The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-19
ABOLISH GERMAN
LANGUAGE IN KAN.
PRIMARY GRADES
Teach Nothing but Mother
Tongue to Young Americans.
That Is Recommendation Made
by Educational Council.
ASK LEGISLATURE FOR LAW
Parochial as Well as Public
Schools Must Comply.
Chancellor Strong Leads Fight
Against Anti-PatriOtism.
ASK LEGISLATURE FOR LAW
as Well as Public
Schools Must Comply.

Drastic steps to thwart promotlon
of Prussian aims and propaganda IN
Kansas public, private and parochiai
elementary schools were taken TO-DAY
by the educational council of the kan
sas State Teachers association at the
councils closing meeting here Reso--
lutiors condemning the use or any
tongue other than the Engllsh IAN
guage for the teaching of subjects on
elementary courses of study In an
schools, public private or parochiai'
were adopted.
In order that the resolution may
become a law it was referred to the
legislative committee OF the couhcli
and that body was instructed 10 snaps
it into the form of a legislative meas
ure and inject it into the next Kansas
legislature Also, if the recommenda-
tions IN the resolution are carried out
private and parochial schools VIII pe
paced under the control of the state
/ board of education and the state de-
partmeRt would be empowered to see
! that "readin, writin' and rithmeuc
are taught in good, approvable King
English and not in German, French or
Polish.
Strong Leads Fight.
| The figh. against the use of foreign
! language, especially German. as We
hicle for instruction in elementary
schools was led by Chancellor Frank
Strong, Kansas university 1t was
pointed our by the chancellor that
| there are private and parochial
schools. and even public elementary
schools, in Kansas where classes study
in German He decried further exist
ence of these groups and declared tnat
| if the nation is to be united there. must
be fewer Little Italics, Little Ger
manies. Little Russias and a larger
America.
! Il am not condemning the teaching
| of German in colleges and preparatory
| Schools said the chancellor, who of
| fered a cool headed explanation of his
| stand. 81 believe that Americans
| should know German, have a better
| understa nding of the country, its peo-
| pie and language. We have to have
the German language for after this
| war we will have to whip Germany
again econc mically.
! However. there are groups in Kan
sas where nothing is used in instruct
ing pupils but the German language.
This must stop if we are to be united.
This frames the minds of Juveniles
and injects into them the Prussian
spirit and aims and is excellent
| opening for German propaganda
Check on Patriotism.
| T. w. Butcher, Emporia. asserted
that in communities where German is
used exclusively or partially in schools,
| patriotism is not at the highest
| Il have always noticed he said
that there are less liberty bonds
| bought and smaller Red Cross sub
scriptions in these communities. We
are cheapening American citizenship
| by allowing this condition of affairs to
| exist.
After further discussion of the
problem by delegates H. L. Kent H
3. Wilson and w. S. Heusne.- were
appointed a committee to draft the
resolution forbidding the use of for
eign languages in instructing elemen-
| tary classes. The committee also st,b-
mitted resolution leaving the matter
of teaching German in Junior and sem
ior nigh schools to the decision of To-
! cal authorities and pupils.
1t was pointed out that it is the
purpose of the resolutions to sFlap
the minds of the children while in
grade school along purely American
ard democratic lines. The council did
| not condemn the teaching of German
in preparatory schools and colleges but
on the other hand the delegates as in
| dividuals said they thought it ought
not to be eliminated for economic rea-
sons
| Discuss Proposed Changes.
, Appointment of the state superin-
tendent of instruction by the state
board of education. a state board of
architecture a state teachers employ
ment agency, teachers pensions and
| the county unit for school taxation
were placed under the glass at the
CLOSING session OF the educational
council. Plans for getting the reforms
thru the next legislature were dis
! cussed.
! A readjustment of the compulsory
educational laws to conform with the
! present child labor laws and compul-
! sorry health supervision for all public
/ schools were also taken up and dis
cussed as matters that should be
/ placed before the next legislature
/ All the topics have been endorsed
! by the general assembly of the Kan
sas State Teachers association, and
were urged upon the coming Iegisla-
ture in resolutions adopted here at the
| last convention. The discussion was
directed by members of the legislative
committee comprised of Raymond A.
peka; j. w. Gowans, Winfield: H. NJ
! Cutler Emporia. and Miss Eliza beth
Spencer. Emporia. President w. H.
i johnson. Lawrence. presided The
Teachers War Greed" was given by
Prof. d. NJ Bowen, Pittsburg
! Slap at Ross Scheme
That Kansas teachers have passed
/ the stage in their organization where
I they simply vote as recommended by
an executive committee or a group of
| officers was borne out late Friday
afternoon in the meeting at the
| Cha mber of Commerce. Immediately
after NJ E. Pearson. Kansas City had
thrown into the meeting a report urg-
ing that a board of editors be ap-
pointed to help E. L. Pfnet shape the
editorial policy of the Kansas Teacher.
! a general attack was launched against
the idea. Pearson's e1oquence. his
Continued on Page Two.l