Spain, because she is the mother of them all, and because of the splendid summer course and the three trimestrial courses organized by the Junta para Ampliación de Estudios in the University of Madrid. This residence abroad could be most easily and effectively financed by some such arrangement as the aforesaid scholarships, which could be surrounded by conditions that would amply protect the interests of the school boards or of the university which granted them.

University of Illinois

JOHN D. FITZ-GERALD

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

OF TEACHERS OF SPANISH

DECEMBER 29, 1917

IN NEW YORK CITY

SEE PAGE 23

HISPANIA

The conditions which have made necessary the organization of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish have been fully and clearly stated in our circular of last May, and with more eloquence and force in the article of President Wilkins now published. Hispania, the official organ of the new Association, is entrusted with the carrying out of its policies and purposes. I have accepted the editorship of Hispania with humility and with a full appreciation of the great responsibility of the office, but also with a firm determination to do all that is in my power to conduct it in a manner befitting the importance, usefulness and dignity of our cause. We have a high and worthy mission to perform, and with mutual help and co-operation we should achieve some degree of

success.

The betterment of the teaching of Spanish in our schools and colleges is our chief aim. The pedagogical side of our work, however, is to be viewed from a broad standpoint. Real, sympathetic teaching involves more than mere class drill or reciting lessons from textbooks. The American teacher of Spanish of tomorrow must be well prepared not only in the ordinary school and college disciplines which involve a good knowledge of the language and literature of Spain and the ability and enthusiasm necessary for successful teaching. Equally necessary is a complete and sympathetic understanding of the history and culture of Spain and Spanish America. For these reasons, Hispania, aside from giving to problems of pure pedagogical interest the great attention which they deserve, will also attempt to interpret sympathetically to our pupils. and teachers of Spanish the history and culture of the great Spain of the past and present.

Our journal has the noble mission of improving the teaching of Spanish in our schools, colleges and universities, with the active co-operation of teachers and scholars of national and international repute, men and women who believe in the cause of education and who maintain high ideals as teachers and investigators. Our Asso

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ciation begins its existence with the vigor and enthusiasm of youth. Hispania has no apologies to give for its appearance. The policy of the editors will be the proper execution of the policies and purposes of The American Association of Teachers of Spanish.

The editor of Hispania takes great pleasure and pride in announcing that President Wilkins, who was authorized at the April meeting of our Association to appoint the editor, consulting editors and associate editors for a period of five years, has named the following persons to assist him in the editorial work: Professors John D. Fitz-Gerald of the University of Illinois and J. D. M. Ford of Harvard University, consulting editors; and Mr. Percy B. Burnet of Manual Training High School, Kansas City, Mo., Professor Alice H. Bushee of Wellesley College, Dr. Alfred Coester of Commercial High School, Brooklyn, Professor James Geddes, Jr., of Boston University, Mr. George W. Hauschild of Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, Mr. Joel M. Hatheway of High School of Commerce, Boston, Professor George T. Northup of the University of Chicago, Professor George W. Umphrey of the University of Washington, and Mr. Lawrence A. Wilkins of De Witt Clinton High School, associate editors. The name of Mr. Wilkins has been included in the Editorial Staff at the urgent request and insistence of the editor, the consulting editors and other members of the Association. It is not necessary to state that the above named teachers of Spanish are teachers and investigators of national and international reputation, and that they have at heart, above most other professional considerations, an enthusiastic desire to further and improve the teaching of Spanish in the United States.

Some of the members of the Editorial Staff will have charge of certain definite tasks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. The editors plan to make the bibliographical section one of the most important features of Hispania. Teachers of Spanish who do not live in the proximity of the large colleges and universities do not have access to the bibliographical material published by such excellent publications as the Revista de Filología Española, edited by R. Menéndez Pidal, and for this reason a fairly complete current bibliography of all Spanish books that may be of interest to our teachers of Spanish should be of very great value to the members of our Association.

The bibliographical section is in charge of Professor FitzGerald and Mr. Hatheway.

Professor Fitz-Gerald will list, give a brief notice in most cases, and review or have reviewed when the publication is of sufficient importance to our members, all books on Spanish language, literature, philology, history, politics, art, etc., that in his judgment may be of interest to us. Book companies and publishing houses from all countries, especially the United States, Canada, England, Spain and Spanish America, are requested to send their publications directly to him for our bibliographical section. School texts are not to be included here.

Mr. Hatheway will list, and in all cases give also a brief notice for the benefit of teachers, all textbooks for the study of Spanish, especially those published in English-speaking countries, grammars, composition and conversation books, readers, commercial grammars and readers, realien, literary texts, etc. Book companies and publishing houses, especially in the United States, Canada and England, are requested to send their publications directly to him for our bibliographical section.

THE LANGUAGE JOURNALS. Hispania will have a special section devoted to reviews of all language journals that may be of interest to teachers of Spanish. This section will be in charge of Professor Northup. Professor Northup has access at the University of Chicago to many of the scientific language journals that are of interest to us. The editors of Hispania will gladly send Hispania in exchange for any of the language journals, especially the pedagogical language journals published in the United States, Canada, England, Spain and the countries of Spanish America. The journals received, if of interest to teachers of Spanish will all be reviewed by Professor Northup. All journals of the nature indicated should be sent directly to Professor Northup, who will arrange for exchange.

HISPANIC NEWS. One of the most important features of our journal will be a section devoted to current news from the Hispanic world: brief accounts, reviews and notices concerning current events and developments from all Spanish countries, and from countries where things Spanish are studied and appreciated. The Hispanic News will deal largely with current developments in language, literature, history and art, but due attention will be given.

also to politics and other matters. This important section will be in charge of Dr. Alfred Coester, whose recent publication, The Literary History of Spanish America, has aroused great interest among those interested in the literature of our southern neighbors. It is hoped that the editors of journals that treat of current events from Spain and Spanish America will send their publications to Dr. Coester, and Hispania will be gladly sent in exchange.

NOTES AND NEWS. The University Notes and News will be in charge of Professor Wagner of Michigan, assisted by Mr. Louis Imbert of Columbia University. The High School Notes and News will be in charge of Mr. Burnet, assisted by Mr. Max A. Luria of De Witt Clinton High School, New York, Miss May Ventrees of Fullerton, California, and Miss Elizabeth Casey of Kenilworth, Ill.

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS. It is with great pleasure that we announce also a list of special contributors, a few specialists, who, sacrificing all personal interests, have consented to give Hispania the fruits of their ability and knowledge of things Spanish. Aside from an inspiring article by the recognized leader of modern Spanish philological scholarship, Don Ramón Menéndez Pidal, which will appear in the February number of Hispania, the following important articles will appear from time to time:

Fonética Castellana, by Tomás Navarro Tomás, director of the Laboratory of Experimental Phonetics at the Centro de Estudios Históricos, Madrid. Mr. Navarro Tomás, who is one of the highest authorities on Spanish phonetics, will prepare for Hispania a series of articles for the special benefit of secondary school teachers. The editors of Hispania consider it a special privilege to publish these articles and feel that they will be of the greatest possible benefit to our teachers of Spanish.

Lengua y Literatura Españolas, by Américo Castro, professor of Spanish Philology at the University of Madrid. Professor Castro is a pupil of Menéndez Pidal and an authority in the language and literature of Spain. He will write for Hispania a series of articles of a popular character on various phases of the Spanish Language and Literature.

Tierras de España, by Professor Ramón Jaén of the University of California.