New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
ASKS FOR GERMAN IN THE SCHOOLS.
Should Be Taught as a Spoken Language,
It Is Urged
TO the EDITOR Of The Tribune

/ 10 the Editor of The Tribune.
! Sir: At last the educational searchght has been
j thrown important subject and the German
American mind knows for certainty why the
study of the German language is being gingerly
! treated in public schools.
/ Professor julius Sachs. of Teachers College
! Columbia University, and Professor W II. Gohdes.
! Of the Horace Mann School, are the authorities
who have como out in support of the statement
l made some time ago. that the reason why the
study of German is neglected in public schools
is that the teachers do not know how to teach a
! living language.
| Speaking about modern language teaching in our
| schools. Professor Sachs says:
General dissatisfaction with the results exists.
trained teachers Of ianguage. They carry into
ssecondary school teaching the doctrine which is
fnents OF our colleges that the end Of language
that the capacity to speak the language is alto
gether insignificant in value compared with the
language work we have scored complete failure.
modern ianeuaee I d can De nI1a,ed init the
! ran into still further dsrepute.
Professor Gohdes, after maintaining that the old
method OF language study throws every obstacle
! In the pathway of the student while no endeavor
OF any KIND Is made to create interest in the
| work. points out that the method of teaching
language requires great deal of preparation by
! 'he teacher outside Of the classroom, a lot of
patience in the classroom and a lot of ingenuity
| at all times But he continues cit is the
method which has been adopted in the teaching of
| .he great professions, such medicine and law;
II Is the method science has always adopted with
Her topics; II is approximately natures own way
VI teachIns the child his mother tongue"
Now, to the necessity Of speaking the German
language there be no doubt. In reply to a
! Ietter OF mine Superintendent Maxwell said: 81
oISESr Knowledse Of the German language very
EVaIua2le V to English speaking people" OF course
Mr. Maxwell, of our ablest educators. fully
| appreciates the value of the German language TO
fs5densy of T9e9 Sg cfy as poS
ment constituted 121 per cent OF the entire number
OF males OF voting age in lS00 that public men like
this langusge; that the German speaking irnmi-
grants OF last year exceeded the 10000 mark; that
IeEIndh Is one OF the two great world languages.
66eing spoken by more than 100000 people; that
| crowding her 20S $50 square miles is Continually
/ trying to add to her twelve colonies, containing
| German clerks, business men and employers are
rapidly increasing in the United States wen as
| for the worlds trade.
! get a speaking knowledge instead of being handi-
capped in the race of lie with things of third rate
Considering these facts and statements. would
| IKE TO ask why the introduction of the study OF
| delayed any longer, especially when II can be
proved that the understanding and the speaking of
and quickly than the present smattering of read
ing writing and translation Of German in sec
ondary schools?
There are language teachers in New-York and
writing Of German in half he tina tbsf - so.as
by the old methods. l shall be glad TO send list
OF such teachers TO any one interested in the sub
AS long fads frills and fancies are showed
and rammed into the curriculum OF our educational
system. that some people even advocate the in
PRODUCTION of boxing, swimming and dancing while
in the selection Of study subjects and the regula-
whole matter Is simply up 10" our school euthori-
Brooklyn. N. Y. Feb. Is 1906.