Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-29
the parent the teacher. 1t is the
teachers calling to do so.


Scandinavian and German church
es will also encourage the work. In
the northwest, both in the country
and towns, they are growing in num-
Der and influence. Pastors, officers
and members want it. Their paroch-
ial, Sunday, Saturday, Confirmation
and summer vacation schools will all
assist the modern language work of
the public school. The little German
or Scandinavian church around the
corner, unnoticed by the public eye,
is quietly doing blessed work gen.
Grafton after generation. Religion,
or the church, has always been the
greatest factor in developing and
spreading the leading tongues-He-
brew, Greek, Latin, German, English,
Scandinavian, Arabic, Chinese. So
| it is in America.
The many societies and organiza-
tons Of these peoples also help
their cultural, political, benevolent,
social, gymnastic,z literary, musical,
missionary, young peoples societies,
"new- corners societies." and "byg-
! delag" societies. The national tai
ent and impulse Of the Scandinavians
and Germans to associate in free So
cieties is an important factor in
keeping up the languages, if they
speak the languages in all their Soc
ial gatherings. ~
The public press is always ready
to advance the work. Authors, ed
itors; correspondents, publishers and
bookstores, dailies, weeklies and
monthlies, tracts, pamphlets and
books, have served the cause most
efficiently in various ways and will
do so in the future. The great need
is more literature on the subject. The
periodicals issued in the United
States in 1000 were 613 German
(641 in l880), lis Scandinavian
| (49 in 1880), 80 Spanish (26 in
1880, IS Italian 4 in l880), 80 Pol
ish e in 1880, % Bohemian (13 If
1880), q French al in 1880). To.
tai in these seven languages $50 ir
1900 and 776 in 1880. The press il
other languages than English is
growing and promises more efficient
| help in the future if it is literally
helped with moral and financial sup.
port by the people it serves. Librar
les and reading rooms should not b.
overlooked. Public, home, schoo
and travelling libraries need NOR
books, magazines and papers in thes
languages and in English more abou
these peoples. Many public and uni
versity libraries are constantly add
ing to their collection Of German an
) Scandinavian literature. Much ha
been done without the Germans an
Scandinavians taking the initiativ.
! They are called upon to do NOR
here. Consuls. ambassadors, inter
change Of professors, information;
conferences, world fairs, world
: peace movements develop interna
r, tional patriotism, diplomacy an
: competition, and thus awaken inter
VI est in modern languages. linn
h grants and emigrants coming and g
n ing, summer and winter touris
# seeking pleasure and health, st,
e dents travelling for knowledge al
p merchants for trade, circle the glol
Is and keep the question alive.
lyl Politics are popular and effe
l. tive agency in a free land like our
le It seems the question Of teachil
m modern languages in the graded al
rs country schools must be thrust in
tn local politics, if it is to be perma
" emily settled and rooted in our n
O. tional life. At different times in t
Of east it has been a lively question
a. politics. In Pennsylvania a law "
u passed in 1897 by which Germ
he schools were to be founded on
b. equal basis with English. In 1888
'lp law as enacted i'll Ohio by viii
rk German was taught wherever &c
r mans wanted it. The teaching
Id modern languages in the pub
~.