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Show EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AMONG THE INDIANS OF THE AMERICAS 1942 Basauri, Carlos. "Consideraciones Acerca del Estudio de la Etnografia en las Escuelas Post-Primarias," America Indigena, II No. 3 (July, 1942), Mexico, D.F., pp. 45-47. English Summary: The so-called Indian problem comprehends many phenomena of a political, social, economic, educational and scientific nature. The first, most basic question is to know the Indian, which we have not yet achieved. The attraction of ethnographic studies for most cultivated people is to something curious, rare and exotic which is related to museums. Professor Basauri does not attempt to emphasize the necessity and transcendental importance of furthering ethnographic studies and research; he merely points out that it is important for every American citizen to have even a superficial knowledge of the ethnography of his own country and that of America in general. Just as from Primary school to University, through high and vocational schools, there are courses in Geography, History, Zoology, Botany, etc. allowing the student a more or less sound knowledge of the various sections of his own country, its orography and hydrography, fauna and flora, etc., so Mr. Basauri thinks that in countries like Mexico - with its heterogeneous population - the study of this subject should be compulsory for high school and vocational students. He does not propose to make ethnographers of all of them, but considers that the importance of such knowledge is equal at least to that of fauna, flora and orography of the country, and nobody has yet suggested that high school graduates should all be zoologists, botanists or geographers. Mr. Basauri asserts that it is impossible to undertake efforts toward strengthening directed nationalism and continental solidarity unless an extensive and intelligent informational program on Indian life is conducted, as part of the general cultural subjects taught in school so that everyone, without exception might understand, feel and be in the Indian element. Furthermore, in the preparation of professional persons, such as rural physicians, rural teachers, economists, sociologists, etc. a full knowledge of Indians is indispensable. 1944 Barrantes, Emilio. (Peru) "Conceptos Fundamentales sobre la Educacion del Indio," America Indigena, IV No. 1 (January, 1944), Mexico, D.F. |
