New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,
ITALIAN IN THE SCHOOLS.
The Rev. Mr.. Bailey Pleads That It Be
Taught in italian Quarters
ra.Hnr ns T1,a Tribune.

Taught in Italian NusItS1S
- tie Editor OF The Tribune
SIR; N general agree with the able editorials
- The Tribune but to-day. the anniversary OF the
rnthcation Of Italy. and frfn TINS spot on Ie O0E
ssrS OF & large italian colony, I beg space for
. words in reply TO your arguments under the
fstle why Italian7
FYnxt-If any European language Is worth study
.,,1v "a language It is the tongue OF the PENN
- II is the most ulelodous Of all, the most
-. No language has the same exact CORE
xnondencs OF sounds 20 letters while preserving
ir,pss vocalization and gains the music Ital-
q, has BY the simple device OF ending every word
,4,h q vowel Il other languages are worth study
ing fur cultures sake, then Is Italian II only few
sre introduced 10 the marvellous terzine rhyme OF
Tsnta which makes his verse the most haunting
Il literature
seoond-It viii never be an agency for maintain
,,r alien speaking communities The italian is Of
eli the most eager TO learn English = few nights
go laid before club OF italian men q PROPOSE
,ion for an Industrial school named designing,
wood carving etc. and asked each to write his
choice on slip OF paper To my surprise. instead
If answering my question. nne-tenths OF the
v-o+a sTugless" I asked why. and they said:
English is the most important Il VS. have Eng
ush We can 10 anything
Ttsrd-If The real purpose OF this movement be
sought think It viii be found It is to check the
alienation between parents and children which is
20 painful problem IN the family LIE OF almost
al Immigrants The italian children don't want
italian OFTEN they desplse II And though the
yroble1n Is not perhaps II Jewish farai-
les where, Dr.. Blausten has said. IN SIX
months after family OF Russian Jews has come to
America there is two centuries difference OF sym
patty between parents and children. II exists among
Italians.
Fourtb-It VIII also be found. I think. that the
tu-ertion IS 70 have italian taught only IN those
schools situated n the Italian colonies some
what unwtutngiy admit this. Il destroys my
frs argument
Ftfth-The children cannot always learn Italian
81 hc1na II I should quote & specimen OF New
York italian reproduced by II CoTriere, the result
N ths readers would Be as disastrous Oliver
Wencen Holiness best Joke. No italian Will be
offended az my saying this, for he viii see that
an not unf-endly. The very parents who speak
the uucounIed dialects eager TO have their chill
6-gu know pure Italian.
Stxth-It is one OF those needed olive branches to
show the immense Italian population in this city
that wish genuine affIiation. Competent 1tal-
ian observers say that there Is among edu-
Gated young men II Italy a keen desire 70 appro-
pirate American Ideals turning away OF interest
from German and English universities 70 me amer.
1can- they say that what 4taiy most hseos IS =
new moral idea ard that this ideal IS 10 be found
n America An Italian physician, lecturer at En-
Italian university. told me that he came 70 amer
lea chiefly 10 acquire that ideal. We must under
is tttr- is fdeaiisn And What We Americans are
doing is 70 them exposed 20 the basest Poliu-
ne 0uceairg influence Of those noble American
IDEAS v-hich 90 exist but which are not most in
evidence where the Italians have 20 house
The one golden kew which most quickly unlceks
the italian heart is interest IN his language
Five words Of alleged Italian pronounced By an
American with 81 accent that would make Silvto
Ps1co turn in his grave VII establish fast friend
ship We may depend upon II that If we viii make
this advance CT courtesy the response "lI- De mani
effort which Is being considered ana ought to be
sds 70 ss The Italian population T. Nth AaTs92
70 have vast population so alien as the ICa4an
few n,Ehts ago E gang interfeTed with the United
States mail service e block away from here
gang. I is allen Il IS Intensely proud it demands
respect for the italian name. But If We show he
respect and make the advance OF courtesy me
heart Of the Italians can be won TO America
At least in thoss sohoois situated IN the italian col
enies- 9iELeEIIzL-E < BAILAE]Y.
York. September %. 1905
We print our correspondents letter wfthspleas-
u-e as al exceptionally able presentation OF
bis side u the case but must repeat that
nevertheless We think his side is the wrong
one To consider briefly the categorical points
he makes:
First-We fully agree with his high estimate
Of the Italian language and literature But that
does not prove that It should be studied In the
common schools any more than many other
things which pertain solely u the higher cult
IRE.
Second-We know that, he says. Italians
are very eager to learn English Then, why
not teach them English instead Of ItaItan7
THRIFT the aim IS 20 prevent alienation be-
tween parents and children. why not teach the
parents English instead Of the children Italian?
Fourth-Yes. the fact does destroy the first
argument
F7fJh-If Italian children cannot learn Italian
al home they should be compensated for that
deprivation by being taught English IN the
schools
sixth-RealIy, We are positive that in the ma
jortty Of cases another kind Of olive branch !
namely. the teaching Of English 10 italians |
would be more highly priced Italians may
esteem being able to enter their linguistic |
community by speaking italian. but they much |
mora highly prize their own ability to enter ours /
Dy Speaking the language OF their adopted land !
Seventh-To fuse the Italian immigrants with /
American life It is better TO teach them the /
language Of America than 10 teach either them |
or Americans the language OF the old country.