El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-03-06
Let Us Be Exact

The governor of New Mexico has
recommended to the legislature an
educational program, based, he has
specifically stated, on his intense de
sire to have every child in New Mexico
given an opportunity to read, write,
speak and UNDERSTAND the English
language He recommends, for Span
ish speaking districts, the bi'lingual
method of instruction: his, recommen-
dations have been enthusiastically
endorsed by the leading education a u
thorities of the states and of the gov
eminent, beginning with the United
States commissioner Of education.
While a bill was introduced as part of
the educational program providing
that Spanish be compulsory for at
least four years for each student dur
ing his progress from the first high
school to last college year, Governor
Larrazolo in his statement has made 1t
clear that his idea merely is that every
student who wishes it may have a
chance to study Spanish during those
years.
Now comes the New York Times,
published in a city whose foreign.
speaking, foreign-spirited population
makes the entire census of New Mex
leo appear insignificant; where the
foreign colony" unknown in New
Mexico, is an institution: comes the
New York Times as aforesaid, after
publishing a communication from
some anonymous person in Albuquer-
que, and editorially laments that inter
prefers are needed in New Mexico
courts and legislatures; that a bill has
been introduced in our Legislature to
perpetuate the Spanish language by
having all teachers teach Spanish
where English is not understood: that
Jul Spanish speaking people are allen
in thought and spirit" that a cruel
wrong is being done our children by
d%epriving them of their birthright to
speak English: and that public school
instruction in New Mexico is to be in
Spanish.
The Times also deplores what it con
ceives to be the fact that SparUgn
speaking New Mexicans have beer, I'M
aware that they were citizens II the
United States. It bases thjs on the
familiar story quoted by it, Albuduer-
que correspondent, about the drafted
soldier who did mo- know he was a
citizen until drafted into the army.
Now we are certain the New York
Times wants to be fair While it has
learned what many of its eastern con-
t~emporaries haven't - namely that
New Mexico has been in the United
States since 1848-it has much to learn
about real language progress in New
Mexico. We wish to e~nlighten the
Times a little and trust the opening
paragraph of this editorial nay assist
In doing this.
AS to the alleged ignorance Of the
New Mexico soldier about his CITIZEN
ship. this instance may be true. If
SO, his ignorance may very possibly
have been the result OF association
with fasteners in the training camp
referred to. New Mexico for many
years has been seeking to educated
post office employees, express conf
panies, newspaper editors and others
east of the Missouri into IT, ..nowl- /
edge that before many of Lem came \
to America, New Mexiaans, speaking
Spanish, were fighting to preserve the
United States-and they knew pretty
well of what country they were citi-
9
r. Al6hAht tARA0 aAO AO alAODD ILL
thought and spirit among the Spanish
speaking natives Of New Mexico. 1T
ought not to be necessary to reiterate
statements after all these years, as to
the intense American nationalism OF
these people and their patriotism, in
spite OF the difficulties which have
been placed In the way OF their learn
ing the English language. One Of the
chief Of these difficulties has been the
Incompetence ofrural teachers-a con-
dition which the governor declares
must be remedied and remedied with
out delay. In the very face of the
ready and willing blood-sacrifice OIL
Spanish-speaking New Mexican sons
and brothers and fathers for human lib
erty in France in the last year, 1t is
most unfortunate that in an undoubt
eddy honest attempt to help solve thel
educational problem In this state, pa
pers like the Times must still reflect
IN the spirit" of these. people, 1t is
such unfair statements as this
which have complicated the problem
in New Mexico by arousing their just
resentment.
We suggest that the New York
Times do Justice in this matter Wei
are confident 1t wishes to do so. II
is no more ardent an advocate of
An REORGANIZATION than is this newspa-
Per. and it can make no stronger plea
for Amerieanization than the govern
OF of New Mexico has uttered. Yet
such a newspaper. should be sufficient
ly advised as to the actual educational
conditions and the patriotism Of a sis
ter state without having to base its
opinions on an inaccurate statement
from an anonymous contributor in AL
buquerque. Its intelligent cooperation
in solving educational problems win be
welcomed: but such cooperation is
only made useless by reflections, how
aver innocent, On the spirit Of Il peo
pie and by the publication Of inaccurI
ate statements; such as the wholly err
roneous one that there is no compul- q
sorry school law in New Mexico and
that Spanish, not English Is taught in
the public schools of the state. WEI
thank the Times for its interest and
trust it Will demonstrate its helpful
spirit by,a correction.
We believe there are some 100000
people in New Mexico, The Spanish /