The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-07-02
The Language Question In South
Africa.


The language question. which u vas
forcScen from the 'rs' might he a men
ace 10 a complete South African Union,
has m spite 81 the efforts IT Premier
BorHi to settle u assumed the lmpor-
tanCc Of a considerable dispute The
seriousness If this question ~ the MON
- twofnld II threatens tn divide the edu-
Cational resources between two tongues,
80 giving an imperfect training IN both,
and to keep alive the old racial differ
cnC"s IN politics.
The educational policy II the Orange
River Colony Government i chiefly re-
Sponslhlc for the feeling that has been
aroused over III" attempt Ia fore com
pulsory blhngualSm on the country.
General HFRT2oG. who i on" of the
strongest of the rcactlonarics. insisted
that each child should not only learn
both Dutch and English. hut that the
child should be- taught m both Ian
guaGeS IN ia" schools In his pursuit
II this policy y was feared thar General
HFRTyrG was "ndlnGerIng IN" whole
Colony. bc, a. =" II almost doubled the
expense and also deprived the State If
the services of many comp' tent teachers
who " or" unable Ia fulfil the bilinglal
requirements.
II the dangers from this condition
could h. confined 70 the Orange River
Colony alone hey " ould no, b. ~ ~eri-
o,iS, but General HEETznG has always
stood out ~ AN honest but fanatiCal ex-
ponent 81 Dutch raCialism. and in that
way has u large number Of IL not follow
ers, at least admirers. in The other States
So strong, in fact, was he politically that
he was called a. one ~ the members ri
the first Cabinet, which aroused he fears
of those who were opposed Ia his eduCa-
tional ideas But as the primary and
secondary schools are for the time be-
ing M least left in the control of the
councils Of the RESPECTIVE States he will
not have the power tn enforce his views.
The extent 81 what he aCComplishe-
will depend entirely upon HIS personal
influence The hng,iag" question also
appears m the scheme for general mill
tarv training. As outlined AZ present
all schoolboys between the ages Of ten
and fifteen will be compelled TO Join a
cadet force and from fifteen tn eighteen
% enroll as senior cadets. To carry ont
this system psrmansnj Officers Of IN
struction will be- assigned Ia different
areas and military college will bc
i II 4. l.
training of officers The questions tina,
have already arisen IN the carrying out
Of this plan are: shall the instruction IN
this college be confined rn one language.
and in which language shall the young
troops be drilled,
or the various influences that oppose
the establishment IT hiiingualis in the
Union perhaps the strongest IL the eX-
perience Of the River Colony and the
difficulties that have arisen IN carrying
out General HEKTZpD' ideas there Mr.
AvUFps. the Dutch Africander pre--
dent of the South African Teachers
Association. IN his annual address he
plorcd HcrtZogism and SAID that the
teaching IN English would be- made more
defective than ever before, and pre-
diCtci that the extension of the system
Ia the other provinces would pnd the
communities in twain and make educa-
ton a party issue Another blow at
Hertzogizm comes from the determine
ton Of Transvaal tn make Pretoria the
site of the future teaching university Of
South Africa What Il - hoped will 90
far toward wiping ont racial distinction
- the broad liberal course which IL being
pur- I'D by General BOTHA In his recent
speech at Pi"t"TmaritzburG he showed
determination 10 continue his work 81
pacificaiion and r"cono llatIon. and while
he expressed his intention ~ proving 20
the British people that the Dutch are
worthy ~ the trust rcpo~cd in them. he
promised 10 de- his utmost TO kill racial
ism. and urgei British and Bocr 70 Use
common sense and live peaccablv to-
gcther