Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-01
TO STOP TEACHING
MODERN LANGUAGE
Omaha School Board Petitions
the Legislature to Change
the Present Laws
CALL IT TOO HEAVY BURDEN

The Board OF Education is unani-,
nous in its opposition to the existing
law requiring the teaching of modern
languages in public schools and the
members of the board have forwarded
to the legislature signed statement
of their position. The members have
asked the legislators to repeal this
law and thus enable school, authori-
tics to work out the problem accord
ing to their best judgment and local
conditions. N-
The Omaha school directors note
that there is not, and never has been,
a law compelling the teaching of Eng
lish, nor even American history in the
schools.
The social science section OF the
Omaha Woman's club went on record
as favoring the repeal Of the modern
language law This law provides that
if fifty patrons petition board OF
education, then it shall be incumbent
upon the school officials to teach the
language requested in the particular
school mentioned in the petition.
~ Statement Of Board.
The statement OF the Board OF Edu-
cation follows:
The Nebraska statute of 1913 making the
teaching Of any modern European language
compulsory In all the elementary schools of
this state, beginning with the fifth grade, Is
unwise legislation and ought to be repea led
Greater Omaha contains large numbers o.
foreigners, from nearly every country and
race In Europe Under this statute it would
not be difficult to secure petitions covering
more than dozen European tongues. in
cluding not only German, French and Shan
ish, which are generally regarded as proper
courses in American schools but also Bo-
hemian, which Is now taught in the Omaha
schools under this statute. and likewise
Polish, Servian Russian, Italian, Lithuanian,
Modern Greek, Yiddish, Gaelic. Dutch,
Danish, Swedish. Norwegian.
Our experience under this law already
demonstrates that the teaching of these
languages In the fifth and sixth grades is
a positive detriment to the progress of many
children of foreign parentage In the common
English branches and the study of American
institutions, and that the enforced use of
these studies interferes with the courses
provided for other pupils. o..
There Is mot now. and never has been
any statute In Nebraska compelling the
teaching of English, the language Of Amer
lea. nor reading, writing and arithmetic,
nor even American history. ALL of these
branches are left to the Judgment Of the
constituted school authorities. y
This law was not passed because of
general popular demand by a majority of
the parents of the children of Nebraska
nor by any pressure emanating from any
teachers association or any body of edu-
ators.
We believe this statute should be repealed
entirely, and the question of modern Ian
guages in the grade school left for adjust
ment to the school authorities, under the
| advice OF the professional educators en-
ployed by the state to deal with such ques-
tions.
The Large expenditure required by this
statute Is compulsory upon the REQUEST Of
very small percentage Of the patrons of
the schools, and enables them to enforce
their will against the large majority. This
board has under consideration some radical
changes in the system of instruction pro-
vided In the Omaha schools, to the end that
the very best in educational progress may
be reflected in them. We have to deal with
Ia proposition to establish a Junior high
school. We are called upon to consider
radical increase in teachers wages And
because Of deficit carried over from preyi-
GUS Years, and the loss of revenue from
license money, we are dealing with very
serious problem involving an increase in
| the tax rate. With our rapidly increasing
population and with the opening of new
school buildings we will be confronted with
| constantly increasing expenses.
We ask the legislature to- give us a free
hand In this matter in order that we NAV
carry out the wishes of our constituents in
disposiDg of all these questions