The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-18
DEBATE ON GERMAN TEACHING
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GIVE
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
Protests Against Cutting Down the Time
Devoted to the Subj and Demands
That Other Language BE Tausht

Protests Against Cutting Down the Time
Devoted to the Sub ect. and Demands
That Other Languages Re Tausht.
The Board Of Education held a special
meeting yesterday to discuss the teaching
Of German in the schools. A number OF
communications were first read. The Arion
Society, the United Real Estate Owners
Association. typographical Union No. 7
the German prtnters) and number OF
other organizations protested against the
now course, in lch German Is limited
TO one year.
The New York City Teachers' Association
wrote that the members were opposed
to the compulsory teaching Of foreign
languages in the schools. Local School
Board 10 wrote that 1t was opposed to
forcing German on the pupils.
you are asked to reconsider a matter
which was fully decided by the Committee
on Studies after careful consideration,
said Commissioner Greene. 1T would
be slight upon the committee to reconsider
the course.
Ex-senator Guy said: THE object Of
reconsidering Is to give to large proportion
OF the people who pay for the schools an
opportunity Of being heard in regard to
what shall be taught their children. Much
Of the objection to the present system
Is that the board Of superintendents. and
not the parents. has the power to decide
what foreign language shall be taught
In any one school. Let the parents decide
whether their children shall study Ian
guage or stenography."
Mr.. Greene offered resolution that the
matter be referred to the Committee on
Studies, and Mr.. Harrison offered a sub
stitute, that the committee hold public
hearings in the matter.
.Not a single reason has been given in
all this talk as to why German should be
taught in our public schools said Mr.
| Connery. mo consideration Is being given
| to the study Of Spanish. There are is 900. :
600 Of our people who speak Spanish. and a
knowledge Of that language Is more i'm
portant than German. I learned lot Of
| Spanish In eight lessons.
Commissioner Francolini got chance to
speak and said: II we are going to have a
| foreign language In the schools I want
the Italian language taught there, It is
beautiful language and ,,,,I have 100 ooG
AZ s the German ras lang isn9u.se.' ~" - s0''
why shouldn't French, Gaelic, Yiddisf
and Greek be taught in our elementary
| schools as well as German?" asked Mr.
Harrison. Il have here a German news.
paper which declared that DR.. Maxwell
was the greatest liar that ever was. because
he curtailed German in the schools.
will read for you an article from the paper
which Ia entitled. Die katz' aus dem sacl
-'Iaus NIT him. The cat is out Of the
sack. Will read it all IN German2'
There was a chorus Of Noes. and thu
speaker translated the article, which crit
cisee Dr. Maxwell and the members Of thu
board who voted to limit the teaching o
German. Mr.. Jones wanted the matte
settled Immediately. and Mr.. Barry said h
was opposed to teaching any foreign Ian
guage in tho schools.
Il was finally decided to refer the matte
to the Committee on Studies, who will hol
public hearings and then report to tn
Board Of Education as soon as possible.