Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-02-17
Radical Measures Embody
Most Extreme Views on
Subject of BiIinguaI Educa-
tion in New Mexico.
SPECIAL TEXTBOOKS
ARE MADE COMPULSORY
Emergency Clause Is Attached
and Job of Every Teacher in
State Is Endangered if Act
Goes Through

Santa Fe. Feb, 16.-The mouse lnlA
afternoon. under suspension OF the
rules. passed the two Spanish-Amer-
iean education bills introduced by
Mr.. Sena. They are house bills lso
and 1873, and the first passed py
vote of 32 TO 10, after a brief debate
and the second by vote OF 3S to H.
almost without any remarks at all
H. b. 1873 provides for the APP
pointment by the governor of bi-
partisan board of Spanish examiners
10 consist of three persons wen
versed in the Spanish languaGe. Inc
members shall serve six years, new
member TO be appointed every TWO
years. This board shall examine all
applicants who desire certificate
touching their competency to teach
the Spanish language. This certil-
cate shall authorize the holder 10
teach the Spanish language in the
educational institutions of the state
and in the county and city high
schools for five years. such persons
must. however, be able to speak, read
and write the English language cor
rectly. The Zee for such certificate ls
fixed al IS. Examinations shall be
held annually on the second Monday
in July. Members of the examining
board are to receive $40 day and
cents mile for attendance at the
board meetings, which shall not ex-
ceed three a year
Bi-lingual Books Forbidden.
section 4 prohibits the use OF BIZ
Iingual books in teaching Spanish in
the normal and high school to span
ish-speaking students, and the fol-
lowing books must be used: Read S
history Of New Mexico. the grammat-
ical compendiums Of NavaE ana OF
Bello. and q grammar of the span
ish academy. as well as Mantilla S
first. second and third readers. For
English speaking students bi-hnsual
books may be used, prescribed by the
state board of education.
In all public schools IN the schooi
districts of the state where % per
cent or more OF the children OF age
are Spanish speaking, the teaching
of the Spanish language Is maze
compulsory. sThe course in Spanish
instruction in such schools to span
ish-speaking children shall consist OF
Spanish reading, Spanish wrltlns,
dictation, composition, grammar ana
translating. and the above named
Spanish books must be used
However, both languages must be
used, in all primary schools where
instruction in Spanish IS compulsory
and pupils shall be advanced from
first to the second and third readers
in both spanish and English. In dis
tricts where less than 80, but not
more than Is per cent of The chll-
dren are Spanish, instruction III span
ish shall bc compulsory only only pc
ttion of the parents or guardians OF
such children in the primary grade.
The emergency clause is attached
10 the act so that it Will apply to the
present school term if it passes.
Messrs. Holland and Skeen raised
the objection that there are not
enough Spanish speaking teachers
available TO dlsplace English school
masters at present on the job IN
many districts. Mr. Chaves Luna
eloquently congratulated Mr.. Sena for
his noble work in preserving the
tongue of his ancestors in this state
Scholarships In Spanish.
II. Il. 1873 provides that annually
on august 2S the superintendent OF
public instruction shall appoint fifty
teachers TO scholarships In the three
New Mexico normal schools for ont
year, but not more than six shall be
appointed from one county. only
teachers able to speak. read ant
write huently both Spanish and Eng
ilsl snail be eligible and they mus
nave taught at least ten months un
ger third grade or higher certifi
Gates, must be between is and q
years OF age, must be recommended
10y the county school superintendent
aud must pledge themselves to teacl
at least two Years in the rural dis
tricts of the state. For the purpose
of the act the state is divided int,