Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-09
STUDY OF SPANISH
IS RECOMMENDED
President of Cuba and Mayor Of
New York City
Agree,
PLAN EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE
Hope Scheme Will Bring North
and South America Closer
Together.
PLAN EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE

ldcnt Mario q. Menocal of Cuba, have
Joined hands in the establishments OF
an international educational alliance to
Eind the United States and I.atin-Amer-
lea closer together. Details of the plan
were made public by Mayor Hylan yes
tcrday The most important features
Of the project are the following:
Cd y Pan American educational con-
vcntion to be held in Havana this fail.
TO this meeting President Menocal has
invited the heads Of the great universi-
ties of North. Central and South
America. ,.I
CD The establishment Of an inter
change Of students between the uni
vers7ties of the United States and
Latin America In this way American
young men may take postgraduate
courses in countries where Spanish is
spoken. and thus learn the Spanish
language and Spanish American. insti-
tutions. as is impossible to-day.
I'D The preparation OF young men in
the United States for diplomatic and
consular service in Latin Anne ican
countries. The courses of study to be
followed by American students at
Latin American universities will he
CHOSEN with the advice and corpora
ton of the State Department.
TEACHING or SPANISH
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
% The teaching Of Spanish as a
prescribed study III the public schools
OF the United States. Mayor Hylan
has already begun an investigation to
determine how this can best be done
in the schools OF New York city.
The plan originated with Severance
Johnson New York newspaper editor.
VINO went to Cuba last winter to study
the educational system of the island
republic
The statement issued BY Mayor
Hylan follows:
The President OF Cuba has written
10 me recommending that Spanish be
made part of the prescribed curriculum
Of the public schools OF the United
States.
4 believe that President Menocal is
right
This republic and the Latin Amers-
can nations should be brought closer
together and | know of no ,yay that
VIII work better to this end than for
Americans to study Spanish, and the
Latin peoples of this hemisphers RI
study English ,
believe that the schools. of this
city should pay more attention To
Spanish. -
After the war, the republics Of tho
nc" world VIII find need to cultivate
eioser relationships and to understand
one another better. This Is diff,cn,t
not impossible. without an inter-
change OF thought and culture. Amer
leans should study Spanish nor n,aroi,,
Tor commercial reasons
y intcrChanre of Stndo,>.z
the universities of the United states
ana those of Latin-America. as was
suggested by Severance Johnson, n
resident Menocal, and cihdorscd by.the
euoan President, would also be or
Great influence in bringing North. and
'outn America closer together.
president Menocal should rece,ve
thanks from both North and soutb
america for his kindness in inviting
ooth to participate In a PanAmeri.
can educational conference In Havana
! should like to see such a congress
heid. Havana is certainly the most
htlinG place. At such conference
representatives from North and South
OF the Equator can meet and deter.
mine the best ways and means OF o.
.aoiishing a permanent and far-reacb.
ing international educational system.
PRESIDENT FAUNCEs
INTERESTED IN PROPOSAL
Shons The university presidents who
"aNc taken a deep interest in the nIan
IL Dr. W. ii. p. Faunce, president ~
brown University. Providence. r J.
y letter from DR.. Faunce was de,iv-
ered by Mr. Johnson to DR.. ,;abrie,
'hsuso dc Rogue. rector Of the J7n;.
'erSity or Havana, who made thi. re.
lily:
havana University will gladly ioin
Tah--imcrican educational alliance
"hlch VIII work for Il closer union
VI al Tie American republics W.,
sh'uic "ecome graduates from the mn.
'efsities of the United States who de-
sire 10 specialize In Spanish Language
anu spanish American literature AMI
historE. In Havana these young men
could prepare for business or dplo-
Hatic work in South American coun
'ries. They could obtain advantages
mat cannot be obtained except BIZ l;v
ing and studying In a Spanish speaking
country"
In explaining why tho United states
and Latin America should build up !,
powerful educational alliance. Mr.. Joho.
son said:
Germany was planning the indus.
trial conquest OF South and Central
america long before. the war To-day
Germany is even more determined 10
control the Latin American countries.
Germany has been teaching Spanish
not only in the public day schools,
but in special night classes attended
by clerks. workmen. trades people and
others for whom night study offered
the only opportunity for such an edu-
cation.
Before the United States entered
the war there were many Spanish
night schools in New York City which
were attended almost entirely by I'M
naturalizcd Germans. In one school
where I studied Spanish for time I
A