New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-07
AGAINST CUTTING the GERMAN COZ RISE

THE AN-AMERICAN REFORM rN1oN PRO
TESTS AGAINST THE PENDING RESOLUTION.
A resolution was introduced al q recent meeting
OF the Board Of Education reducing the length Of
the courses In German and French from two and 4
half years 10 two years. and modifying extensively
the conditions under which the superintendent is
authorized to forrn classes in those languages.
This caused a great deal OF complaint. especially
from the German parents who have children in tho
public schools. and also from the teachers who
have been employed TO teach those languages in
the schools. The resolution proposes that in order
TO have classes In French and German established
the mother tongue of at least half the petitioners
for the teaching OF those languages must be diff
fe.eni from the language petitioned for. This the
Germans think would debar the children Of many
schools from instruction In German. because ~
their districts the proportion OF Germans Is 50
large that It would be difficult 10 Get % per cent Of
the signers of tho necessary pctliions whose AN
guage was not German.
4, Tho meeting OF tn. Board OF Education yestor-
dav no decisive action was taken on the matter,
but II was announced that the commute on IN
sruclion which first considered til" mater before
I, passed into the hands OF tnc Committee on By
laws had sonegha, modified IS views on ,he sun
iect and 1t was said that the two committees
would act in con;unction in considering the sub.
lect The Commissioners INDUCED IN no discussion
o. tie matter excer. in this way.
The Board received two concentrations protest
Ing against the passage OF the resolution. "hltH
were read and referred 10 the COMMITTEE" on By
laws and Legislation The rcmonsrance OF the
German American Reform Union read ~ follows:
The undersigned oOrInitt~" appointed by the
German-American Reform tn.1n. respectfully asks
N relative TO the teaching Of German and French
in the public schools and urges AZ reasons Inc io-
lowing . . 49,.
one-half o: The parents or guardians 50 requesting
the in,roducticn OF such language snail he an.
ferent from the iorcsn lansu"se 80 reGuGi,iG
In the densey populated districts cf nc cast sra"
OF the city. where German parents Of children are
in an overwhelming majority.
The condition that no class shall be formed later
year and that all classes shall expire with ,he
Close Of said year unless discontinued At an earlic
without affordrs an opportunity OF subatitutnS
Others. The tire within which to petition Is too
short, and should be unlimited as az present, an!
the els sso9 begun should be continued so that
parects MAY bc assured that the study OF German
will not be interrupted at the expiration OF icw
months q, the risl; or perhaps never being re-
sun,ed The prcsc,l, time devoted 10 these studies
being two years and half Is altogether TOO
n,.tsd to accomplish satisfactory results. and for
that reas II should not be reduced to two years
BY cutting of one grade
The communication signed by T. b. Amend.
Edward ] Ii. Hansen. Herman Ridder Jean Well
and J. A. Z!bcll
The Taxpayer Association OF the Ienih' E"V-
enth and Seventeenth wards also presented a
sim,,er remonstYarce signed by Henry Fink presi-
dent and John Becker. secretary. .
President Charles Bulklcy Hubb"H OF me Boar'l
Of Fducatio; said yesterday that a great oea o.
misapprehcns!on existed In many minds regarnihS
the purpose OF the resolution now being consldeIeC
where IL was really desired but TO prevent the
waste OF the taxpayers money by einpl9yihtv, III.
complaints had come from Germans themselves
with regard the needless attention given 10 inc
study o. Wsere u Was NOT 80 needee aron
without mature deliberation.