The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-23
DEBATE ON GERNAN TEACHING.
BOARD or EDUCATION HEARING
TAKES A POLITICAL TURN.

Opponents Of the New Course 81 studies
See Dire ELECTS ~ the Administration
Making Shorthand Elective an In
derhand Attack on the Germans.
A number OF prominent German citizens
appeared before the Committee on Studies
OF the Board Of Education yesterday after
noon to oppose the plan to lessen the num-
Der Of years in which German Is taught and to
make seenography elective with the German.
They said that a concerted effort was being
made by members of the board to drive
German as study from the schools.
They charged that this was being done
by adding stenography to the elective
studies. with the result that 80 per cent.
Of the children preferred the opportunity
to study shorthand to keeping up the Ian
guage Of their fathers.
The Germans made yelled threats Of the
effect on the city administration which the
action OF the Board Of Education would have,
and the hearing was gradually developing
into a political wrangle when Chairman
Greene called a halt.
When yesterdays hearing began the
assembly hall was crowded with foreign
born citizens. with the Germans in large
majority.
George Won Skal MANAGING editor Of the
Stats Zeitung, was the leader OF the Ger
man speakers. He said that what the Ger
mans asked for was that modern foreign
language be taught in the elementary
schools. II but one foreign language was to
be taught. he said. German would have to
be selected.
Mr.. Won Skal declared that the addition
OF stenography to the elective studies was
attributed by the Germans to a motive
which he would not explain He and other
German citizens, he said. had been led to
believe by Supt. Maxwell that in the grades
where German was taught it would be a
in some Of the schools the German Ian
guage and the German people were openly
ridiculed. In conclusion he said:
Every cheap witticlsm directed against
the German language. every attempt TO
board which governs the education OF our
children. is an attack upon US and crime
against the American people and the Ameri-
you
he represented the United Real Estate
Owners Association and the German
American Reform Union. He said he
wanted to Irotes, sEnnss t, sny system
French in the public schools He added:
l shall not be as delicate as the former
speaker on this matter OF stenography.
shall say what the Germans believe 1t was
ade elective study with modern Ian
guages for. II Is the general opinion that
II was put In to steal march on the Germ ans
Your records show that 5000 pupils have
been studying German in the schools and
ZOO FRENCH. BY the psoprsed cha anHs. OF
who take a modern language is 10000, II
this means anything but the abolition OF
the German language from the schools let
US know 80.
Mr. Hansen said that before the last
Mayoralty election the G. ,rnans were freely
told by Tammany Hall that the fusionists
would drive German out of the schools.
There was a murmur Of approval AT this
from the Germans. but Chairman Greene
ruled politics out and they stayed out for
little while.
Commissioner Thomas B. Connery advo-
Gated the teaching Of Spanish and Mrs.
Schuyler Van Rer sseiaer, representing the
Public Education Association Of New York,
wanted the French language taught.
Arthur Won Brieseu believed that every
child should be taught at least two modern
languages. He started to cay something
about Tammany Hall when Chairman
Greene's gavel stopped him: Commits
sioner Fran oini and Jean Lordi Of Brook
lyn spoke in favor Of teaching Italian and
then the advocates Of the other languages
made addresses After them came some
twenty school teachers and school princi
pals and half dozen settlement workers.
At clock. when the meeting ended, there
were still a number who wanted to be
heard.