ENGLISH IN GERMANY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13489, 10 January 1908, Page 3

ENGLISH IN GERMANY.

A great ccmplijnent, if not to the English language, yvt to the political and commercial position of Gneat Britain in the* modern wor-d, lias just- been paid by Germany. Hitherto, French lias been compulsory as :i subject in all {rennan gymnasiums ; but the Association of Merchants and aMnufaettirers in Berlin, arid the representatives of si.Tty-fiix great coaranercial schools, presented petition to the newMinister of Education praying that instruction in English should be made compulsory. 'lhe reasons for this request are almost more remarkable than the request it elf. iSay the petitioners: "At the present day . . . (he wide-ipr.-ad influence of Kngli:-ii culture, English institutions, and the English language on the one side, and the want of knowledge thereof in (Jermaiiy on the other side, are most striking. A German need not sal' hii foot in English tenitory to discover, to hi? tegret, lion' great this want of knowledge is, and, above all, to recognise his inability to speak and read English. We may lay stress on the necessity for the merchant and the engineer to loliow the Knglisli .specialist Press, for the student to read Knglisli literature. Our teacheis of political economy at our universities deploie most keenly the fact that the majority of their students do not understand Knglisli, and are, therefore, not in

a position to read in the origimd the works of the founders and chief representatives of scientific political economy; and the same holes good as regards Jaw and history.- In the long run, it will be impossible to forego a knowledge of the English language and literature, which a':e a sine qua non for the acquisition of the knowledge of English history, of English business methods, and of the English Constitution, and of English colonial policy of expansion—in (short, of all the factors through wliich England has become great, and' with the assistance of which she retains her dominating position todav."

Tim petitioners do not venture to suggest what subjects should be struck out to make room for English ; but the Minister of Education has decided that, question; he- hfji struck out Fienc-h ! Hie who!-? incident is the most expressive compliment that can be imagined to the posi.irm Gre.it Britain holds alike in the realm of commerce. of literature, and of pontics.— (- I.if'-.'')