Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-22
Text OF Address Delivered by
John v. Conway to State Teachers


| in its growth, yet it is in meas
ure cut off from the fullest supply
of nourishment.
Unless we face this problem
frankly, wisely and justly here In
New Mexico, we shall not prosper
as a state. II is an educational
problem and a social problem.
Americanization does not mean
the annihilation of the spiritual
life Of a people, the inner life OF
social habits, customs and senti-
ments; 1t means union of ideals.
The true spirit of Americanization
must say to any people, 1.-THE best
that you have Joined to Americas
best" and until we recognize the
virtues of our native people Cor
any foreign group among u.s., we
can not lead them to the fulles.
acceptance OF American ideals.
We must accord social justice to
the Spanish American, recognize
his equal rights, and our high
obligation to his children, who are
our children born on American
soil. We must respect his tradi-
tons and understand his needs anil
see to it that he is not robbed Of
his opportunity and his birthright
as an American.
Our essential need is for teach
ers with the right attitude toward
the Spanish American people ---
teachers with a vision of service,
with a. broad social consciousness
with deep interest in the human
We have kept abreast of the times
in our larger towns and cities In
New Mexico, but our rural schools
have not come up to the standard
we have a right to expect.
We have established a vicious
circle here. The poorest equip
ment, the poorest buildings and
the poorest teachers have fallen
to the lot of the rural schools, and
these impoverished schools have
turned out badly prepared young
persons, who become teachers in
these places where better qualified
teachers would not go; and these
inexperienced, ill-prepared young
teachers turn out more candidates
for rural schools Of the same type.
The educational problem for
New Mexico may be analysed I'M
der three heads;
I. The building OF school syB-
tenn.
2. The recruiting, training and
organization of the teaching corps.
,. Securing community support
and cooperation,
shall attempt brief discussion
of each of these phases of our
task:
1.-The Building Of n school
System.
The average city school system
Is the type of school system that
ought to be achieved for the state
It's main features are adequate SUI
pervision. q uniform standard for
grade work. q carefully selected
teaching body, definite eduea-
tional policy and modern equip
ment for the schools We have no
organized school system in our
state; we have group of systems
more or less unrelated in educa-
ton conception and methods.
Each of our cities or larger
towns attacks the problem accord
ing to it's own ideas, and is a law
unto itself In educational matters,
This is true of the counties-onc
may excel in administrative ex.
cellence, another In raising the
teaching standard, a third may fall
behind in one or both respects, for
often a little rural school house
becomes an isolated unit, self
directing, self-sustaining, and also
at times poorly nourished.
Our fundamental need is for
unity in our school systems. Free
dom and initiative should be al
lowed in the administration of city
or county systems or in individual
schools, yet there should be uni.
Tying plan. determining policy
directing all our educational effort.
The whole group of educators
should decide what educational
values need most emphasis in our
school work, what methods arc
best adopted to local needs, and
what means may be used to se-
cure greater uniformity in the
SSitSO'c Va bito tltlle SLuLb, anu
better cooperation of the whole
teaching body. 1t should be the
function of the state department
of education to promote these ends
by calling frequent councils of the
educators and by other means.
There should be more educa-
tional organizations throughout
the state. We have a number of
county teachers associations.
There ought to be at least an an
nual conference of county superin-
tendents and an annual round
table meeting Of principals and
city superintendents
To every one who is really ded-
icated to service there comes in
spiration and enlarged vision. We
ought to share both our difficult
ties and our inspiration. Educa-
tors In different fields ought to
know each other. exchange ideas
and discuss plans of work.
Our state educational associa-
ton is the chief unifying element
for us now. We need to multiply
such means of help and inspira-
lion.
The problem of raising the stan
lard OF grade work in the rural
schools to that of the city school
standard is also involved in build
ng our school system. There ought
% be uniform standard of school
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