Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21

and dignified demeanor. Many of the stu
dents were reading from books and, as
they did so. they swayed their bodies bach
and forth as II they had a very loose hinge
at the end of their spines. Some who were
listening to lectures did the same, and we
were told that this gymnastic performance
was introduced at oriental schools ages ago
to keep the students from going to sleep.
We noticed also that everybody was study
ing out loud. This Is the practice in all
eastern countries. No Turk or Chinaman
OF Jew or Arab ever reads to himself. and
he will tell you that 1t Is necessary for him
to hear what he Is reading because he can
not understand its meaning by simply look
ing at the text. When he reads a sentence
SO that he can hear it, he can remember It,
but It IN difficult to learn anything through
the eyes alone. Hence every school you
como to in Japan, China or Egypt. or any
of the other eastern countries, can be heard
almost as far as 1t can be seen, and you
wonder how a teacher can do anything az
long as the murmur Of voices continues.
Several Modern Schools.
There are several schools in Cairo OF
much higher professional standard than FL
Azhar. and they are conducted upon mod
ern methods. In tho city are eight profess
sional schools and technical colleges Of a
very high grade. teaching law. medicine. en-
stneering, chemistry, electricity and other
common people here and in Alexandria and
in some Of the other towns are very good;
but thus far 1t has been impossible to e1-
tend them rapidly through ths smaller
towns and villages because OF lack OF
teachers. The department Of public IN
struction 10 well supported by the govern
ment and 10 doing az much as possible IN
der the circumstances, but the development
of the school system is very slow.
In a recent report the director OF educa-
ton informs us that the number OF teach
ers In the public schools have Increased
from 4eo in 1898 to 1884 in 1908 and the
number of pupils from z, oS4 to 26,6ol, whlch,
of course, Is very encouraging, especially as
the number of girl pupils have increased
from 398 to 2, 14O which shows that light ia
breaking in upon the Egyptian people, ana
that the restriction Of women ID gradually
breaking down. In addition to the public
schools mentioned the number Of ''kuttabs'
or Mohammedan parish schools taught by
teachers whose salaries are paid by the gov
eminent have increased from BOZ to 720, and
the number of pupils from 2.213 to 7.0t9.
Children attending the '1kuttabs" are taught
in the Koran and the principles OF Islam, In
addition to a good primary education and
the government has found 1t necessary to
encourage them because so many strict Mo-
hammedans prefer their children to 60 ig-
norant rather than permit them to attend
any but a church school.
Colleges for Teachers.
lished within the last ten years are begin
ming to be felt In the number Of candidates
who present themselves for examination
The government will not allow incompetent
teachers to take charge, and schools are e.
tabAshed as rapidly as competent teachers
can be found for them. In 1899 SEQ certad-
Gates were granted. the next year !, 753 the
nent 1,915 aud in 1902 2,111. Every sue
cessful candidate who presented himself or
herself was assigned to a school. but many
young Egyptians take advantage Of tho
positions under the government, instead Of
becoming teachers. No distinction Ia made
in the appointments of teachers on account
Of race or religion and last year Of the new
teachers appointed z66 were Moslems. 260
were Christians, 221 were Copts and the re-
maipder Jews. In comparison with their
numbers the Copts furnish more teachers
and more purple than any other race. The
majority Of NohammedanS do not take
much interest In education either for them
selves or thslr children.
In addition TO these government schools
tho superintendant OF education reports at
least 10000 kuttabs. or parish schools, scat
tered over the country. attended By about
100000 children. but they are Of little sdu-
caS5onal va6no because the teachers are
iiHterats many Of than are blind others
are members Of the priesthood and In most
of them the teachinG II without books,
70 naernory extracts from the Koran. When
tho government offers competent teachers
tor these kuttabs. without cost to the "a
irons. and provides Instruction daily for
u1na months OF The year Ia reading, writ
ins. astthmetio end other rudimsntary
brauohes the people are gensyaliy willing
70 accept the aid and thus the kuttabe are
bsing eraAzaally brought under government
Ths schools q law. ms1boins. snulnsseins.
aUrtu1aturo and other bganoha1 Of octenoe