Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1910-05-08

ton. New York. and MSS Doty. from
Chicago. During the year they have
had an attendance of something like
$50 pupils. all Mexicans with the ex-
eeption of twelve Americans. The
first. second third and high third
grades are taught, and next year, rhe
/ fourth grade win be placed I'm this
school, making il possible for the
children to 20 to school close at
home. When 7 asked how these chill
liked TO come TO school. each and ev-
cry teacher sasd that judging from
their own experience the Mexican
child liked school work a bit bet
ter than the American child. and
was not half so hard to keep in
school. kli say that they find they
take naturally 10 drawing. painting
and cutting of paper into shapes as
they do in the kindergarten. They
do exceedingly well in the pronunci-
alton Of English, and only when the
child does not grasp the meaning Of
the English word does the teacher
give him the Spanish equivalent.
Here on the border, where il is so
essential that everyone speak both
the English and the Spanish. the
Mexican alone seems to be taxing
advantage of our schools to have his
child taught the English. The Amer
ican boy and girl who plays with the
Mexican child, speaks the Spanish
language readily, but he is not learn
ing 10 spell and write It as the Mex
lean child is learning the English.
which seems a great opportunity lost,
for why should the American not
know the Spanish, if the Mexican
must know the English, both being
here in the border towns. True, the
majority Of the Americans have no
occasion to study Spanish or any
language but their own English, be-
cause they hear no other II we were
surrounded BY neighbors who spoke
different tongues we. too. would be
linguists. The use of but one tongue
is very noticeable to a foreigner who
visits America for the first time.
Some years ago the writer met a
German from Berlin in Kansas City,
making his first visit to America. He
had come 10 the States on business
that took him from New York City
to New Orleans. from there to ST.
Paul, Minnesota, thence TO Kansas
City. In the course OF a brief chat
with him I asked him what one thing
impressed itself on him as distinctly
American? He answered without any
hesitation. the universal use of the
English language. Why, in all my
travels, over thousands OF miles
have heard nothing but the English
whereas in my country you cannot
travel fifty miles without hearing
many tongues. It's ones surround ,ngs
that makes one a linguist-there Is
no reason why We shOdld not speak
TO our neighbor in his own tongue
but Indifference.
The American school system makes
! it possible for all to read and write
/ the English language.
When asked as to whether the par
ents OF these children visited the
schools. the teacher said no, but
then they do not speak English and
if they came would not understand
what we were doing.
Seventh Street School.
The Seventh street school has
about te same number of pupils as
the Fifteenth street school, or about
375. while there are close to 1891 in
the whole district. The teachers In
each building rejoice in the fact that
the years work has passed in the
most harmonious manner, and when
the examinations have been given,
and reports made out, they may each
go to their several homes to rest,
and get ready for another years
work.