The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-12
LAWYERS OPPOSE
} THE INNOVATION
Judge King and Judge Marioneaux
Discuss Modern Languages
= Scheme.
BOTH ARE IN OPPOSITION
THOMAS JEFFERsoN's VIEWS
CITED TO PROVE A POINT.


Two leading Salt Lake lawyers.
Judge William H. King and Judge
Thomas Marioneaux, went on record
yesterday against teaching modern
languages in the grade schools. Judge
King said:
THE Introduction of French and
German, or either, into schools of low
er grade or standard than High schools,
would be a serious mistake. More than
80 per cent of those attending the
grades will never enter colleges or seek
university degree, and viii have no
special use for any language other than
English. While 1t is unquestionably of
advantage TO those who intend follow
ing a scientific or classical course, to
begin at an early day, the study of
other languages than their mother
tongue, still there is ample opportunity
for such in the High school and the
university.
Beside the interests of the few
must yield TO the requirements of the
many. The many in the grade schools
require an education that will equip
them to discharge the duties of citizen
ship. the obligations to society, and en-
able them to fit into the Industrial and
economic system by which they are
surrounded. They have no time to do
more than master the principles of ed
ucatiOn absolutely essential to the sta
tons in life which they expect to occu-
by. They will be farmers, mechanics,
miners. artisans and followers of man
ual pursuits.
Fundamentals important.
1T is of far greater Importance to
them to know arithmetic, geography,
spelling, reading. writing, history and
the English language, than to have a
1l+ frFc Of Ts,--r
speaking acquaintance with foreign
languages.
This is a ultilitarian age. and while
all desire that the educational system
shall in broad and comprehensive, eX-
listing conditions cannot be ignored. The
grades are primary schools, in which
the documentary features of education
must be emphasized.
IF children when they leave the
eighth grade have a fair knowledge of
the common branches, their time will
have been well spent. If they ATTEMPT
French or German, they will of neces-
sity neglect studies of more Importance
to themselves.
Disposition Toward Fads.
without desiring to criticise our ed
Ucational system, 1 think there is too
much of a disposition to run TO fads
There is too much organization and
system and supervision and control.
Teachers cannot obtain the best re-
. suits; there is not sufficient field for
individuality and originality I fear
lthey and the schools suffer from rule
hand system and uniformity.
1--WE have excellent teachers and
every effort should be to encourage
them TO secure the best results. They
should be allowed large latitude in
teaching; and every effort should be to
develop the children into thinking be-
fngs. The greatest achievement of any
teacher is to teach children to think
If in the grades they can do this,
and enable the students to obtain a
fair knowledge Of the common
branches and elementary science, they
will have accomplished the highest and
best results. If there is time for the
grade students to devote to other mat
ters than now engage their attention,
il were far better to introduce more
extensively a study of physiology and
physical sciences.
Thomas Jefferson's Views.
Il commend to the lovers of educa-
ton the views of Jefferson upon this
all-important subject. His general
scheme embraced three branches: ID
the division of the whole state into dis
tricts or wards. and the establishment
in each of primary schools i'm which
the rUdiments of knowledge should be
taught 10 all; % the establishment of
a sufficient number of higher acad-
emies or colleges in which those exhib-
ting in the primary schools superior
intellectual endOwments might acquire
gratis, a further and higher education:
80 a state university in which each sci
ence should be taught in the highest
degree il has attained.
In his famous report to the COM
mission appointed by the governor of
Virginia. he stated what he conceived
to be the objects of primary educa-
ton as follows:
Ito give to every citizen the
information he needs for the transac-
ton of his own business
'2.-To enable him to calculate for
himself TO express and preserve his
ideas, his contracts and accounts in
writing.
'3.-To improve by reading, his
morals and faculties.
4.-TO understand his duties to his
neighbors and country, and to dis
charge with competence the functions
cOnfided in him by either.
5.-To know his rights; to exercise
with order and justice those he re-
teins; to choose with discretion the
fiduciary of thUse he delegates, and TO
notice their conouct with diligence,
with candOr and with judgment.
Sand, in general. to observe
with faithfuIness and intelligence all
the social relations under which he
shall be placed
Instead Of German or French. let
the children be taught those things
that will prepare them for the duties
and labors OF life and those duties Of
good citizenship under popular gov
eminent"
Judge Marioneaux's Views.
Judge Thomas Marioneaux of Pow
ers & Marioneaux said
Children have today all they can
assimilate III their studies and time
put in on foreign langua yes would i'm
my opinion be utterly wasted. To
study a language by means of a
teacher requires a great deal of study
An hour day in practice and the
same time in good. hard study would
bring only meager results. Less time
than this would bring practically no