The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-16
SHALL WE TEACH GERMAN?

SHALL WE TEACH GERMAN?
In almost every American school building be-
fore this world war came on, children were taught
how to read, write and speak German. Every
high school taught German classes. In some
schools German was compulsory. German So
cieties in America encouraged the teaching OF
German in American schools. German influences
in state legislatures and boards of education were
ever at work in attempts to broaden the scope OF
German study in schools
But when the German rulers engulfed the
world in war many American parents did not want
their children to study the language of the kaiser.
Many school children objected to reading and talk
ing German Many boards of education discon-
tinued German lessons. Many German readers
and other German textbooks were burned
A nationwide movement to eliminate German
from American schools did eliminate it in most
schools practically all elementary schools and IN
many high schools. This movement was bitterly
opposed by the German American Alliance, by all
Germans who opposed Americas entry into the
war; by all German plotters, diplomats, secret
agents and by what influence the German govern
ment could bring to bear against it. Yet it thrlved
and spread even into those school districts largely
populated by those Of German birth or German
parentage.
Few educators or school officials opposed the
widening of this anti-German wave. Most OF them
Joined hands with parents and children in fighting
this insdious bond with which Germanism sought
to link the minds of American school children to
German "kultur.''
But there was one man who opposed the
movement. He favored the teachings of German
in American public schools. In that respect he
was in accord with the German kaiser, with the
German world-dominion propagandists, and with
the defunct German-American Alliance.
That man is Philander Priestly Claxton, United
States commissioner of education.
to eliminate German, but he NOW continues his
opposition.
These are his words:
Il consider the nationwide movement to
eliminate the German language from public
schools and ordinary affairs of social and COM
mercia life, form of hysteria and oppose
such course"
! That is what YOUR national commissioner of
education has to say about, it., That is what he
thinks about it. And that is what he intends do
ing-opposing your movement to eliminate the
language of the kaiser from your schools.
This man Claxton is YOUR employee. He has
been hired by YOUR government to oversee
YOUR schools, and to direct the education of
YOUR children. -.
What is your decision? ..a-.
If you do not want your child to study German.
to read, write and talk German, do you want a
portion of the school taxes you pay spent on Ger
man teachers and German books?
If YOU do not want German in YOUR schools
do you want Claxton at the head of the United
States system of education.
@ If you do not want Claxton there do you think
he ought to resign or should he be kicked out?
s WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Uncle Sam says petticoats are luxury. Wonder
what Miss Columbia thinks about it?
disaster sTares HUN line" Recent reports
favor the substitution Of C for that T!
Seemingly every person outside of Big Business
and the U. s. Senate favors taxing those most
who are able to pay most.
The Socialist vote will be heavy this coming
election-at the federal prison precincts. But it
won't be cast. Nor counted.
What would you do to the kaiser? You might,
1sr : starter, buy . Liberty Bond Sept. q That