Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-14
EDUCATION FOR CUBAMS.
Religious Instruction .. Held by
uoard Co he tnsdmtssibi.- Hing.
usL " ts Taught.

Snnthgu he CUBA, March lls-The re-
port Of board appointed by Brig. Gen.
Wood 60 formulate scheme FOR pub
lie education In the province Of SAM
tingo has been made public. The prob
lem OF educating the cuban and Span
lrh children has been handled at length
and In mastery way. The report In
prcfnccd by u detailed description Of
the existing educational system and
brings out the point that under span.
iHh rule Cuba was afforded the advan-
tagcH ~ system that compared well
with any OF those now Ia use by Eng
iish-spcaking races.
However. this system OF education.
''in the main worthy Of admiration and
imitation" TO use the words Of the
board. and Its practical results, COM
trolled aH II was. IN all essentials by
officials who were wholly aliens In the
country and quite free from all rcspon-
Hibility 20 the people whose Interests
We're entrusted 10 them. was the vcry
thing To be- desired. Doubtless many
departures from the rules and methods
prescribed. resulting In neglect irrcg'
ulariiicH and general confusion were
due 20 tho prolonged disturbances In
the island. The Indifference. caprice,
neglect and rapaoity of the governing
authorities left the admirable provls-
ions NJ the law without enforcement OF
application. the resources OF the coun-
tfy were diverted to other ends and the
result was a mere shadow OF an cdu-
cntionui establishment totally inndc-
quatc IN extent ana highly inefficient Ia
operation, 80 far at least m the primary
aud secondary schools were concerned.
No such things as free public school
49, Aaa
existed IN Cuba. 40 fnr ns IN known.
there IN not single building nor nfoot
OF land On this province owned by ths
people for school purposes nnd not a
rlnTlo dollar OF endowment for any educ
cntionnl institution.
on these conclusions the board says:
''rho Immediate need, therefore. OF the
people Of cuba and especially ~ this
province II a system Of primary ana
secondary education as these terms are
undcfrtoOd IN Cuba. or OF primary.
grammar and high schools. ~ schools
are graded In the United States, sup
ported entirely from tho public funds
and absolutely free TO all children of
school age; adequate IN number ana no
distributed ~ to meet the needs OF the
entire population, admlnir.erod with
"a view 90 the highest efficiency and
the greatest economy and followins
courses ADAPTED 90 the changed condi-
lions resulting from the extraction OF
Spanish sovereignty IN the Island"
To bring this about the board rec
ommondA that hTHt OF all census be
/ taken Of all the children Ia the prov>
| iuce OF school age. The schools must
/ temporarily be supported by the gem
/ ernl funds In the province OF tho treas.
ury, but the board recommends that
| eventually they be supported by n
| specinl tax levied In each district. The
| achoois are 20 be- divided into kinder
| cartons. elementary, municipal ana SUI
/ perior urinary schools. High schools,
| saws the board. should not be cstab-
| linhed until the primary schools are In
| good working order.
| "a single university" declares tho
board, 'Rhoud suffice for the entire
Island and the duty OF providing and
| maintaining such an institution M
we'll as normal schools, special school
FOR the deaf mutes and other schools
OF correction and institutions should be
left to the general government OF Gu
bn"
| Local councils with one provisional
council IL suggested as the plan Of gov
| eminent, the members OF such councils
| 10 receive no salaries,
| Uelluious instruction OF any nature IN
held hy the board to be inadmissible;
FOR this decision II gives as u reason
| that THE recent changes In the politl :
| cal status OF the island have affected
| n prnctirnl diseatabliHhment OF what
| Ind previously been a state church" In
all schools English must be taught.