Esperanto: Hearings Before the Committee on Education

A historical account written in the early 20th century. The document details the hearings held by the Committee on Education in the House of Representatives regarding the proposal to study Esperanto as an auxiliary language in schools. The primary topic addressed is the practicality and potential benefits of introducing Esperanto to foster international communication and improve language learning. In the hearings, Hon. Richard Bartholdt advocates for teaching Esperanto, arguing that it could easily replace the necessity of learning multiple foreign languages for American students. He emphasizes the simplicity of Esperanto compared to other languages, highlighting how it can help create equal footing among speakers of different native languages. Prof. A. Christen supports this view, providing insights into the linguistic chaos caused by numerous languages and asserting that Esperanto's structured simplicity makes it ideal for global communication. The testimonies underscore the growing international interest in Esperanto and its practical applications in commerce, education, and diplomatic relations as a neutral language for all nations.