Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-03-28
WOULD BAR ALIEN
TONGUES IN SCHOOLS
Bill Now Pending in Legis-
lature Prohibits Teach
ing of Foreign Lam
guages in Grades.

1
Within short time the state legis-
lature will determine, for the present
at least, Wisconsin's policy in respect
to teaching foreign languages in the
public, private and parochial schools
Of the state.
A measure that sought to prohibit
foreign language instruction in the
public high schools has already been
defeated. This action was sound and
wise. In our high schools, colleges
and universities the students
should have an opportunity to study
foreign languages if they wish to do
so. Nobody of intelligence wishes to
eliminate foreign language study OF
and by itself, so long as it is wisely
and properly conducted. Its cultural
value and practical advantage cannot
be denied.
But we must realize that many
children do not finish the grad,
courses, and that most children do
not go beyond the grades. Surely
these children should not be obliged
or allowed to divide their limited
time between foreign language and
the language of the country.
A working knowledge of our Ian
guage is the indispensable aim of the
grade schools. It is of the utmost
necessity both to the child and-to the
nation. Without this knowledge the
child will be seriously handicapped
through life, in work or business, and
he cannot possibly become tie eff
cient citizen that he should be. A
common language is necessary for the
promotion of national unity and
| ideals.
Some members of the legislature ex-
hibit a disposition TO prohibit the
teaching of foreign languages in the
public graded schools only, leaving
private and parochial schools to teach
foreign languages if they please.
This plan is not fair to the pupil who
attends a private or parochial school.
Nor is it wise national policy.
In insisting upon the study of one
language, the vernacular, in all ele-
mentary schools, there is no purpose,
no desire, to interfere with religious
| liberty. There can be no possible
objection to giving religious instruc-
tion to parochial school pupils in the
| language that they understand.
But if it is against sound policy to
teach foreign languages in public
graded schools it is equally unsound
to teach any foreign tongue in pri-
vate or parochial graded schools. For
all children should gain real
knowledge of their country's Ian
guage The immigrants child, in
particular, would be in a much better
position to win success in life and to
become an understanding and eff
Gent citizen.
Parents have rights which the state
must respect, but the state has rights
which the parents must recOgn Zer
1t is not only right for the state to
insist that all it's future citizens shall
learn the country's language before
they learn any other language, but it
is national necessity. Nothing
could be more obvious than this. 1t
must be equally apparent that the
nations concern in all it's children,
it's future citizens, is identical, no
matter what school they may attend.
The question is vital and urgent
It will never be settled until tits
settled in accordance with the needs
and interests of the nation. Failure
by the legislature to meet the situa-
tion will bring the question to the
fore as a political issue in the next
state campain. From every point of
view such a development would be as
deplorable as it is unnecessary.