The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-09
AMERTCANISM is NOT
TAUGHT VERY FULLY
In the Public Schools Of United
States as It Should Be
Says MCAdOO.


NEW YORK, July 8.-What the
country's public schools might do
toward promoting Pan-Americanism
by teaching a proper conception of
the political, economical and social
development of Latin-America was
outlined by William G. MCAdoo, sec
rotary of the treasury, in an address
before the National Education Asso-
citation in session here. He declared
that upon the teachers lay the ulti-
mate responsibility Of making effec-
tive President Wilson's policy of Sc
curing amity and cooperation among
the republics Of the hemisphere.
~ do not mean to criticise but sim
ply to record a fact" said Mr.. Nc
Adoo, when I say that the public
schools Of the United States have not
contributed their full share toward
intoxicating in the youth Of the coun-
try a proper understanding Of the po-
lltical, economic and social develop
ment of our sister republics. 1t Is
this lack Of understanding that has
prevented the growth of a sufficient
" enlightened public opinion in the
United States with reference to Latin
American AFFAIRS. 1t is this absence
that makes it SO easy to mislead public
opinion in the United States, and so
often to cause unwilling injury to our
Latin-American relations.
american history is taught as fit
begins and ends with the history OF
the United States; American geogra-
phy is interpreted as If 1t we're the
geography of the United States. In
the study of commerce and industry
the provincial view Is too frequently
taken that LatIn-America is merely
a sort of supply Of raw material Tor
the United States. Our present lack
OF understanding is a source OF ma
tional weakness.
1.-THE history of the spanlsh-Amer-
lean struggle for independence is
most inspiring record. The obstacles
that the North American colonies had
to overcome were not so formidable
as those which confronted the re-
yolted Spanish colonies. The story
of this struggle, if properly presented
and interpreted, would make the
youth of our country appreciate the
similarity Of ideals which dominated
the founders OF the political system
of the United States and the leaders
of Latin-American independence, and
would serve to develop a sympathetic
understanding of the political life and
institutions OF these countries. Dur
ing the last century the American
continent has been the great laoorar
tory of political economy, furnishing
a body of material to the teacher Of
history and civlcs which we have
hardly begun to utilize,
1.-THE development Of that true
spirit Of continental solidarity with
the peoples Of Central and South
America for which we are striving
would be set forward immeasurably
II we would give more attention toI
their language and literature. The
teaching of Spanish should be MADE
compulsory in our public schools Az
the present time we rarely think Of
citing Latin-American publicists and
scientists. Practically no reference
is ever made to Latin-Amencan lit
erature. We pay little attention toI
the currents of thought OF Central or
South America; unmindful OF the
fact that important contributions
have been made and are constantly
being made in every department oil
literary and scientific effort.
Upon you the task Of developing
in the youth Of the country q broader
understanding Of the forces that
have shaped American history, al
keener appreciation Of the slgnih-
canoe of the development Of free In
situations on the American continent
and deeper sympathy with the as
pirations of sister nations who, like
ourselves, are endeayoTing to trans
late into realities the ideals Of Amer
lean democracy" ,u..