Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-13
German in the Schools.

German in the Schools.
The question Of whether the study
.pf German should be continued in the
District high schools has been put up
to the board of education in manner
that calls for decision. The Commits
sioners have referred to the board the
bill lately introduced by Senator King
prohibiting the further teaching Of the
language of the national enemy, and
letters have been received from citi-
Gems protesting against the continu-
ance of German classes. A decision
should be promptly reached.
Today throughout the country boards
of education are moving to eliminate
German classes. Recently in New
York the board voted unanimously to
stop all new classes next autumn. Sim
liar action has been taken in Philadel-
phia. The record Of German-elimina-
tion grows longer daily, and without
distinction as to section. In practical
: " every community the question is be-
ing discussed, either informally or
formally, and other actions along the
same line are probable before the be-
ginning of the new school year.
Educators are loath to stop the teach
ing Of language on political grounds.
But the immediate conditions tran
scend ordinary reasons for academic
Preferences. 1t is known that the
maintenance of the German classes in
our schools is one of the avowed pur-
poses Of organizations of so-called
German-Americans. A recently dis
banded organization Of this character
conducted an insistent propaganda to
this end. The object is to prevent the
diseontinuance of study that serves
to keep the German ideals alive in this
country.
So far as the study Of this language
is elective, the matter might be safely
left to the choice of parents and pupils.
But unfortunately a cloud Of false rea
soning has been spread over the sub
ject. Children are not competent, as
. rule, to judge whether they should
adopt a study which involves the pos
sibility Of impairment of their loyalty
to the country. The parents Of Ger
man birth or extraction naturally want
their children to study the language
Of their fathers for sentimental rea-
sons, at the best. But why should the
American public schools be used to per-
petuate this language when the whole
power of the nation is being exested
to destroy the militaristic power of
the government whose dearest wish,
formally proclaimed, is to spread the
German speech throughout the worlds
Mischievous reactions from the
teaching Of German in the high
schools Of this city have been reported.
Partisanship, not merely for the Ian
guage, but actually for the German
cause, has been disclosed in certain
schools. This, Of course, is an intoler-
able condition. It should never be
permitted for moment. Yet it has
developed, and it will continue as long
Is German is taught. Debates within
classes on the propriety of teaching
German have occurred, with the result
Of affirmative decisions, gravely affect
ing the minds Of the pupils. Debates
have even occurred within classes on
the question Of Alsace- Lorraine, with
the verdict reached that France has no
claim to those provinces.
- Such are q few Of the unfortunate
results Of German-teaching in Wash
ington. The board Of education, upon
investigation, will doubtless discover
others. Public sentiment is strongly
against the continuance of the classes.
II the matter were put to a vote it
would be Overwhelmingly answered
against any further instruction in the
schools of the language which is today
snathema to the American people.
Let the board Of education mark out
Its own course in this matter before
Congress acts.