Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-08

framing, cOmmerclal training, agn-
culture, economies, manual training,
music and industrial training. No
thing, however,. relative to the sci
ence Of teaching languages, Latin,
French, German or even Scandinav-
ian, in Minnesota, the most Scandin-
avian state in the Union, where we
thought this was the popular educa-
tional question. It cannot be other
wise than that Americans shall con-
tinue to be an underlanguaged ma
ton in the family Of nations with
this omission in the program for our
public school system. Modern Ian
guages are helpful to every other
branch of study and is. one Of the
most popula stndies among Europ-
can educational authorities while our
school authorities seem to ignore it.
It was encouraging to hear from
teachers and superintendent at the
convention from counties where the
Scandinavian languages were intro
duced that they were the most pop
ular branches. This is natural wher-
ever. the right teachers are secured.
Success depends more upon the
teacher than the elaborate buildings.
STATE LANGUAGE .ORGANIZA-
TIONS.
The Minnesota German Pedagog-
zeal Society," a distinct and separ-
ate organization, held meeting dur
ing the convention on the evening Of
the 28th, at which Ex-President
Northrup, President Vincent and
Miss Watson of Carleton College
spoke. Prof. S. l.. Heeter Of St. Paul
made the principal address on IRE
forms in Teaching the German Lam
guages." Germans are practical en-
ough to lay the emphasis on the most
vital point-the best way to do the
work. If Germans can organize
thus, why not start estate Scandin-
avian Pedagogical Societies7" What
do you think7 Would you vote yes
or no? 50.
MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL BOARD.
The School Board of Minneapolis
recommended to the city council the
name Of Mr.. Burt Of the Pillsbury
Home for appointment in place Of
Rev. Falk Gjertsen, who recently re-
signed. This appointment would have
left the school board without a sin
gle Scandinavian member and the
Scandinavian languages in the high
schools, for which Rev Gjertsen did
such faithful service, would have
suffered. When sixty per cent Of the
school children Of the city are re-
ported to be Scandinavians, at least
three instead Of one Of the seven
members of the school board should
be Scandinavians, provided as able
men could be found among the Scan
dinavians, and We think there could.
Scandinavians, wherever they have
sixty per cent Of the school children,
should have more to say as to what
and how they want their children
taught. When the question came be-.
fore the City Council the friends Of
the three candidates presented the
claims for their men and Professor
David F. Swenson, professor Of phil
osophy and psychology at the state
university and a prominent member
of the Swedish Mission Friends tab
ernacle of the city, was elected on
the third ballot by Is to 10 votes.
We extend congratulations to Pro-
fessor Swenson. A better choice
could not have been made. We be-
lieve he will do what he can for the
Scandinavian languages culture and
people in his new and high position
of honor. But what can one do
among sevenq
EDUCATORS AND FARMERS.
The tendency of education today
is to meet local needs. Does this ap-
ply to the country as well as to the
city, Being an agricultural people
the question naturally arises, "Are
hour educators learning the loca
| needs and wishes Of each rura
| school district, or do they treat al
alike without any local inquiry Tht
farmers Of German parentage in thu
United States, according to the cen.
sus of 1900, own 522,252 farm.
homes, almost three times as man!
as the next largest foreign element
that of Great Britain, and almost a.
many as the next three most success
full foreign elements combined, :Grea
Britain l83,157, Ireland 176,968 ant
Scandinavia l74,694. The higl
standing Of the Scandinavians in tn
possession Of farm-homes is due t
the fact that they are primarily a
agricultural people and do not ente
other pursuits with the same yea
Coming to America so late and own
ing nearly as many farms as tn
british. or Irish. proves that thew an