Saving traditional New Mexico Spanish

During recent weeks I have received from several of my heritage and second language students emails, texts, Facebook posts and links to news articles in the April 9 New York Times and April 12 Santa Fe New Mexican discussing the loss of New Mexican Spanish. Unfortunately, the backstory of how or why this loss of Spanish – which has existed for 425 years in New Mexico – occurred was ignored. Prior to and after statehood in 1912, a fierce debate emerged regarding the exclusive use of English at all educational...