The issue was a mixed one: language and religion. The attacks began first on
the religious issue/parochial system.
- 1. Ohio 1853: bill introduced to require ALL children to attend
public
schools 3 months/year. Rejected.
- 2. 1873: Cincinnati attempts to tax Roman Catholic schools (note
original Ohio law had allowed teaching of German in German if parents requested
it. Local option choice of subjects and language. From 1834 on growth of
German (bilingual) schools. Louisiana copied this for French.)
- 3. Minnesota: parochial schools had no legal status for years
until
1911,
Germans, Scandinavians got it changed.
- 4. Nebraska 1911: attempted something parallel to Ohio 1853
- 5. Oregon 1922: starting 1920, harsh law against non-English
press
required
bilingual editions of all material published in another language.
- Oregon 1922: Passed law requiring that from 1926 onward, all
children 8-15
had to
attend public school only.
- 7. 1924: Florida, CA, OH, Mich, MT, WA followed
suit.
- 8. 1925: Case of ``Society of Sisters vs. Pierce". Supreme Court
ruled against Oregon law (and all others) that tried to ban parochial schools.
by requiring attendance in public schools, even if minimally.
For more background on this issue,
read
an article by me on the issue of language shift in the
German-American Church.
Harold Schiffman
9/17/2000