Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17

good salaries are paid to the teachers: all
pupils entitled to equal care and in
struction. and a teacher who accepts pay
in any form excep. the regular salary, for
feits his position.
us English to be taught in the schools?"
system of Teaching.
1.-THE Cuban children are to be taught in
their own language This is the quickest
and best means of unfolding their minds,
ana it brings to the school room native men
and women who are in perfect sympathy
with Cuban childhood. with its tendencies
its customs. it's sensibilites. Not only does
this plan promise the best result for the
pupils, but it also encourages thousands of
young men and women to fit themselves fer
educational work Most of these teachers
enter the school room without experience.
and many of them with scanty education,
but with unbounded enthusiasm The great
work in the island will be the training of
this army of teachers in the school room,
for it is not possible to reach these teachers
through the regular normal schools. The
best teachers. therefore. will be selected
and prepared to visit towns in all parts of
the island. to gather together the teachers
for evening instruction in both subject mat
ter and methods of teaching. Temporary
normal schools will also be provided for the
teachers during vacation periods. Pam
ph1ets upon methods of teaching are being
prepared for weekly distribution to all
schools.
plans are being made to establish perma-
rent normal schools. into which. as in
structors. will be gathered such teachers
show the greatest skill this year in help
ing teachers now in the public schools
With all these advantages teachers are
instructed to prepare for examination with
a view to receiving certificates before next
September. Thereafter certificates of quail
fcation will be required. The Cuban peo-
pie are eager to learn English, and special
teachers will be provided this year, but all
A@-~
the study of this branch in prepar alton for
the later teaching.
How does the pay of these teachers
compare with the pay of teachers; in the
United States?
Paid Good Salaries.
I'm fixing the salaries of teachers in Cuba
it was necessary to keep in mind former
conditions in the island, especially that
condition which provided a dwelling for
the family of the teacher. To. Americans
accustomed to their own mode of living,
and also in view of the fact that most of
the teachers in Cuba have received but
little training for their work, the salaries
paid in the island will seem very high
Thus in Havana the lowest salary paid to a
public school teacher $4,000 Is % per cent
above the average of the highest salaries
paid in fifteen of the largest cities of the
United States. Seven other cities in Cuba
receive exactly this average of highest
salaries in the same great cities of our
country, while the lowest salary paid to
regular teacher in the public schools of
Cuba is 5000 per year. Thus the best
young men and women of Cuba are en-
couraged to join in this work.
Did the Cubans have any school build
ings?"
ITO one who is accustomed said Mr.
Frye. ito see the beautiful school build
ings in the large cities of the United States
and the pretty country schools scattered
over it. the Island of Cuba presents a sad
picture. With over two hundred thousand
children of school age. and with a COM
pulsory attendance law, there is scarcely
dollars worth of public school property.
Even in the cities it is difficult to find
vacant buildings in good sanitary surround
ings and with good conditions as to light
and ventilation. In the rural districts the
condition is still worse for in many parts
of the island there is absolutely no place
for school. and the people who are now
pushing out over the deserted farms are at
present scarcely able to provide homes.
Under these circumstances plans are be-
ing made to construct school houses at the
expense of the state, and it is hoped that
little school buildings, constructed on mod.
plans, will soon form the nucleus OF
every Cuban village. Meanwhile teachers
will be provided and supplies sent to every
point where not less than fifteen children
can be gathered into group under some
temporary shelter. What an opportunity is
here given to the hundreds of wealthy and
generous people of the United States to
present to each of the small villages of Gu
found permanent school. and thus relieve
the island of this part of the great expense
of founding a school system
How the Money in Raised.
How is money provided for the schools?'
1.-The new school law of Cuba Is unique
Nowhere else in the world, perhaps, is there
a state paper which, after compelling every
child of school age to attend a public school,
places system of such schools at the dis
posal of the people without one cent of di-
rect tax and without one cent of local eX-
pense, providing, 1t does, the entire
amount from the receipts of the custom
houses. Under this law the state pays the
salaries of teachers and janitors. the rent
of buildings, the cost of books, ordinary
supplies and school furniture, and all sala-
ries for supervision, and it even proposes to
begin the erection of school buildings
THE future Of the school work In Cuba
Is bright, because the people want educa-
ton; intelligent men and women are join
ing heartily in the work: the state is pro-
viding generously for equipment the indus
trial conditions of the island are promising;
the children are naturally bright and intel
Hgent; and as the years roll by the Cuban
people cannot fail to become more and
more enthusiastic, as those who re now
in the schools grow to be the men and wo-
men who are to rule the destinies of the