Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-07

great deal ~ Interest. during the last
educational meeting Al Albuquerque.
read the Important editorial sou had
IN Jpur paper relative to the teach
lnR of spaniah N our public schools.
IN the Morning Journals issue Of
December ~ and ~, - and -, Hon.
& ". Il. ward daeuaees ia very
able manner the needs 81 New Mexi-
eos schools In your isanc ~ the
cath uitimo. you comment sayorably
on the idea of Mr.. Ward that the
spanish American children should be
tauaht English from the time ts1es en-
ter school" and state that his conten-
ton lis the correct one" Although
you DO not dwell directly ON the IA
vorable bilineuai deas expressed IN
Mr. Wards afiicles especially that 81
the 18th instant wherein he says:
fWhIfe from "a pedagogical stand
point, wholly eolioauial method
which pays No attention to the ver-
nacnlar. would produce the best re-
suits. vet such method would he a
fiat failure. except in the hands Of
an experienced and rcsourceful teach
er Furthermore an ineslimable adj
vantage Of the pillnRunl system IL
that IL will equip the pupil with q
thorough knowledge VI his own Ian
suaEe The ideal Ia New Mexico
should he biiinguol training in every
school, The man IN this country who
b equipped with the two most widely
spoken languages % the globe Is
equipped for success. Here in the
southwest with the spanish-spcaking
peoples reaching southwark from ne
10 the Antarctic ocean, the need isl
doubiy imperative. ! am pleased 90
NOTE your editorial Of the 2ard ~ No
rcmber last In which you declare
The population Of New Mexico Is d.
yided almost equally between those
who speak Spanish and those who
speak English. Why Ia Il not possible
ana highly desirable that the child
ren 81 these people should be taught
To- speak both laneusRes with equal
nuency2 Why should We not be
billngual peoplcg
The ibid ~ spanish speaking par
cufs. wine from his birth has heard
almost nothing but Spanish spoken
and there are very many such IN New
Mcxieo~-is at tn obvious dlsadvan-
iage when the effort Is made TO teach
him in 4 language with which he Is
wholly unfamiliar That this child
should be taught English and taught
Il thoroughly admits Of no discussion.
But isn't IL most unfair 90 him that
MS education should be rammed down
his throat IN language that he does
not understand" and that this to-
gether with your statement in your
editorial Of the gath ultimu, that the
spanish language next 10 the English
II far aud away the most valuable 20
any citizen of the United states. II
differs not Ia what part 81 the union
he may BE located For
those who are really bi-ingual, who
speak both English and spanish flu-
emily. there are great opportunities
In the coming years. New Mexico Is
adyantageously situated in that re-
spect, and the state owes TO It's child
rem opportunity 10 make the most OF
J Us environment" is a matter hearing
favorabiy and significantly on the im-
portant topic which for O.. last three
years i have been discussing before
1 the board Of education. at public, and
educational gatherings keeping II
| sur de tapls." and which has been
under consideration for some time.
in matters affecting the educational
interests and efficacy OF the future
generations.
Eavors Two Languages.
Mr.. Ward, who was opposed during
our educational meeting at Albuauer-
que in 1918 to the teaching of Spanish
or the use Of any bilingual method,
has. since then, been studying the
subject and devotIng a great deal Of
his time 60 dlligent search and pfac-
teal observations in our public
schools. county Institutes, and other
educational institutions, and now Is
sincere advocate 90 the cause which
will rebound untold benefit towards
the development Of the latent inteilec-
Qualities Of the youth of New Mexico
In one OF his articles he suggests that
copies OF my contributions 20 the
Spanish press in the matter under dis
cussion should be furnished to the
English papers II ! find time, will
4 gladly furnish TRANSACTIONS Of The
snme Meanwhile, my efforts viii be
10 embody In this and probable future
! communications all at the salient
points Of my contributions 20 the
! spanish press.
( Nv contention has been, and Is that
1 Spanish and bilingual method
+ should be taught IN our schools, not
i only to make IL possible, bearing in
/ mind the actual conditions IN New
/ Mexico, that the spanish American
child should be afforded the oppor-
! unity Of better mastering the lam
euaec at our country, bnt also, TO give
4 the Anglo American child an equal
opportunity of learning from his very
/ childhood. q language which, In after
years, when be has TO depend on his
own resources and intellectual worth,
may add greatly not only 10 his ne
compllshmrnts. but, nlHo, TO the ac-
, quisition OF something of great n-
trnsic worth. fof as you very truth
I fully state IN Your editorial. IL Is
during childhood that language can
Z he learned with perfection OF accent,
and only them
II should be horne ia mind that
contend ion the teaching Of Spanish
land the use 81 an appropriate billn
eaui method In oar schools. two sep
Z .vafa ana di4tinFt things as will he