The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-07
KNOW LITTLE OF so. AMERICA.
American School Children are Not Stuff
GENTLY Taught.

New York, July What the coun
try's public schools might do toward pro
noting Pan Americanism by teaching a
/. proper conception Of the political, eco
nomic and social development of Latin
America was outlined by William G. Me
Adoo, secretary OF the treasury, in an
address last night before the National
Education association i'll session here. lie
declared that upon the teachers lay the
ultimate responsibility OF making etfec-
tive President Wilson's policy of securing
amity and cooperation among the fe.
Ipublics OF the hemisphere.
Il do not mean to criticise but simply
to record fact said Mr.. McAdoo,
when | say that the public schools Of
the United States have not contributed
their full share toward intoxicating in the
youth of the country a proper under
standing of the political, economic and
social development Of our sister repub-
! lies. 1t is this lack OF understanding
| that has prevented the growth OF sui
! ticiently enlightened public opinion in the
| United States with reference to Latin
| American affairs. 1t is this absence OF
! sympathetic comprehension that makes
it so easy to mislead public opinion in
the United States and so often to cause
unwilling injury to our Latin American
relation
American history is taught as if 1t
begins and ends with the history of the
United States; American geography IS
interpreted as if it were the geography
Iof 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 for the United States. Our
present lack of understanding is source
of national weakness.
The history of the Spanish American
struggle for independence is most in
spring record. The obstacles that the
North American colonies had to over
come were not SO formidable las those
which confronted the revolted 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 sympathet |
ic understanding of the political life and |
institutions of these countries. During /
the last century the American continent |
has been the great laboratory of politi- |
cal evolution, furnishing a body of mate
rial to the teacher of history and civies |
which We have hardly begun to utilize
The development of that true spirit
of continental solidarity with the peo
Piles of Central and South America for
which we are striving would be set for
ward immeasurably if we would give
more attention to their language and lit.
erature. The teaching of Spanish should
be made compulsory in our public
schools At the present time we rarely
think OF citing Latin American publcists
and scientists. Practically no reference
is ever made to Latin American litera
ture We pay little attention to the cur
rents of thought of Central or South
America; unmindful of the fact that inn
portant contributions have been made
and are constantly being made in every
department. of literary and scientific Ell
'ort
Upon you the task OF developing IN
5he youth OF the country a broader I'm
Outstanding of the forces that have
shaped American history. keener appro
,iation OF the significance OF the develop
nent of free institutions on the Amer
can continent and a deeper sympathy
with the aspirations Of sister nations who,
ike ourselves are endeavoring to trans
ate into realities the ideals of Amen
an democracy