Year: 1869

country may be 1nduced TO forgive ana
forget his junkettng at other altering
places.


The German Language in the Public
schools.


Editors Of the Register:


On Wednesday last the Board of Ed
ucation unanimously passed q resolu-
ton to introduce the study of the Ger
man language in to our public schools at
the beginning of the next scholastic
year. Some people cannot perhaps at
present see the advantages resulting
from this charge, and may not, there
fore, sufficiently appreciate the wisdom
of the Board in this matter. Again,
some of those on whose behalf the Pc
tition was introduced, may possibly not
receive the boom with sufficient graft
tude, and may even oppose the plan in
teaded fer their benefit. Fearing that
feelings such as these on the part of
some people might possibly interfere
with the successful carrying out of the
plan at present proposed, | would beg
leave, Messrs. Editors, to submit to the
public very plain and simple state
ment of my views On the subject.


I If We glance at our congregational
schools, we find them almost eve erywhere
in a sickly condition, not perhaps so
much with regard to numbers as classi.
fication and discipline, Even in large
cities, where an efficient staff of teach
ers is employed in German schools, so
that each branch receives proper atten-
tion. the study of the English language
has ever been, and continues to be, "a
secondary matter. But in most of the
German congregational schools, as is
the case in Wheeling, only one teacher
Is employed, whose duty 1T is to instruct
onIy in German the entire school, COM
posed of pupils varying in age from six
20 fourteen. In the first place, under
snch circumstances the children cannot
possibly make satisfactory progress even
in the branches professed to be taught.
In the second place, their instruction in
English is totally neglected; and IN the
third place, since there Is no compul-
sion on the parents, the children are
sent to school or kept at home, as may
seem convenient. From all this there
results very poor instruction, very un-
satisfactory discipline, and very irregu-
lar attendance.


On the other hand, the Public School
system, though perhaps not perfect, IS
vet decidedly keeping pace with the
march of progress in this country, and
is thorough and effective. 1t guaran
tess a sound education to all, without
the additional expense required In con-
gregational schools; it is enabled also
to furnish as many OF the very best
teachers as the classification of the
pupils according to age and ability may
iustify, and since it does not depend tor
its continued existence upon the month
ly or quarterly payments of parents
who at one time feel disposed to send
their children, and at another to keep
them away, it may be and Is perfectly
independent. Hence it follows that we
find in the Public Schools much more
thorough and extensive course OF In
struction, q much better state'of disci-
pline, which is the result of their inde-
pendence, while the municipal authority
with which they are armed enables
them to enforce a much more regular
and steady attendance. 1t is source
of regret that by many Germans in this
country the English language is consid
cred of less Importance than the German,
and it is not unusual to find children
naturally bright and talented utterly
unable to read or write letter IN the
language almost universally employed
around them. Parents with such views
are guilty of gross neglect in bringing
up their children in such Ignorance OF
the language of their adopted country.


On the other hand the advantages Of
fered by this change to the American
children ought not to be overlooked
America is fortunately home for what
ever people on the face of Gods eartn
desire to enjoy religious and civil I'D.
erty, and hence millions have emigrated
to her attractive soil, and millions are
on the way. The great majority OF
these are Germans, VINO bring with
them from the fatherland their honesty,
their industry and their language. 1t
would be difficult, nay impossible in
most cases for these emigrants to acquire
with their citizenship the ready use OF
a foreign tongue. Most of them are
advanced in years, obliged to toll daily
for the means of subsistence, and able
10 devote but little time to the study Of
the English language. Yet these pupils
come In daily contact with Americans,
work for them in their shops and
stores, and call for aid on American
physicians and lawyers. German girls,
on account of their steadiness and in
dustrt, are hired as servants in Ameri-
can households, and Germans of both
sexes coming to this country, and will
ing to work, find employment very
readily on their arrival. Ali this proves
that the Germans and Americans are
mutually dependent on each other, and
II this be SO, it is self-evident that it
would materially add to the comfort
and happiness Of the German if he
could speak to his American employer.


and receive in return kind word in his


native language. And on Sfhe other


hand, that it would be very beneficial


to the American doctor, lawyer, or mer.


chant, if he could fully understand his


German patient, client, OF customer


fthere be anything that would have


a tendency to promote thorough and


cordial union between the two nation
alitles, 1T must be the cultivation of in.
innate relations between the ysnng; an
cad that cannot be better attained than
BY teaching them in the same school.
room, and in the languages. In this
way they will best learn TO know and
respect each other, to understand each
others feelings, and enter into each
others sentiments, and the spirit of
philanthropy and patriotism will be en-
faroad and ennobled.


In conclusion it may be added that
the closing of the congregational
schools need not Interfere with any re-
ligious instruction that the pastors may
deem it fit to give to the children of
their charge. Other congregations can,.
~ Il fnllnu, fha La