Language and Religion.

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.