The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-02-07
TO
LANGUAGE BILL

one Of the most pernicious pieces
Of legislation ever submitted 70 any
state legislature is the bill intro
duccd AZ santa Re last week by the
republican leaders. under the direc-
ton Of the governor. This bill pro-
poses 10 make u compulsory for the
teachers IN charge Of the grades
from the first 10 the eighth. inclu-
sive. 10 teach reading In the English
and Spanish languages simultane-
ously. II also provides that all text
hooks in the public schools Of the
state. used In the teaching Of the
two languages, shall be printed page
for page. in English and Spanish.
Another section seeks 10 provide
that amy county superintendent who
shall sign the salary warrant OF any
teacher who fails 10 comply with
the conditions Of the first section,
providing for the teaching Of the
teaching Of the two languages, shall
be subject 10 removal from office by
the governor. who shall have The
power 10 appoint a new superintend-
ent In place Of the n removed.
Aside from the monumental folly
Of attempting q. Jam what Is really
q foreign Language down the threats
Of American citizens, the method
proposed for the teaching Of the
two languages is without question
the poorest and most Intellectual
method to be- found No pupil Is
going to make any progress In the
study of a language when he can
memorizc H. This method has long
been discarded ny educators who
have had experience In teaching.
and when a pupil a cast his eyes
} ON the next page 10 that which con-
lains his lesson and lind the trans
laiion Of his work there he Is re-
|, licved of any mental exercise in con-
nrction with the lesson and what be-
has read leaves no impression on his
mind
; The threats To nre any school
supcrintcndcnis who fail to enforce
, the teaching " the two languages
In the schools under their super.
vision j. regarded as more of a bluf
than anything else. The constiiu'
ton distinctly lays down the quail.
ncations of county 5 uperintendents
and Il. il Ia be- questioned " an!
legislation of the kind proposed eat
, change these qualifications. Takinl
Luna county as a concrete example
would the parents Of the schoo
children here be- willing tn see thci'
duly elected county superintendent
Z thrown out of office because Of he
refusal to abide by the provisions o
Z this bill? viii the citizens of thi
county. which is preponderantl!
Z American. submit 10 having theil
\ children forced 10 learn a foreigI
! language when they should b" de
Z voting their efforts 10 a study o
Z their own
4 one NJ the heaviest handicap
! under which the Spanish-speakin
y population of this state labor
Z their ignorance of the language q
the United states. Men who knov
the Spanish-spcaking people hes
Z say that there h. no lack of brain
: or ability among them, hut they ca
' never raise themselves 10 the lcVe
Of the American people until the.
h adopt the language Of the American
and learn to do business IN that Ian
nuage. n was not his knowledge O
spanish that raised O~ctaviano Lar
rnznla To his present exalted posi-
tion. and his attempt 10 make ever.
child In this state study Spanish
strictly ~reactionary, and there
already strong opposition Ia thi
part Of his educational program Dc
yeloping not only In the minorit.
ranks hut also In the ranks Of HI
- own party.
The proposed bin will have on
81 effect. in case II passes the legisla
turc. and that will be To afford posi-
tions 10 a larger number Of teacher
in this state who have no olhe
claim 10 consideration than thci
knowledge Of Spanish, and, with IN
Y proposed Increase In the salaries O
teachers. which is another part o