German-English School (San Antonio, Tex.) Records, 1858-1893
Description
One of the earliest efforts to establish a comprehensive system of public education in San Antonio, the German-English School was established in 1858 by German-speaking immigrants to Texas, who solicited subscriptions to finance the institution. The school aimed to educate the children of the recent immigrants, emphasizing proficiency in the language of their adopted country while retaining elements of the language and culture of their homeland. Instruction in both German and English was part of the curriculum, as were geography, writing, history, arithmetic, Spanish, and music. While German-American families provided the core of support for the school, students and financial contributions came from throughout the community.
Minutes, correspondence, financial records, student registers, lesson plans, reports, legal documents and clippings are part of the German-English School records, documenting administrative and classroom activities. Records cover much of the life of the institution, beginning with an outline of its proposed organization from 1858 and continuing through 1885.