Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-23

The suggestion advanced by President
Cox of the, board Of education at the
recent meeting of, the board that further
efforts be made to, introduce Spanish into
the high school course of studies deserves
to be pursued energetically by all the
local educational authorities. In the
present circumstances knowledge Of
Spanish is a valuable asset for any young
man about to engage in an active career.
The high school graduate who can speak
and understand that language has bet
ter chance at finding remunerative en-
ployment in commercial and technical lines
than another who has devoted himself to
one of the dead languages or even to
French or German. Owing to the Ameri-
can territorial extension resulting from
the war of 1898 and to the efforts to
extend American trade throughout the
countries to the south of the United
States. there is a demand for the services
of bright ooung men who can communal
cate with the people of Central and South
America and the insular possessions in
their own speech. Not only In the con-
sular service is there an urgent necessity
for the presence of Spanish speaking
workers Engineering companies, rail-
way corporations, concession holding en-
terprises and exporters all require as
sistants SO qualified.
An earlier effort to establish Spanisl,
classes in the high schools failed because
OF the lack of pupils volunteering to take
the course. 1t would seem to be the part
Of good educational administration to put
Spanish among the required studies in at
least two Of the high schools, the business
and technical In those schools there is
comparatively little incentive for the
student to take the so-called classical
studies in preparation for collegiate work
From the Business High School the
majority Of the graduates 60 directly into
commercial life, where they put to its full
use all that they have acquired during
their years of study. From the Technical
High School the graduates pass in large
measure directly into working careers or
to higher institutions of technical instruc-
ton. the entrance requirements of which
do not include the classical LANGUAGES
II the Spanish course is to become q part
Of the practical work of the schools de-
signed to fit pupils for their real needs OF
after life it will probably be In these two
branches of the high school system.
There Is at present only one educational
institution in this country where the
study of Spanish is compulsory. That is
West Point. where are trained the future
Officers of the army. Their need of that
language is obvious now that the United
States has gone far afield in its admins
trative work. The value to the armv Of
today of the Spanish instruction given II
West Point cannot be estimated. In the
same manner compulsory course Of
Spanish at the two local high schools
named would doubtless in a few years
demonstrate its worth to the students In
terms Of better positions in numerous
lines of activity. American interests
furthermore. would be advanced by the
training OF large numbers OF young men
and women in the language chiefly spoken
by 100000 people living Immediately to
the south OF the United States, with
whom this country is destined to have
continuously closer political and COM
mercial relations.