Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-11-26
ROBBED OF BIRTHRIGHT
sPANIsH-AME RlcAN CHILDREN
NOT GIVEN FULL EQUIP
MENT FOR CITIZENSHIP
ALBUQUERQUE suPERINTEND.
ENT WILL HEAD @scHooL-
MASTERS cLURn

In an address before the New Mes
leo Educational association conver
tion at albuquerque this morning Dis
trict Attorney Charles W. G. war,
! pleaded for the teaching Of English il
every school OF the state. Mr.. Wards
address in full follows:
Twenty years ago was principal
Of the public schools at Las Cruces
TO the primary room came Spanish,
I American boys Is and 20 years Of
age, eager to learn the language OF
the country. My primary teacher was
an excellent Spanish scholar, but
instructed that she should under no
circumstances use a word Of that lam
suage in her school room. The use
OF the Spanish language on the school
ground was forbidden. Before the
school year closed those grown boys
and younger boys and girls, who en-
tered school knowing only their own
language, were speaking very fair
English They learned ais a baby
learns its mothers tongue the only
effectual way to acquire any language.
But what impressed me most was
The earnestness with which these
tboys and girls applied themselves Il
the acquisition of the new tongue. I
said then to myself and to others
Within generation every boy and
girl in this state will be speaking
the English language But 90 years
have flown by. My optimistic predic-
tion entirely lacks fulfillment. New
Mexico--I am not saying the schools
New Mexico has failed in its duty
to the Spanish American boys and
girls Of the state / know whereof /
speak For ten years have lived in
a Spanish American district. MY work
takes me to all parts Of three coun-
ties where in the rural districts, Eng
ish is rarely ever heard, in school on
out Of it Also | have travelled quite
extensively in other counties. | have
made a practice OF visiting every
school could reach, talking with the
teachers, examining the progress Of
the pupils.
The Sisters schools and the Mission
schools are accomplishing excellent
results. In the public schools, in too
many instances, merely the musk is
given the pupils without the corn
the form of English language without
the substance. The children are
taught to read English words, having
in most instances little or no knowl-
edge of their meaning. They are
growing up in positive ignorance of
the language they must acquire in or
der to have any chance for advance
ment in this state and nation.
do not underestimate the impor-
tance Of the Spanish language. How
ever the child will not forget his own
tongue. Every pupil In the state
should be afforded opportunity to
learn. But assert that the first. I
most important, most positive duty Of
the public schools today is the proper
teaching Of the English language in
the Spanish districts. | know there
are educators who tell you that unless
you spendsyour school time in teach-
ing evfsrs eirl saw 8 plank ard cyl
cry boy to thread needle and cook
an omelette. our educational system
is going to ruin | am old fashioned /
enough still to believe that the high
est aim Of the public school is to train,
to discipline the mind, as viii de-
velop the child into q thinking and
being. qualified to achieve
success IN any line Of endeavor he
may afterwards pursue But be that
IS IT may you cannot build your roof
until you have laid your foundations