Böcker av Sigfredo Maestas

Everyone was in for a surprise in 1909 when New Mexico declared open the Spanish American Normal School at El Rito. The school had been founded to train teachers for the vast region of the "e;Rio Arriba"e; in which there were few schools and the citizenry still did not speak English, sixty years after becoming a territory of the United States. The Territory of New Mexico, in quest of statehood, had decided that fluency of its people in English would earn it the right to become one of the Forty-eight, which it did three years later. State and school officials were dismayed that few students were sufficiently prepared to become teachers. First, most had to learn to cipher and to read and write. The region's geographic isolation, scant means of communication, and lack of roadways rendered it impossible for anyone to make the proper estimate of educational need, it turned out. But the school's students soon discovered how much they liked the Normal School, and how willing the school was to meet their educational need. Although the Normal School trained as many as one hundred teachers in the first decades, in time it became an elementary and high school with strong traditions and loyal students. As a boarding campus, the Normal School attracted students from throughout New Mexico, many at a very young age. Children of the Normal School recount how unity of spirit created a new culture of Americans that few knew about, and how their esprit was built on mutual esteem and shared belief.

In 2009, Northern New Mexico College celebrated 100 years of its founding as the Spanish American Normal School. This book is about the Normal School and what it became. Although a very small school in its early history, it served its students, the majority of them from this region of the Río Arriba, by adapting to their times and changing needs. Northern New Mexico College, as the school is known today, evolved from its origin in 1909 to become a source of pride for people and a cause for hope for better lives. Its influence is known and felt by people in its service area, educationally, socially, culturally, and economically. The book is celebratory, not profoundly analytical nor intentionally critical. Sigfredo Maestas has first-hand knowledge about the institution as a student of the Northern New Mexico Normal School in the mid-1950s. His acquaintance with the present college grew in the latter part of the 20th century, and the turn of the new century, when he became its dean and later its seventeenth president. He acquired a great appreciation for the social and cultural history of this region, aided by first-hand accounts of people who lived here. Names of people he has known over tIn 2009, Northern New Mexico College celebrated 100 years of its founding as the Spanish American Normal School. This book is about the Normal School and what it became. Although a very small school in its early history, it served its students, the majority of them from this region of the Río Arriba, by adapting to their times and changing needs. Northern New Mexico College, as the school is known today, evolved from its origin in 1909 to become a source of pride for people and a cause for hope for better lives. Its influence is known and felt by people in its service area, educationally, socially, culturally, and economically. The book is celebratory, not profoundly analytical nor intentionally critical. Sigfredo Maestas has first-hand knowledge about the institution as a student of the Northern New Mexico Normal School in the mid-1950s. His acquaintance with the present college grew in the latter part of the 20th century, and the turn of the new century, when he became its dean and later its seventeenth president. He acquired a great appreciation for the social and cultural history of this region, aided by first-hand accounts of people who lived here. Names of people he has known over the years figure prominently in this story. "Annals" seems like an apt title for these facts and recollections. Public and higher education in New Mexico have changed greatly since 1909 when the Spanish American Normal School was founded. The needs of students and potential students have also changed. Many times the Normal School's adaptation was exactly what the populace demanded, but sometimes it was not. The author has tried to point out, as honestly as the dim light of history permits, where the Normal School was successful in serving its people, and when it was less so. Because the school at El Rito was a boarding campus serving people who were economically poor, however, someone's need was always met.he years figure prominently in this story. "Annals" seems like an apt title for these facts and recollections. Public and higher education in New Mexico have changed greatly since 1909 when the Spanish American Normal School was founded. The needs of students and potential students have also changed. Many times the Normal School's adaptation was exactly what the populace demanded, but sometimes it was not. The author has tried to point out, as honestly as the dim light of history permits, where the Normal School was successful in serving its people, and when it was less so. Because the school at El Rito was a boarding campus serving people who were economically poor, however, someone's need was always met.