Classroom clipper, Vol. III, No. 3, February 1947

              February, 1947
Published by Pan American World Airways
Voi. Ill, No. 3
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TOWARDS A HEMISPHERE OF GOOD NEIGHBORS
Suggestions for Your Pan American Day Program
Although the attainment of peace, commerce and friendship between the Republics of the American continent is an all-year task, the Governments of the 21 nations concerned have chosen each April 14 to commemorate their sovereignity and voluntary union in one continental community of nations.
It is the only day set aside by Governments of an entire continent to symbolize their common bonds and common hopes for a system of international relations based on mutual respect and cooperation.
The first International Conference of American States was held in Washington in 1889 with U. S. Secretary of State James G. Blaine as the presiding officer. On April 14, 1890 a resolution was passed creating the International Bureau of the American Republics now known as the Pan American Union.
The Union is financed by contributions of member nations apportioned according to their population. Its governing board is composed of the U. S. Secretary of State and the Latin American ambassadors and ministers accredited to our country.
Since the Union’s first meeting our relations with Latin America have taken on new vitality. President Coolidge’s choice of Dwight Morrow as Ambassador to Mexico planted the seeds of our “Good Neighbor Policy”. This attitude reached its flowering under Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, and its climax with the Act of Chapultepec.
The defense of the economic stability and territorial integrity of all twenty-one Pan American nations are now questions to be solved by joint consultation and action.
Pan American Day is observed in each country by a display of national flags and by colorful ceremonies. Each year a different slogan is chosen which interprets the essence of the Inter-American system. “Cooperation—Keynote of the Americas” is the choice for 1947.
Evander Childs High School in New York City has taken a leading part in fostering the growth of Pan Americanism among United States student bodies and teachers’ groups since 1934. Dr. Joshua Hockstein is chairman of the council on Pan American activities. The leadership which the school assumed led to its selection by the U. S. Office of Education as an Inter-American Demonstration center in 1942. In this role the school has served
as a model for approximately 700 high schools, colleges and boards of education in every state of the Union.
A wide variety of interesting Pan American projects have been developed by our schools. Geography and history classes study outstanding features of Latin America, maps are drawn and essays written. Manual training classes participate by mounting maps, making flag standards, constructing scenery and properties for a play or pageant or by making imitations of products important in Inter-American commerce.
Domestic science classes sew costumes for plays or pageants, make flags, and prepare Latin American foods for luncheons. Art classes draw or paint pictures of Latin American scenes and cooperate with geography classes in preparing maps or with manual training classes in painting scenery for a play. School periodicals devote part of an issue to prepare a special issue for Pan American Day which involves writing feature articles and editorials.
Classes studying the three languages of Latin America—-Spanish, Portuguese and French-—coordinate their work with that of other groups.
A Pan American club is one of the best ways for students in the United States to
MIDDLE AMERICAS SECTION
This issue of Classroom Clipper includes a special section on Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, beginning on Page 3. Next issue, appearing in April will feature the North Pacific and the Orient.
learn more about our southern neighbors. Members often include students of Spanish, Portuguese, history, social and political organization, economic conditions and international relations. Clubs may be organized on an independent basis or may seek affiliation with an organized group of student clubs such as the “Student League of the Americas” formed by Dr. Henry Hein, Principal of James Monroe High School and Director of Pan American activities in New York City schools.
Individual pupils, clubs, and classes often carry on correspondence with students in other American republics. Details of Pan American World Airways’ newly formed international Letter Exchange are available to teachers on request. Through its offices in other countries PA A will try to arrange for school classes to correspond with each other.
A description of some of the excellent material prepared by the Pan American Union for the observance of Pan American Day available to teachers and adult leaders follows. Requests should be sent directly to the Pan American Union, Office of Counselor, Washington, D. C.
1.	An illustrated source book tells of the origin and historical development of the international organization of the 21 American Republics and describes achievements in the political, legal, economic, social and cultural fields. This is suitable for a text book or for discussion groups and is available in English, Spanish or Portuguese (Cost 25 cents.)
2.	A manual for students and teachers contains excerpts from Gabriela Mistral’s “Pledge for Youth in the Americas”, a play “New World Symphony”, folk dances of Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay with music and directions, a geography quiz, games and puzzles. This is also available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. (Free)
3.	A colorful poster by one of Latin America’s foremost contemporary artists Cuba’s Mario Carreno bearing the 1947 Pan American Day slogan. (Free)
4.	A Selected List of Material entitled “Latin American Song Books and References for Guidance in Planning Fiestas” is available for groups preparing programs and festivals which center about Latin American customs. (Free)
5.	Program suggestions for Pan American Day contains a summary of ideas which have been worked into successful Pan American Day Programs. (Free)
6.	“Coffee in the Americas” is a series of illustrated studies for elementary and high school students. (Free)
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