Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-10-11
ANNUAL REPORT ON HIGH
SCHOOLS FOR 1911.

or Of the High Schools of Mime
sofa for the school year ending July
81, 1911, came to hand after writ
ing our last article. For comparison
with the figures there quoted, which
are fresh in our minds or easy Of ac-
cess, we give the statistics of the
latest report, with those Of the prev
ious report in parenthesis, to show
the tendency in one state for the
study of other states. German,
French and Latin are taught in our
high schools, German and Latin in
all four years. German is taught in
1SS (1S5) schools, and French in 9
schools Is in 1910 and 9 in 1909.
The number of schools with Fresh
men classes in German is 10 Oily !;
with Sophomore classes l30 (l26) T;
with Junior classes 80 (7O; with
Senior classes So (50); total 394
(374). Schools teaching l. a t in
Grammar 1876 (199); Caesar 1856
1857; Cicero ia (123); Virgil 104
(114); total 500 (631). Latin thus
lost during the year 80 classes and
German gained 20, gain of So
classes Of German over Latin. This
indicates the strong tendency in high
er education to study German. AS
Latin is decreasing and French is on
a standstill, Scandinavian has good
chance. The increase in students
show the same tendencies. The
number of students taking German
was $3.50 (9025), a gain Of 344;
freshmen 1914 (3S43); sophomores
1924 (3304); juniors l843 (1452)
seniors 918 (786). The increase fol-
German is in the higher classes. Stu
dents taking Latin grammar 6050
| (6456); Caesar 1895 (3359); Cicero
1882 (1392); Virgil 973 (1261); to-
tai 1850 (12468), a decrease of 718
Germans gained 344, hence 1862 more
classes are studying German than
Latin now than a year ago. In all
1924 (1309) study French. German
French and Latin students total 49,
SAB (22802>, decrease Of 159
counting those twice who take two
languages. The enrolment Of al
students was 29,224 (28,518, a gain
of 7O6). These figures prove thai
Language study is sadly neglected
Think, no less than 46 subjects are
studied in our high schools and Scan.
ldinavian is not one of them! Is this
what the people want? Compare
these 4G branches with the system OF
European schools.
| We anxiously looked through tn,
report for something on the Scandi
navian languages i'll the high schools
Of this banner Scandinavian state
but could not find a word Of refer
Ience to them. No record of thu
schools teaching Scandinavian. Thu
movement to introduce scandinavian
Into the high schools of Minnesota
lis, perhaps, too young and weak, ant
Intelligent sentiment on the subjec
too undeveloped, for any public re-
cognition. When, however, the frs
statistics of schools that have, or ar,
working to, introduce Scandinavian
are published, we hope they will b
complete. The statistics Of high ant
country schools teaching Scandinav
ian must first be gathered for eacl
county, before those Of the state car
be ascertained. Will you help tt
gather those for your county? Min.
nesota can easily be one Of the lead.
ing states in changing Europe's JUS
criticism Of us as "underlanguaget
Americans" if the Scandinavians
will insist upon their languages being
taught in their district schools.
The Inspector Of State High
Schools in his previous report said
II am in favor Of pitting German
against Latin. Give them an equa
chance. Give both a four years
course" Why not give Scandinavian
an equal chance with German ant
Latin in the northwest? In this
years report the Inspector says
along the same line: 81. have littl,
sympathy with the long-standins
| .4,,,,x 4l,.A A.. l,:%l ool,oo1 e., ~. 80