New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Can't Take Examinations
Until German Teachers
Try for Positions
AllianceF eFrancaiseActs
DR.. Charles Downer, President,
Makes Vigorous Protest
Against Favor to Teutons

The apparent intention of the Board
of Education to bar men and women
substitute teachers of French from ex-
smjnations until forty-odd teachers of
German. now without classes, are given
m opportunity to qualify as instructors
N the French language, has elected q
vigorous protest from the Alliance
r7ancajsc. Of which Or. Charles Dow
ner. head Of the department of Romance
languages at the College of the City of
New York. is president.
"Teachcrs OF French who have given
years 20 the study Of that language will
certainly not welcome these new COL
leagues said DR.. Downer yesterday.
And why should American boys and
girls be obliged to learn French from a
German 2'
Charges that German teachers in the
schools have been carrying on an in
sidious campaign against French and in
favor OF Spanish ever since the war be-
gan have been made frequently of late
Many teachers Of French in the schools
have preferred these charges. The AL
lance. however, has avoided CARRYING
them to the board. But now its mem
herS intend to make an issue of the
question whether undue favor is to be
shown teachers of an alien enemy race
and tongue.
The protest of the Alliance is based
on letter written to DR.. Downer by
Miss Ethel Letfert, a substitute teacher
OF French at Washington Irving High
school. Miss Lefert, q substitute for
two years, has been unable to obtain a
place on the eligible list of assistant
teachers because for three wears the
examinations have been limited to men.
Now, however, her letter says, in
part: "a slight change is to be made
An examination in French has been
scheduled for February 20, and, be-
cause forty assistant teachers of Ger
man are IN excess, j. e.. are without
classes, due TO the falling off in the
numbers studying this subject the COM
ing examination in French is open to
women.
But only women who already have
been appointed viii be considered This
means but one thing-these German
teachers are to be given preference
over the many men and women whose
speciality is French, a subject dear to
the hearts of all true Americans. /
who have been teaching French for two
years, am barred out, and probably
viii be deprived of my present posi-
tion.
u intended to take the examination.
put was informed that my paper would
be thrown out"
Copies of Miss Leffert's letter werc
forwarded by the Alliance to Arthur
Somers. president of the board, and
Mrs. I. F. Russell. d board member.
Special emphasis was placed upon a
of the letter which referred
TO now German teachers are getting
INTO Spanish classes. This read:
TN forty teachers to be placed in
the French and Spanish classes. il
nardiy seems worth while for any man
OF woman whose subject is not German
TO nope Tor appointment. 1t has hap
pened that one whose subject was Ger
man. but who had studied Spanish for
a year few hours week., passed |
-he examination in Spanish. whereas a
capable candidate whose subject was |
French and who had studied Spanish
four years failed
y do not believe Americans will an.
prove OF french being taught by Ger
mans or by Americans saturated with
uItur. said Dr. Downer "The falling
on IN the number of those who have /
.neir sons and daughters choose the
,snsuase r OF Aultur proves this. The
Germans may qualify more or less |
successfully as teachers of French or
spanish, but the spirit with which tho /
%orS is done is far more important
'nan lhelr mere knowledge of language.
nave written with considerable |
ee9lng to the two members Of the
BOARD, for my indignation is twofold-
resent this proposition as an Ameri
an o,t.1eh' and also as teacher of
pT- JohA TildsIey. associate superin-
endent in charge of high schools. an
,e',,, ~ered tn. the charge that Spanish was
'rlne urged en- students, instead of
,rench, with the statement that
reneh was steadily gaining. This
a'l' however, is nothing in compari-
on 10 that Of Spanish. DR.. Tildslev
Npiained that by saying Spanish was
eld superior to French as trade
anguage for Americans.
hat is absurd commented Dr.
'o"ner Take Brazil, the largest
ountrY Of South America. Sneat
pamsh there and YOU insult the brsi-
, ess man whose trade or society you
esIre. IL speaks Portuguese and
fench. Speak French to him. and he
complmented. In Argentina the
ian whose family is wealthy enough
nave hlm educated has been cdn-
ated IN French. The recreation Of
lmself and his family has been takon
France, net Spain, and he prefers
, speak in French, which stamns ~,
S a man OF culture" ''''i