Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-01
ASK GERMAN BE
TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS S
10000 TEUToNs PETITION BOARD
OF EDUCATION
Sentiment That Has Been Growing for
Months Ends In Request
That Will Soon Be
Presented

At the next meeting of the board OF
education a petition signed by 10000 OF
the German residents Of Los Angeles ask
ing that the German language be includ-
ed as an elective study in the public
schools will be presented.
For several months there has been a
movement on foot among. the members
of the German-American alliance of this
city, and at the last meeting the agita-
ton eliminated in the adoption Of the
petition. Nine German societies are ANAL
gamated in the alliance
Attention is brought to the fact that
German is now taught In most of the
leading cities of the country. In New
York. Chicago, Milwaukee, San Francisco
and Buffalo it Mas been taught many
years.
The petition is as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Educa-
ton, Los Angeles, Cal.-Gentlemen:
We, the undersigned members of the
school committee of the German
American alliance, herewith petition
your honorable body to introduce the
German language as an elective study
In the grammar schools of this city.
The German-American alliance is a
society composed of delegates repre-
senting twenty-three German societies.
with an approximate membership OF
27O0 members, and one of its main OBJ
-jects is to perpetuate the German
language among the children of Ger
man parentage, as well as to fami-
liarize all pupils with this essential
language.
1t is and always has been the desire
of the more than 10000 German resi-
dents of the city of Los Angeles to
bring this to your attention, from the
fact that their children, as well as
others who wish to, should be granted
the opportunity of learning this i'm
portant language.
Knowledge Important
Not alone from sentiment is this re-
quest made, but from the fact that the
German language today is one of the
most used In the world of commerce.
science, art, literature and music, and
your honorable body is no doubt aware
of the thousands of students who an
nually go to Germany to obtain
further instruction in the higher arts.
The fundamental instruction in our
mother tongue in the grammar grades
would have a most wonderful effect
upon those pupils aspiring to the high
er schools and colleges, and we would
respectfully call your attention to the
fact that in the public schools of New
York, Chicago, Buffalo, Cincinnati,
Milwaukee, San Francisco and many
others course of German has been
taught for years.
For your further information will
state that about year ago the Ger
man-American alliance opened
school as an experiment and was de-
lighted with an attendance of about
100 pupils, and you, no doubt, also
know that there are several private
schools maintained in this city, where
several hundred children are studying
this language, and we feel almost
certain to assume that from 5000 to
5000 children would grasp the oppor-
tunity to take advantage of such
course in the grammar schools in GER
tain grades.
Suggests Test
The German-American alliance pc
titions this honorable board to look
with favor upon our request, and In
order to ascertain the number of chill
dren desiring to take up such a course
proper blanks be issued to all pupils
in certain grades which you may des-
ignate to be properly filled out ana
returned. and no doubt the number oe-
string to take advantage of such a
course would be most surprising TO
YOU and we feel that we will be more
than repaid for our efforts.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT p. KAESTNER, president
German-Am American alliance
DIR. G.. M. GRAEF, first vice presi-
dent and chairman Of school COM
mittee.
Mn. HERBERT. secretary OF school
committee.