The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-25
CUBAN TEACHERS AT HARVARD.
Plans for the Summer School mt
Cambridge.

CAMBRIDGE. Mas, June 2i.-The 400
Cuban schoolteachers who were invited
by President Eliot and the Fellows OF
Harvard University to attend the Harvard
Summer School will arrive in Cambridge
In about week. From the cities CT Cuba
and from the remotest country districts
this army of 900 women and eco men has
been picked. to make the pilgrimage to
what is now their mother country The
Government has provided Eve transports
to bring them. and the people OF Cam
bridge from the college corporation which
has guaranteed $4,000, to the undergrad
uate who has turned over his doruiitory
room. have most enthusiastically united In
preparing to give the strangers welcome.
The austerity and Indifference which some
times hold back the natives OF this old
New England town and the sons of its
college. have been forgotten. The uDiver-
si:y has acted as Major General Wood adj
vised when last spring he telegraphed:
''In no better way can the people of the
United States show interest In the build
ing up of Cuba"
Everything has been made ready for
them. The people OF Cambridge have Of
fered, free of charge. or 1T merely nom
inal rate, enough rooms to accommodate
the women while the undergraduates
themselves have given up some 345 college
rooms for the use Of the men. Students
who lived in private dormitories, and who
could not. therefore. donate the use OF
their rooms, have Clipped in and collected
about $500 for the purchase OF bedding and
linen to supplement the 400 cots with bed
ding which the university corporation IT.
self supplies. Having thus arranged Tor
ali ~~te Hf n
from courses in history to visits to big
factories. have been planned for their In
structicn and amusement. Whether 1t be
a course In English or a trip to suburban
town, the object Of all network done at
Cambridge for these teachers1wiH be to put
back into every Cuban village teacher
who has seen the best side of American
life and who has learned little about the
methods of instruction in the United
States. This effect Is to be obtained not
merely through the instruction given, but
through the sight which these CubaGs will
get of our people and on. homes.
All the instruction Will be in Spanish.
1t will consist of courses in English for
the whole body: courses in physical geos
raphy. illustrated by the stereopticon and
supplemented by excursions in the neigh
borhood OF Boston for the study OF the
causes OF the present form Of the land
scape: courses in history, also illustrated
by the stereopticon. with especial refer
ence to the development OF Mexico Central
America. and the South American Repub-
lies: and fourth. two elective subjects-a
course Of lectures on botany and course
on kindergarten instruction. with practical
demonstration.
The outside excursions, In addition to
those regularly connected with the gsog
raphy and botany courses. VIII include
weekly visits to large industrial firms in
Boston and visits to the many places of
historical interest near Boston.
The coming Of this band Of Cubans has,
OF course. stirred up considerable interest
among the undergraduates. although they
will be away On their summer vacations
when the visitors arrive. A recent number
of the Harvard Lampoon" has cartoon
which hits off fairly accurately the various
points of view from which the Cubaus have
been regarded. There are i've pictures.
One of them represents ministerial per-
sonage in frock coat and eyeglasses. stand
ing with his thumbs and first fingers to-
gether in the traditional manner OF the
stage curate. Behind him is,a bird cage,
sponge hanging to a hook, and a cake OF
soap. This is labeled "As Prexy Sees
Him.
The movement which has resulted in
bringing this big body Of learners TO our
shores was begun By Alexis E. Frye. super
intendent of schools in Cuba, and Ernest
L. Conant, 81. of Havana. The suggestion
of Mr.. Frye was favorably received by
President Elicit and the following telegram
sent to General Wood. who strongly ia
vored the project:
General Wood. Havana:
President and Fellow Harvard University voted
unanimously guarantee $4,000 welcome 1.i59 Gu
ban teachers FRYE.
The corporation then issued a public
statement and appeal for funds. and
Governor Crane of Massachusetts, and
Mayor Champlin of Cambridge simultane-
ously issued official endorsements OF the
plan. There were meetings in Cambridge
and ia Boston and Mr.. Frye. who was
drillmaster at Havana during the Spanish
war period spoke eloQuently Of the cond.-
lions in Cuba and the good that might be
done by such a plan of university extern
sion" In one of these addresses Mr.. Frye.
after speaking of the benefits the Cubans
would directly obtain from their study, |
said They will learn that Bunker Hill |
and Lexingto were the first battlefields OF
Cuban independence.
They will study the problems that cor
frouted cur infant Republic ard will begin |
10 understand what a task lies before |
Cuba. The nightmare OF four centuries
will fade away In the awakening into the |
homes and hearts Of liberty-lovirg Amer
leans. The purpose of our nation wi shine
forth as steady as the pole star. and every
reedle will point to the pledge CT CuAa's
liberty" MIR. Frye then spoke Of the
money that was needed ard appealed d.
rectIy to his hearers with the phrase: ore
hundred thousand dollars viii bring along
the course of the Gulf Stream the grardest /
feet on the nobIest errand that ever sai.ei |
on the waters of the globe, and the law 4
will be Harvard"
President Eliot. at one CT these meetings
held in Sanders Theatre, said he expected |
that the Cubans would get their b=st les
sons through their eyes.
II believe said he, that the shortest |
way OF improving the life. the character |
and the institutions of any people is |
through the children. We groSn-up people |
are, so to speak. finished We have got |
set There is net much progress in us. 1t |
is the children that are to be worked on for |
the growth Of the future. for the increase
of liberty, for the increase OF happiness
and joy And how can we work on the |
Cuban children better than through the
Cuban teachers?" ~ 1T-5u