The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-17

Committee on Text Books and Course of
ST. Paul, Mimi, July 1, 1903.
From the Committee on Text Books and
Course of Study to the Board of School
Inspectors:
Gentlemen-We respectfully report that
we have duly considered the petition of
many of our citizens for the introduction
of the study of the German language In
grades six, seven and eight of our public
schools. There are many questions con-
Meeting themselves with this and 1t Is
quite impossible to reach conclusion
study of the German language. Chang
ing conditions and environment have
compelled revision of our courses of study,
so often and so radically, that our teach
ers necessarily experience the embaraSs
ment that results from Encouragement and
reimbursement. The introduction Of Ger
man would necessarily add to these diff
culties, at this time, and 1T is question
whether the present offers. all things con-
sidered. a suitable opportunity for fur
Their changes in our course of study. This
has led certain cities recently, New York
among them. to drop the subject from the
grade schools, and has prevented re-
consideration of the act dropping it from
the curriculum of other cities.
OF the purely educational value of the
study of the German language there can
be no doubt. and aside from the fact that
many of the pupils attending our public
is spoken and German literature is
studied, there are many others more re-
motely descended from German ancestry,
who would be able to catch the meaning
and spirit Of the language.
We believe that the educational value
is to be esteemed above that form of
practical value which consists only in
speaking knowledge of the tongue mas
much as many who will be unable after
awhile to speak or read in German, will
still have the benefit of the mental dis
cipline that the study of a foreign Ian
guage affords
We therefore hold that If all condi-
lions were favorable, and the present
propitious time. the prayer of the petit
On the other hand however, as we
have pointed out, an Immediate adoption
would add some difficulties to the COM
plete and successful operation of the
also add to the expenses of school main
tenance which. however slight would at
present inconvenience the Board, owing to
extraordinary demands upon its re-
sources.
Another very serious difficulty wi. be
found in attempting to make this in
structfon either compulsory or optional
in the grade in which it IS proposed to
establish it.
If compulsory many children who viii
not go beyond the eighth grade, and who
home will gain but little benefit from it's
study, and will lose in other respects. At
first glance it would seem that children
studying a language, daily, for three
years, ought to become reasonably pro-
ficient in its use but when it is further
considered that one-half hour a day or
but one forty eighth of the chld's time
is given to the subject, it must be con-
ceded that unless supplemented by home
use. but little will be gained daily by the
child, and that he will have but slender
hold even upon what he does gain.
If the study be optional it will, like
other optional studies, suffer from lack of
interest on the part of the pupil, and as
it will be possible to drop it at any time
and inasmuch as proficiency may not be
necessary to insure promotion, the
teacher will experience much difficulty
in making her work effective. All ex-
perience with optional studies, even in
secondary schools, tends to show that
they should not enter into the daily pro-
gramme of students work in the grades
at all. and that they should not be in
creased in number in higher work.
We have deemed it best to submit these
statements and refer them to you for a
full consideration of the whole subject.
but under all circumstances your com
mittee does not deem it practicable to
grant grant the prayer Of the petitioners at this
CHRISTIAN FRY,
Chairman.
Yeas-Inspectors Egan, Fry, Fisher,
Rogers, Savard, Mr.. Presidents,
NayS-0