New-York tribune., 1918-02-11
School Board to Investigate
Charge That Instructors
Here Are Disloyal
Few Studying German
Fast Becoming a Dead Lam
guage in City's Schools,
Says DR.. John L. Tildsley

State Senator George A. Slater's
charge that the Kaiser undoubtedly
had paid agents among the teachers
in the public schools of New York CITY
has started the Board Of Education on
another effort to seek out and punish
disloyalists and German propagandists
working in the guisc of instructors.
Arthur S. Somers, president of the
board, said last night that the Sena-
tors statement had just been brought
to his attention, and that he would
refer it to-day to DR.. J John l.. Tildsley.
associate superintendent in charge of
high schools, for investigation.
"lf there are teachers who are dis
loyal and teachers who are actually
in the pay of Germany we must reach
them he declared. "I have formed
no opinion regarding Mr.. Slatcr's state
ment, and will await the result of DR..
Tlldsley's inquiry
To Ask Slater for Proof
DR.. Tildsley, who recently completed
a driVe against pacifism among the
nlgh school teaching staffs, said his
nrst act in the coming investigation
would be to ask Senator Slater Tor any
in1ormatlon re may have concerning
teachers who are violating the cspion-
age act.
Il have no direct evidence that there
are paid agents of Wilhelmstrasse
among the high school teachers" he
ADDED, but, in view of Germany's con-
slstent policy Of planting spies every
where, l would not be at all surprised
II we were to find them in the city's
schools"
DR.. Tildsley also asserted that Ger
man was fast becoming a dead lam
guage so far as It's study in the schools
was concerned. Commenting on reports
to DR.. John II. Finley, State Commissions
er of Education, that many schools in
other cities of the state would have
no beginners classes in German next
term, he declared the same might soon
be SAID of New York City.
French and Spanish Popular
French and Spanish are fast SUP.
planting the language Of the enemy
among the students, DR.. Tildsley said
and it is understood that organized
efforts will be made to encourage the
study of both, to promote international
gooo"lll and understanding between
the United States and France and help
ing our trade relations with the great
Spanish countries.
The Eastern District High School. in
Brooklyn, was cited as showing the de-
cline of German as study Last year
IN that school there were twelve in
structors in German, six in Spanish and
four in French. Since September the
students of German have dropped from
! l.160 to 688, while the enrolment in the
Spanish classes has Increased from 400
to 1906.
The popularity of Spanish" said DR..
W. I: Vlymen, principal of the Eastern
District school, "is due to the consistent
advertising it has received during the
last four or five years as the LANGUAGE
of American trade"
Germany long ago realized what
trade benefits were to be derived from
knowledge Of Spanish. For that reason
many. of the teachers of German in
New York public schools, if permitted.
have only to switch from their fast
dying regular classes to rapidly grow
ing new classes in Spanish. But Dr.
Vlymen declared last night that this
vas no indication that the German
teachers were carrying on propaganda
against the substitution Of French for
lhelr own language in the schools.
Many speak French equally we'll"
ne SAID, land could teach that languaro
with the same facility as Spanish ;,