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Show 127 are general throughout the states to bring about at least a minimum degree of literacy. In contrast to this condition in the United States, there are a number of South American countries where the Indian population is in the majority, in which most of the Indians continue to speak their native languages and can neither read nor write. The economic level is such that the use of the radio is limited to the more well-to-do. The great Indian population suffers from poverty, ignorance, malnutrition and disease. The economic development of these countries will inevitably be delayed until some correction of these conditions is possible. Such correction depends primarily upon education, because until people can read and write or can speak a common language, intercommunication and the exchange of constructive ideas is so difficult as to become impossible. i Fortunately, there are a few South American Indian languages which are spoken by many people. Efforts should be made to develop literacy in these languages. Later it may be useful to teach these Indians Spanish also. Because the problem of educating Indians is common to a number of South American nations, it is proposed that an inter-American normal school be established for the training of rural teachers equipped to teach in the native languages. Such an institution should,prepare textbooks and other basic literature in the more important native languages for use in all countries where those languages are spoken. 1945 Comas, Juan (Mexico) "El Maestro y el Medico en el Mejoramiento Indigena," America Indigena, V No. 4 (October, 1945), Mexico, D.F. pp. 317-325. English Summary: The writer, in discussing the former and present economic situation and professional training of rural teachers, reaches the conclusion that precisely owing to the lack of cultural and progressive elements in the Indian areas, the teachers sent there should be given a solid preparation in order to make up for their numerical deficiency. The writer thus refutes the common erroneous argument that it is enough to provide rural areas with teachers having little pedagogical training. The writer also deals with the present difficulties for carrying out an adequate health program; and he makes the following concrete suggestions: 1) To convince the Federal and State authorities that the cultural problem of the rural agricultural areas should be solved by means of adequately trained teachers, whose salaries should on no account be less than that earned by primary teachers in other parts of the country; 2) To suggest to the proper authorities |