Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1919-03-14

~ me seventh grade, and are then
transferred into the public school.
The teaching is all in the English
language, except for religion, which is
Taught IN Norwegian for those who
prefer 1t. Experience has demonstrated
to the satisfaction OF the school
authorities that the children from this
school are fully as we'll drilled in the
use OF English, and as well advanced
III general learning, as the ones
having attended the public school
throughout. in the lower grades. In
me other congregation a parochial
school offers a short course in religion
III the summer months, the children
attending the public school during the
regular school year. This latter
method is generally practiced also i'll
the country congregations here and
pretty much among the Norwegians
as a whole, as there are very few FULL
course parochial schools. There are
indications, however, that the time is
approaching when the teaching OF
religion will be left entirely to the
sunday school; in TACT. II is being so
lett already in hundreds OF congrega-
tons. To preclude any m%isunder-
standing as to the language employed
IN the parochial schools IN DEBORAH,
! may mention that teachers and
children alike, at play and at work,
use English exclusively, except in
cases incident to the teaching of
religion, and they did so many, many
years before the Governors proclama-
ton of last May. In fact, it is a rare
occurrence to meet a child who can
Snaaly anytb;.~ I,. EnnISh Nat
according to Mr.. Young, there is more
Norwegian spoken here today than
in fifty years.
Conditions in the country districts
may be somewhat different in certain
localities. Opportunities for the older
people to acquire a more intimate
knowledge of English have naturally
been smaller in country communities
than i'll the towns. Consequently,
one may find that the children speak
Norwegian t o their elders, while in
variably using English among them
selves. The danger to America be-
cause of the use OF the Norwegian
language in Winnesheik County may
be measured by the fact tina. our
young folks know about as much of
Norway and things Norwegian as the
editor Of the Des Moines Capital.
But the older people Mr.. Young
will say the ones who do not speak
or read English to any considerable
extent. how is it possible for them
to know anything about American
customs. institutions and ideals? i
will tell him. The miracle is chiefly
due to the much abused so-called
foreign press Instead OF being
prosecuted and slandered. the majority.
of the foreign papers deserve thanks
for having performed a vital patriotic
service these many years. | am not.
however, talking for the foreign
papers in other languages. because !
am not sufficiently familiar with them;
but ] a t%ruthfully say that the
Scandinavian press in this country has
rendered a service to the nation which
could be rendered in no other way.
Instead Of retarding the Americaniza-
ton of their readers, these papers
have been a forceful factor in pro
noting it. The prevailing opinion OF
many not familiar with the question
that all foreign papers are published
for the purpose OF propagating foreign
ism i'll America is. as far as the
Scandinavian press is concerned, so
absolutely unfounded that the sus-
picion amounts to rank injustice. 1t
is true, they contain news from the
Scandinavian countries. beside Ameri-
can news. They also print news from
England Russia and from China.
like other reputable American papers.
The Scandinavian news is not even
the predominant feature.
The great Norwegian paper in
DEBORAH. which Mr.. Young would put
out of business, if he had the power,
invites the closest inspection of its
files. and I can say positively that we
will satisfy any reasonably unpreJu-
diced mind that through its news
service during the forty-hve years OF
its existence, through its editorials,
and its different features calculated to
be OF help to the immigrant reader III
grasping American ideals and ideas,
it hasF in spirit and in practice, been
a faithful American journal. And
what is true of DEBORAH Poster is
true of the rest Of the Scandinavian
papers. Some think that we dis
courage learning the English language:
On the contrary. we urge that all
learn it as quickly and as well as they
possibly can. and have always done so.
Mr.. Young need not worry about
our prospects of being put cut OF
business. We will continue as long as
there is A demand for our service. and
the United States Constitution Is the
law of the land. When the demand
ceases. we feel that we can quit with
the consciousness OF having performed
a useful mission for iii country. 1t
matters not in the least financially
to DEBORAH Poster whether or not
the legislature prohibits the publ
cation of county proceedings. III
foreign papers. The amount involved
is insignificant. and we shall lose no
Subscribers by reaso of such act. But
we certainly fail 70 see how an attempt
at Furnishing loyal and faithful WORK
and stamping Legitimate undertaklhgs
as an outcast class, Will help Amer
canizatiou. venture to say that: IKE
the unkind and unjust attack OF the
Des Monies Capital, such legislation
will injurc the cause winch 1t Is
claimed that it is calculated to
strengthen II is of a nature to create,
i'm the minds of the immigrants, ana
their American born children, the
impression that. in spite of the best
endeavors OF which they are capable:
they are treated unfairly and looked
upon as a distinct undesirable element.
II will not in any sense OF the o
stimulate interest in. or promote inc
knowledge OF the English language
among those people or anybody else
When the CaDital crowns ITS un-