Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-18
SCHOOLS TO BAN
GERMAN TONGUE
Board of Education Will
Decide at Next
Meeting
TEUTON STUDY DOOMED
Pupils Discontinue Courses.
Educators Split but Gust
ing Is Favored

The question OF whether or not the
German language will be continued as a
part Of the curriculum in Philadelphia
public schools will be definitely decided
at the next meeting Of the Board OF
Public Education Indications are that
the enemy's tongue will be dropped.
Lack Of interest by students may force
the board to Danish the language from
the public school student courses.
whether or not the question Of proprietv
is decided in favor of or against the
German tongue.
Figures obtained today show that
there has been a constant decrease in
attendance at the German classes only
4s4 Of the 3352 students promoted to
the high schools this year elected to
study German. Last year 1914 students
promoted 20 high schools enrolled them
selves for the German course.
Some division Of opinion among mem
bers of the Board Of Education was
found through a canvass Of sentiment
on the situation apropos the demand Of
Charles B. Helms. of the Patriotic order
Sons of America. that Dr John +. Gar
Der, superintendent Of schools res gn
his position because Of his attitude
favoring study Of the language
Those interviewed lined up this way:
q
OF Education: Everything Of German
taint will be done away with eventually,
and the language taught in the schools
will he no exception. | believe"
Simon Gratz. vice president Many
students who elected to study German
Will lose the time they have given to it
should the course he eliminated and
upon graduation from high schools would
noc he able to satisfy college entrance
requirements in either German or the
new language taken in place Of German
Our ultimate stand on this question will
depend largely on the decision Of the
larger universities and colleges as to
whether or not they will waive the
deficiencies"
DR. Edward Martin: IF there are
any pupils or parents of pupils 50 blind
TO public opinion and eternal Justice
as to wish to stu6y that harsh language.
let them do 1t in that privacy which
surrounds the doing oc any other shame
less act"
Henry Il. Edmuuds. former president
Of the hoard: 81 am entirely I'm favor
Of the abolition Of the study of German
In our public schools and win gladly
vote for the diScontinuauce Of such
study should the matter come before
the hoard at our next meeting"
Thomas $. Boyle; II am not in favor
OF having anything German i'm the
schools. The only reason I would toler-
ate II at all Is on account Of the coll
leges which require it Of entering stu
dents. hope the language will he
taken out Of the schools
John story jerks: II am entirely in
accord with Doctor CARRIER our super-
intendent, in this matter. and indorse
the position he has taken"
Former Judge Dinner Beeber: when
this matter was last before the hoard
I voted against "A dlscontinuance of the
study OF German, and | am still Of the
same mind as to this proposition"
Doctor Garber's stand has been that
as long as the pupils exhibited interest
in the study Of German. just 50 long
would It continue 10 he a part Of the
high school curriculum
He said yesterday: Between German
and French. I have always been in
favor Of teaching French. and I am
still Of that opinion"
Because Of the public lrntiment
against it, although he had taken
stand in favor Of abiding by the deci-
sion Of the students themselves. Doctor
CARRIER today admitted that the Teu-
tonic tongue eventually would be elimi-
mated.