This is the first publication in a series developed by the Programa de Educacion Interamericana designed to enrich and strengthen the knowledge and understanding of Texas teachers and students in the field of intercultural education, with particular reference to Mexico and the republics of Central and South America. The project hopes to produce a new strategy for education which will foster and enhance cultural empathy wherever areas of study in elementary and secondary education relate to any aspect of Latin America. The articles in this volume were prepared to provide the teacher with an overall cultural base with specific examples: 1) Culture and Education: A Rationale for Programa de Educacion Interamericana; 2) Society and Education in Brazil; 3) Language and Cultural Empathy; 4) Philosophy of Latin America: Yesterday and Today; 5) Political Economy of Latin America; 6) The History of Latin America; 7) Contrasts of Peru and Brazil; 8) Social Forces in Latin America. Statistical data, biographical information on key persons in Latin America, and quite extensive bibliographies accompany almost every chapter. Curriculum materials, teaching guides, and other resources in the Monograph Series are: SO 001 425 through SO 001 428. (Author/VLW)