Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-03-28
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South Dakota Legislature Takes
Step in Advance on Subject
Certificates For All
Teachers.

Pierre, >. D., March q. -lnspired by
tho sentiment aroused in favor of elm
mating tho German language from
school work In the United States the
South Dakota house Went a little fur
Their .ban originally contemplated. 1t
made restrictions apply with equal
force TO ell foreign languages. through
:; declaration for the use OF the English
language only in school work up to the
eighth grade.
In tho high school courses the use of
foreign languages is permitted for the
study of sue languages, but not for
conducting other branches.
General and open privileges are con
tinued in collegiate work.
Although the measure passed the
house by an easy majority. many of the
members view it as one which may oc-
throughout the state. with possible po-
litical reflections. The chief kick on
the measure, OF course. is it's applica-
ton to private and parochial schools.
which are fairly numerous in Soutl, Da-
kota. and some of which. do make use
grades. The institutions of this kind
which mako use OF the German Ian
guage are said to be less numerous
than those making use Of the Scandi-
naVian languages.
All Must Have Certificates.
One of the side issues of the
measures %arousing the first important
division of sentiment In the hous had
no direct connection with the language
question. 1t establishes the require
ment that teachers in private and paro-
chial schools must have the same quail
fications as teachers in public schools,
duly evidenced through the issuance Of
teachers certificates. Representative
Mcfarland Of Wetertown, sought to
have this special provision eliminated,
leaving oil provisions as to language
intact.
Following a debate in which no MEM
Der expressed objection to adhering to
he English languages ir tho grades.
McFarland's amendment was defeated
by vote of 62 to 80.
Foreign Born Men Insist.
Without further argument the bill
vas adopted by a vote Of 76 to z.
An interesting feature OF the discus
sion was that the committee chairman
who reported the bill for passage. Ben
son of Moody. was foreign born. and
most of those who spoke in favor OF
the bill either were foreign born or Of
foreign born %parentage.
Representative Swanson, who talks
with marked brogue. and knows it.
brought down h house in offering
himself as an example. He came to
the United States when Is years old.
III / had attended an English language
school after coming to this country
instead Of going to q foreign language
school. / could explain these Aberdeen
Normal appropriations SO you could
all understand NE BETTER" he said.
Legislators of foreign birth or foreign
parentage, in discussing the English
language bill privately. express the
belief that members of their respective
nationalities will feel some resentment
ment will be held in check on account
Of war sentiments aroused in the Unit
ed States. Within q few years the as
sert the resentment will die q natural
death and good results will continue In
definitely.
One member of Norwegian origin said
on the floor. But for the war this
legislature could not have tackled the
language question without raising a
! storm Of protest. Now that a special
opportunity Is given into our hands
lets make use Of It,"
Another effort will be made in the
| senate to secure the elimination asked
lobby rumor is that Governor Norbeck
is inclined to give his moral support to
the proposal.
The contention Is being emphasized
that the side issue injected into the
language bill is not war emergency
legislation and can be left to q regular
=. session. A considerable number of peo-
pie also who wonld feel oniy passing
! interest in the institution of the Ian
guage reform. will regard the addition
al provision ns a slap in the face. In
short the lobby argument is that the
language provision will make enough
political trouble in this campaign y.ar
without the introduction Of the special
f, compilation