El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-26

IS IT GOOD policy to put the first grades IN the Mex
ican schools on half time IN order 70 eIeel s1ls u
salaries? The argument in favor Of It IS that oy applying
half day sessions instead Of full day sessions fewer teachers
can do the work and the teachers relieved can De assigned
TO other grades where vacancies exist and hloh othe"s
would have to be filled by new appointments.
Teachers Of the Mexican children know that with
i time sessions It is no easy matter to overcome the
handicap Of language IN such way as 70 keep them NOV
ing abreast Of children the north sde Of town 10 90 II
at all teachers say keeps them working TO the uIe.nos
How can they do It with half day sessionse Ony by
methods Of teaching still more intensive ana II Is Hey
doubtful whether teacher nearly having exhausted herself
the forenoon with class can hold the same pace our
ing the afternoon with another class ooth neo-y penny
large and both presenting the unusual dcues OF
instruction.
It win not do to lower the educational standard We have
set in districts where the Spanish speaking Predonate
As many as possible must be brought into the schools and
they must be taught in such way that they VII rse 70
the standard They must not be allowed TO lag 1or thar
would mean the coggng OF the graaes win nu1oeIs pas
an accommodation and they cannot be passed along with
out having met the requirements
That strictly school view Of the matter It might be
called the pedagogic view The civic view is larger There
is large population here fully half the total population
IN fact that without American education would always
remain alien IN tongue customs and thought The schools
the best REORGANIZATION influence We nave Because q
the relation Of FL Pas0 to Mexico it IS desirable 10 have
here an educated SpanishEngsh speaking element as
connecting link And teach language and our tradi
tons history and customs to children Of another
race to pave their way 70 American citizenship 70 ABSORB
them into the great body Of America To meet the Chhua
problem SquarelF ana aQe4laley Is something
Paso school boards in the past have failed to do As The
Herald said eitorialy four years ago, he dollars and
cents argument aonethe oommunitys plainest self N
terestjles the adoption OF progressive ano oopre
hensiTe educational and social service policy Ior Chua
huita-" That is as true today it was then.
The pathway TO anagamation Of the Spanish speaking
people with the American element is open maintain
the proper agency the Schools functoning we'll In this
city the children Of Scandinavian parents sent to
separate schools for the first few years IN order that they
may receive the advantage Of SPECIAL branches established
for their benefit and that they may become familiar with
the basis Of English education under conditions more favor
able than II they were placed with younger children IN the
primary schools Of the English speaking population After
the first few years Of schooling the children Of Spanish
American perentage placed with the children Of English
speaking parenage terms Of exact equality and they 90
through all the nemeiate and upper grades and the high
school without any distinction prejudice whatever This
movement Of the Spanshpeang through the grades With
English speaking children IS possible only the former
have IN the first grades received proper foundation, the
same one that the English speaking children receive
As Tor raising the standards OF Chihuahulta to the
standard America sets the schools do than
q portion Of the work that is 10 be done.
In 1913, The Herald said this points There sany
task for Hercules down there The city government must
eventually meet its primary responsibility Ch1huahuitas
t has since done In par The churches, the charities
and other private agencies may find plenty to do down
there Capital VIII find plenty Of employment IN serving
the city through serving Chhuahuita Thers IS
all Increase the industrial efficiency Of those
people and you increase their productive power their
ing power This means money for local merchants
and banks and the encouraging Of manufactures Improve
the appearance Of Chhuahuita and you make E. Paso
tons to tourists bringing money here and keeping here
Land values would riss landlords would make secure
profits the CITY and county would derive from taxes;
investments would be encouraged factories and warehouses
would multiply down there and the city would have better
rounded and more logical Development
The problem IS divided into two main branches: first
sanitation and better conditions Of living: second practical
education and preparation for useful and productive citizen
ship The schools touch the problem IN all its phases but
until now there has been clear and full recognition on
the part Of the school authorities the tremendous in
portanoe Of this branch Of public service.
Perhaps that is slightly reinstatement It ieht be
more exact 70 say that the school board recognizes though
not 1us the potency Of the agency they control but are
aassed constantly BY lack Of proper school funds That
he 90 realize the importance Of education in Americana
ING the Spanish speaking element is shown by the tenac
WITH which they encourage the night schools for those IN
abe 70 attend the day schools But they take short
1lea FeW when they decide to weaken education in the
slools Wnere the Spanish speaking pupils predoinste IN
order to save few thousands a year
me ouIy q providing ful educational facilities IN the
spanish speang parts Of town has relation TO tax pav-
ig ability 1azpaying ability Chihushuta and in PARTS
o. east u Paso is very low comparison with the no7ls
e1 olI 70 gage education facilities taxes paid would be
against puohc policy. Considerations Of patriotism bu
CIVIC prae and self interest point out that insofar
Is Il Is nuay possible must make It possible for vr
spanish speaking child IN Fl PasO to get an education ana
70 get i IA the American way
Inc CITY TAX FOR school maintenance now i IS cents m