Bennett Law

 

WAUPACA POST

January 30, 1890

 

The Bennett Law

 

            The following from the Wausau Torch of Liberty hits the nail on the head:  “Our German friends who oppose the Bennett law are the most inconsistent reasoners who ever appeared before the public.  They invade the public schools with their language, demand that one sixth of the time of the public school be given to such teaching, and that a German teacher at a large salary be employed and paid from the public monies.  They see no wrong in this, but kick like steers when a law is enacted that requires them to give their children just a little English education. Not only do they invade the public schools, but in some cases they entirely monopolize them.  Under the color of law, and the pretence of teaching English schools in districts of this county, they have drawn public money and kept up what were in fact nothing more nor less than church schools.  Teachers who have been employed for years in such schools, have been brought into court as witnesses, and were obliged to speak through an interpreter in order to make themselves understood by court and jury.  This class of teachers, this class of foreign born, are the kickers against the Bennett law.  For them to impose upon English schools, for them to steal public money under the pretence of teaching English schools, seems to be perfectly consistent, but when the people pass a law giving to every child the right and the opportunity to learn little English, they go frantic, and howl about constitution and sacred right.”