ometry and ancient languages, which are
taught in our schools? Is it not the duty
of our Board of Education to select such
studies which are most beneficial to the
masses of our people? Why is it that in
several States and Territories bordering
on our sister republic Mexico, the Span
ish language is not only taught in many
public schools, but is also used as the
official language, together with the Eng
lish?
1t is true that of the modern European
languages the English is spoken by more
people aud is more widely scattered over
the globe than any other one, but next to
the English ranks the German, which in
Europe itself is spoken by almost 70,000,-
600 of people-47. 100000 in Germany. 15,-
10000 in Austria, 100000 in Switzer-
land and 100000 to 6,000,0 600 in the Baltic
provinces of Russia, Poland, Hungary,
etc.-while English is spoken in Eu-
rope by only about 100000 and the
French by about 45,0OO,O00 france, Bel
gium and parts of Switzerland).
In our own country-the United States
the German language is spoken by from
eight to ten millions of people-Germans,
Austrians, Swiss. ETC., and their direct
descendants. We refer to United States
census reports, especially of the cities of
New York, Chicago, Milwaukee,, st,
Louis, Cincinnati. etc.
ATaking this fact into consideration, we
can safely assert that the study of Ger
man is not only of value and importance,
but is almost necessity and of the high
est importance, for it is a well-known fact
that young men and women who master
the German language, beside the Eng
lish, will have the preference in obtain
ing situations, especially in our larger
cities.
A conference of the different commit
tees was held this forenoon at Turner
Hall, and steps were taken to unite all
friends of the study of German in our
public schools in our protest against the
abandonment of the same.
1t was resolved to present these state
ments to you and request the publication
Of the same in your highly esteemed
paper, in order to give also the friends of
the German an impartial opportunity to
be heard by the public.
CHARLES SCHMITT,