New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
TEACHERS IN CUBA.
THE SIX WEEKS TERM PROMISES WELL
AT HARVARD-STUDIEST TO
BE TAKEN UP.

Cambridge. Mass July CspeciaD.-Harvard
University IS now engaged in earnest in the
work Of giving TO 1,21 school teachers from Cuba
all the useful instruction that can be crowded into
six short weeks With the arrival Of the trans
port Mcclellan IN Boston Wednesday evening the
difficult task Of getting together these teachers
from every part Of the island and sending them
to the United States was successfully completed
and on Thursday the various classes were organ
ized for work The Cuban visitors have entered
into the work laid out for them with an eager
ness promising excellent results.
In planning the course to be given, President
Eliot and Superintendent Frye have found 1t nee
essary 10 pursue a vigorous policy Of elimination
The number Of subjects in which Harvard Univer-
sity could give the visitors instruction OF great
value Is almost unlimited, but the number al
lowed by a six weeks term is exceedingly small.
Accordingly only those which promise the best
results have been admitted Naturally. English
stands at the head OF the list, and in this the
visitors will be literally hustled" every one not
already speaking the language having two recta-
tions a DAY Indeed they began TO learn English
as soon the transports left Cuba, and are eX-
ceedingly quick 10 learn common words and
phrases. The English department IS directed by
Professor z. c. Hills. Of Rollins College, Florida
Next in Importance comes American history.
which Will be taught in a course OF eighteen lect-
ures illustrated with lantern slides, by Professor
P 3. Marcou and Dr.. J. D. N. Ford. both Of Har-
ward IN the teaching OF history the aim Will be
10 deal with more than mere historical facts. Par
7icular attention viii be paid TO the nature OF
American political institutions, with q view to
showing that selfgovernment is matter OF steady
growth and must rest upon firm foundations here
will be emphasized the function OF the public school
in fitting each citizen for his share OF political
responsibilities. and the high regard in winch the
schooIteacher's calling should be held
Indeed the attitude Of the people OF the United
states toward the school will seem TO them In
narl,ed contrast TO that OF the Spanish Govern
rnent under which theyh suffered so long. The
teachers say that in the time Of the spaniards
school teaching woefully poor business. ana
the uhrase LAS hungry a schoomasteT" was
used 10 describe extreme poverty. one eloerly
woman has been teaching for twenty-five years TOT
the love OF it. those among her pupils VINO couio
afford Il giving her something every month. super
intendent Frye has changed all this injecting ne"
life everywhere. securing the teachers auequaIe
nov and sending modern school furniture and
equipments all over the island. -
In the way of professional instruction there VIII
he two illustrated lectures on The OrgaIlzd'lon
and Management Of American Schools Dy 4. L.
Morse, Of Chicago; a course of lectures IN Klnue
eartening for the women teachers, conducted py
Miss Laura Fisher, and course in American siolo
for the men, conducted by MI LARSON lhcI-
dentally W. c. Lane, librarian OF Harvard Will
give two illustrated lectures on Free PUBIC Ii
braries {" with q view to assisting the future de-
veloprnent Of these institutions in the Cuban towns
These are only some Of the more salient points OF
the curriculum and indicate in way its general
chaIS-cteE @ roL er, closely in large numbers
5be C,bans themselves are an interesting stuuy'
THE impression that they have maze Is an eAceeu-
fDgiv Favorable one. They appear to be, win rev
exceptions an earnest Intelligent ana AMBITIOUS
stiI1 more interesting the average observer
Icz-eyer is their personal appea rance Asoe from
eoroa racial characteristics which they all nave IN
coIT,on the gathering contains all sorts Of people
they are of all ages from seventeen TO seventy;
indeed one woman has grandsons IN the party:
some are talkatiYe while others are sober ana
sboy the effects OF personal bereavement In feat
1reg and color they vary widely, some being OF the
rf1rest Spanish blood; others. however. appear to
have a considerable element or the AFRICAN aho OF
the American Indian. II Is said that the latter
case is the more frequent. There is q stlu W1der
divergence in their manner OF dressing. Many
have procured clothing OF the ordinary American
s+yle while others the characteristic southern
attire which they brought from Cuba The wide
brimrned sombrero IS especially Noticeable among
the men
On July L. when nearly all appeared in their best,
q visit to the college yard was as good as being
IN Cuba on a fete day It was on the Fourth, too,
that more than a thousand Of the visitors formed
IN line and marched TO the Washington Elm, rever-
entity placing an immense wreath on the stone tab
let underneath and shouting repeated "Vivas' for
the Father OF His Country
Among the there many of that pecul-
modest and unassuming and spoken Of in the
highest terms by the Cambridge women who
taking Of them.
II is interesting quote the words in which Pres
ident Eliot welcomed the teachers IN Sanders The
Thursday morning. TO you,' he said, the
university represents the intelligence and goodwill
OF The American people and their accumulated re-
sources education To the university you repre-
sent the intelligence and goodwill OF the Cuban peo-
pie, and their educational ambition and hope. To-
gether going TO try unique experiment
IN mutual service. We going 10 how much
y enlarge each others minds and synpathies
in six weeks filled with common labors and de-
lights"