TEACHING VEXILLOLOGY IN ARGENTINA
by Prof. Anibal Gotelli

From the publication of my article "Teaching Vexillology in Argentina" (NAVA NEWS May/June 1993 – p. 3) until today, December 2000, some 5,235 students have undertaken Protocol studies in which vexillology is one of the fields of study. This is to say that 5,235 people have studied basic vexillology and learned the basic vexillological techniques, principles and mechanisms of identifying and studying flags. 

In addition, our institution organizes two seminars per year dedicated to teaching vexillology. They are day long seminars which offer participants an understanding of vexillology throughout the year. 

In other developments, I have been consulted concerning reforms in the arrangement of flags in Argentina and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

To clarify, let me explain that I am currently serving as associate general director of the Direction of International Relations, Consular Corps and Cooperation of the Buenos Aires City Government. As such, the Ornamentation and Celebration Department, the area of the government dedicated to producing flags and national, provincial and municipal symbols, falls under my jurisdiction. This means that I currently oversee the design and production of all national symbols currently in public use in the city of Buenos Aires.

Beginning in March 2001, the city government is planning to produce a traveling exhibition on national, provincial and municipal flags and shields used throughout the history of the Argentine Republic. The exhibition will begin in Buenos Aires and then, hopefully, will travel throughout the country. 

Similarly, I have ordered the printing of a brochure dedicated to explaining Argentine flags and shields for use in public and private schools and institutions also as of March, 2001. 

This vexillology exhibition will be the first of its kind in the city of Buenos Aires. We expect it to be a great success and those involved have the highest expectations.

In terms of publications, the bulletin of the CIDEC Foundation has always published articles on vexillology. The bulletin of the Asociación de Profesionales del Ceremonial (The Argentine Protocol Association), of which I am the president, has always included articles, decrees or resolutions referring to vexillology.

The CIDEC Foundation is a pioneer in activities which spread vexillology throughout Latin America. I have given conferences in Uruguay and Paraguay dedicated to protocol in which I included units of study dedicated to vexillology. Thanks to the work done by CIDEC to spread the word about vexillology, a great interest in vexillology can now be seen in Argentina. Many people learned about vexillology through this pioneering foundation. 

Personally, I have been invited to diverse television and radio programs to speak about the patriotic symbols of the Argentine Republic. In addition, I have given several interviews to newspapers, magazines and other publications focusing on flags. 

The CIDEC Foundation has also organized a community assistance program called "A New Flag for Every School". Thanks to this program, our foundation is trying to obtain a new Argentine flag for every primary or secondary school that needs to change their flag.

The interest that I have been able to awaken towards vexillology allows me to advance even further: I will ask FIAV to carry out an International Vexillology Conference in Argentina, to be organized by the CIDEC Foundation. Many people could come together at an International Vexillology Conference in Buenos Aires. Not only colleagues, specialists and friends who are members of FIAV, but also many Argentines who have recently developed an interest in the study of flags. It would also be a great contribution for teaching vexillology in primary schools. Let me say also that with the opening of the Vexillology Exposition in each school, there will be a conference on vexillology designed for children.

Lastly, I am happy to report that I have ordered the organization of an Applied Arts School in the city of Buenos Aires where heraldry and vexillology will be taught. Vexillology students in Argentina begin their studies from age 18. Starting in March 2000, however, when the vexillology in schools program begins, students as young as age 10 will be taught.

A vexillology specialist who wants to begin teaching should undertake the same activities that I carried out that proved successful:

• First, include a vexillology unit as part of the curriculum of another area of study. In these cases, always clarify for your students that vexillology is not an auxiliary discipline but, on the contrary, a separate and autonomous discipline.
• Second, as your students' interest increases, you can organize day long seminars during which all aspects of vexillology are taught.
• Third, organize vexillology exhibits so that the subject can reach the largest possible audience. 
• Fourth, it is important to always have very up-to-date programs of study. Specialists who want to teach vexillology must be in permanent communication with all vexillological institutions who are members of FIAV.