Conversational Spanish in the San Diego City Schools

Abstract

thinking in the field of elementary education. There seems to be no doubt that school systems in the United States are moving toward the inclusion of instruction in foreign languages in the areas of learning of the elementary school. Educators everywhere are expressing opinions that world civilization can only be saved by this one means, understandings among peoples. Such understandings can only come about by contact with languages, the modes of expression and thought of the peoples of the world. Because an understanding of the cultures of the western hemisphere is of praca e program. It is his responsib lity to i t his scho l public with trends in the i g of modern language, to secure comi interest and sup ort for a curricular e, and to plan the new educational i g in the light of his own local situation, ical self-interest to the United States, because the economic well-being of the United States is bound up with the economic well-being of the South American republics, because the United States will need the help of Latin American countries in the struggle for survival in an atomic world, because ever-increasi g numbers of Spanish-speaking peoples are settling all over the United States whose language and customs must be understood by North Americans if these people are to become worthy citizens of the United States, the foreign language which should be given top priority by American school systems is Spanish. The development of an effective program in the teaching of Spanish in the elementary schools seems to me a logical duty of the school principal who has complete responsibility for the effectiveness of the educational program within the school and for its continuous improvement.