Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-25
THE CUBAN TEACHERS.
Over One Thousand VIII Be En-
tertained at Harvard.
COMING ON A FREE EXCURSION

VIII BE instructed In the Art of
Teaching-HOw the Teachers Are
Chosen.
In the latter part of June an expedi-
ton without parallel in history will
leave the island OF Cuba. Five army
transports, which the government has
detailed for the service. will bring to
the States 1,430 schoolteachers, who
are TO attend the summer college OF
Harvard university free of charge.
The president and fellows of Harvard
offer not only the free use of the Ii
brary and laboratories, but they have
also arranged special courses of in
struction suited TO the needs of the
teachers of Cuba, says the Washington
correspondent of the Chicago Inter
Ocean. They have also offered to pay
all personal expenses, such as board
and room rent. In brief, they have
given free tuition and have raised the
sum of $4,000 for the entertainment OF
| the teachers.
The teachers will come north on the
steamers sailing from the ports OF
Cuba June %, &c and % and reaching
| Boston about July ]. Arriving in Bos-
ton, the teachers will at once be taken
under the care of the university. Spe-
| cial cars and carriages will meet the
transports and convey the teachers d.
| rectly TO the places where they are to
| reside in Cambridge. The students Of
| the university have invited the men
in the party to occupy their rooms in
| the dormitories. Meals Will be pro-
| vided in the college dining rooms,
! known as Randall hall. The women
! in small groups of from two to eight,
! will reside in private families close to
/ the university and will dine in Me-
| mortal hall. Another large and new
building, with spacious rooms and par
Tor in charge of Il Cuban woman, is be-
ing specially equipped as a meeting
and resting place exclusively for the
women of the party.
In recognition of the time honored
duenna system of Cuba and also as a
means of looking after the health and
comfort Of the teachers, the women
VIII be divided into groups, each under
the escort and guidance of n Cuban
chaperon, or encargada, who speaks
the English language. AS far as pos
sible these groups will be formed of
such teachers as are friends we'll
known to each other, and the choice
of companions will be made before
leaving Cuba. In this regard, as in
all others, the wishes of the teachers
themselves Will be fully respected.
The first two or three days after the
arrival in Boston will be devoted to
sightseeing. The regular work in the
claSsroOms will commence on July ,
and continue for six weeks. At the
close of the session it is hoped that the
teachers may go on long excursion by
special trains, meeting in New York
again in time to take the transports
for Cuba early in September. 1t is
hoped to take the teachers to Niagara
Falls and then to Washington before
sending them back to instruct the Gu
ban children.
All teachers will receive their usual
salaries during this summer vacation
trip. Their June salaries will be paid
before leaving Cuba, and the pay for
July will be disbursed through the Of |
flee of the treasurer at Harvard uni |
versity. Teachers who do not go on |
the trip will be paid stheir salaries
throughout the summer, provided they |
remain in the island and attend sum- |
mer normal school to be established |
there for their instruction.
The general meetings of the teachers |
at the summer school will be held in |
the Harvard lecture room known as |
Sanders theater, with 4 seating capac- |
ity of / ,450. Several special lines of in
structiOn have been prepared for the |
Cuban teachers, with a view to the
particular needs of the schools of the |
island. This special course will make
n feature of the English language.
Daily lessons will be given, and special
attention will be given to the proper
and the reading OF sim
pie English. AS an aid to training the
ear opportunity will be given to listen
to lectures In English of all grades Of
difficulty, according TO the proficiency
of the teachers.
The alcaIde of each town in Cuba
will select the teachers who are to
make the trip. AS only one-third of the
total number in Cuba can come, it is
that there will be lively
contest for the favor. So far as posi-
BILE, each alcalde is directed to choose |
Mt least one teacher from every school
OuHuiHS- AieAlS bHeTetl RYE, super |
lntendent of schools in Cuba, will come
north with the teachers and will re-
main with them during the sessions Of
the summer school in Cambridge.
The plan for the trip was conceived
by President Eliot % Harvard univer-
sity and was submitted by him to Su-
Derintendent Frye, who enthusiastical-
y accepted II, provided the govern
nent would approve the project. Gen
eral Leonard Wood of Cuba Endorsed |
he idea. and IL then remained only to
get the consent of Secretary Root and
President Mckinley. The president i'm
directed the secretary to de-
all the five transports for the service