Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1919-12-11
NJ. E. PREACHERS
FOR school CODE
Also Object to Teaching of
Foreign Languages to
Children
AMERICA FIRST
INSISTED UPON

Endorsement OF Or. Carlisle l.. Hub
bard's defense OF the State School Code
against objections voiced by William
NJ. Connolly has been given by the VIII
mington Methodist Ministerial Associa-
ton. The Methodist ministers OF the
city favor emphasis upon the teaching
OF English as tho only language to be
used I'm private or public schools OF
Delaware up TO and including the sixth
grade. The resolution as prepared by
the standing committee on resolutions.
Or. Robert Watt, Or. C. L. Hubbard
and the Rev George White Dawson.
has been adopted by the association.
The resolution follows
IL having come to the notice OF the
Methodist Episcopal Ministerial Asso-
citation that at the meeting In the New
Century Club recently, where the new
school code was under discussion, for
mer Senator William NJ Connolly
raised the question that certain provi-
siOns OF the code would work hardship
In the case OF private schools because
they would be required 70 report to the
proper authorities relative TO the NUM-
Der Of days OF attendance on the part
OF the pupils in those schools. and
Mr.. Connolly made further objection
on the ground that 20 require these
schools OF a private character to teach
nothing but English up 10 the 9th grade
was also a hardship In that these chill
dren could not be taught their mother
tongue as was their right, we, through
our committee, desire 10 call attention
10 the following facts:
First, In a Democracy like that OF the
American Republic, with It's form OF
government whose powers are vested IN
the sovereign people; all educational In
stitutlons that have 20 do with the
training Of the rising generation shouiu
be made responsible 10 the authorities
in whom the people have vested TIE
right and power OF supervision In All
matters that appertain to the Intellect
ual training OF the children OF the sew
eral communities where schools OF the
grade Of our public schools have place
for
secondly. it is manifestly absurd and
as unsafe as It Is absurd, that private
or parochial schools which opTate
under charters granted by the sta'e
are to be exempt from the principles
that apply in the regulation, OF the
public schools. This would be. class
legislation OF The most agg awaited type,
and would at the same Time make an
unfair discrimination 10 favor OF paro-
chial and private schools as against
the public schools, and
Thirdly, we desire TO record our dis
appreciation OF the attack made upon
the new School Code. upon these
grounds. for we believe that to dis
crlmlnate against our public schools
in favor OF parochial schools Is unfair
and un-American, and
Further. we wish TO state In most
emphatic fashion that we hold that
our public school system is one Of the
bulwarks Of our national life, and that
anv influence either ecclesiastical or
civil that makes against our public
school system. is fraught with danger
and menace TO our American instltu-
lions. for It is striking at the very
foundations Of those Institutions upon
which our Republic rests, and
We further state that the advocacy
OF the teaching Of any other than Eng
lish tongue in the period embraced
within the first six grades OF any school
parochlal or otherwise is un-American
and unsafe. We are led to express as
constituent that in this day wlcn
emerging from the blood and smoke OF
a world war In which America played
such a glorious part that any citizen
who claims TO be a 100 per cent. Amir
/ lean should dream OF advocating the
/ teaching to children our future citizens
any tongue other than that Of the ma
/ ton whose institutions are TO extend
toward them the protection OF law and
good order. and do not hesitate 20 say
1 that this bald proposal 10 teach. the
children In these elementary schools
any tongue other than that OF our Re
public should be sternly rebuked by an
indignant citizenship.
II the children OF those who speak a
/ tongue other than the Englinsh tongue
i are 10 De taught their own Ian
gIIage let It be In the home and not IN
| the school room, for TO do otherwise
| is 10 foster in the minds of those chill
dren the idea That America is not the
great and benefcent nation that we
have been taught 10 believe 10 was. but
on par. II not beneath the nations
from which those OF an alien tongue
/ have come.
We have no desire 10 speak disparag-
] ingly OF any people. but we do insist
/ that this nation is superior In the
advantage that It holds out TO all who
come to our shores and 1t is the part
OF both wisdom and patriotism to
| insist that all who come learn 10
speak the languaze OF this country and
that it is also patriotic TO insist that
the children De taught English only
in our elemntary schools whether those
schools be our public schools or pa
rochial or sectarisn schools.
And we record Il az our firm cOnvlc-
ton based on sscertalnable facts that
no sectarian or psrochial school can
! take the place OF our Public School
/ system. and we indulge the hope that
! the day VIII soon come when It VIII be
| compulsory upon all 10 send their chill
I dren 10 the Public School during the
elementary period OF the child's edu-
| cation.
Finally we again insist that it Is as
unpatrlotlc as II IL unreasonable to
claim privileges for private or paroch-
fall schools that are not claimed for our
Public Schools. especially since the lat
fer are more in keeping with a sane
and safe Democracy.