The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
TEACHING In TIE ARGENTINE.
BRs. BTsCHOFF NOME AFTER 20
YEARS WORK.

- @N" 49, ~ ~
Back 1aedais, Thanks and q Pensisn.
Mrs. George I. BischOn. who since isss
had been n resident Of the krxentins Re-
public and helped 20 establish there a public
school system according to American
methods and ideas. returned 20 this country
recently not only with medals and votes OF
hanks but also with q pension which
viii make her comfortably independents
for the rest of her NE.
Few Americans know the inporrant pars
which DUE country has taken In founding
popular education In the Argentine Replb-
lic.' shss aid when seen &C the hons Of her
sister In Brooklyn. when ths first teachers
from tho United States wore summoned
there there were no public sckeols even
for boys and the higher education Of
women was undrsamed Of.
Now there are thirty-three normal
schools supported by the Government.
two &C Least. n for boys and one for girls.
In zach province Of tho republic; and every
one u these was founded by an American.
The normal school In Parana. which 10 tho
Oldest Of all. 10 ooeducationAi. % 10 also
tho University Of Buenos Ayres; but CO.
education 10 not q wise plan for South
America and all the rest Of the schools
provide separate instruction
The history Of education In Argentina
is most interesting. Il was Just after the
civil war that Domingo Faustine Sar-
miento came TO the United States a. secre-
tary to the Minister from his country at
Washington He was q man Of powerful
intellect and became enthusiastically In
terested in our public institutions.
II travelled all over the country. max
ing a study Of public educat ion through
the normal school system, and became
Thoroughly imbued with the American idea
that the salvation Of a country lies in the
education OF the masses. While still in the
United States he was without his knowl-
edge elected to the Presidency Of his
country. an occurrences which has no
parallel in Argentine history.
Upon his return TO accept this Office,
the Americanization Of Argentina began.
Sarmiento started reforms OF all kinds,
from the institution of street railways to
the opening OF the first free circulating
library; but it was his work for popular
education that won him his proudest title
the 'schoolmaster President
Somewhere between 1877 and 1890
Sarmiento sent to the United states for
several teachers to found and organize
the first normal schools in his country.
About ten went out, but some returned
speedily, discouraged by the uncivilized
state OF the provinces and the immensely
Of the work before them.
Among those who remained, Clara J.
Armstrong and Mary o. Graham, both of
st. Louis, particularly distinguished them
selves, founding two schools which are still
looked upon as models OF excellence. In
fact, it is the Western teacher especially
who has lone splendid work in Argentina
and left her mark upon that country
Mrs. Bischof is herself from st. Louis,
and went to the Argentine in 1888 in re-
Spouse TO the second call for American
teachers issued by Gen. Roca, then Presi-
dent Of the republic. She was one OF
thirty-three women who made a three year
contract with the Argentine Government,
and were promised life pensions if they
should teach for twenty years.
At the time they laughed at the idea Of
staying in South America 40 long. but Miss
Jenny Howard OF Boston, like Mrs. Bischo6.
has returned with the promised pension
this year, and four Others Of the thirty still
remain in Argentina.
When asked about the new woman OF
Argentina, Mrs. Bischoff replied enthusi-
asticauy that she had everything before
her.
Especially of late the country has been
taking such great strides forward. y she
said, that the ambitious woman may hope
for any degree Of advancement and recog-
milton. Schools are ~springing up every
where, and the demand for teachers,
especially for such as have university
degrees, is
When she first arrived in the Argentine,
Mr. RiGOhnH want 10 San .Ilan Altar
two years there she became principal Of the
normal school in Rosario, in the province OF
Santa Fe, a place which she held n
her resignation.
America. The building is a marble struct-
ure, covering a full city block, n over
looking a park. In its school rooms all
grades are taught, the girls starting in
the kindergarten and going straight
through until they gain their teachers
when / became principal the scholars
numbered $780, said Mrs. Bischoff. When
I resigned, there were 800 girls in the school
and the children Of my first pupils we're
starting in the kindergarten
The standard of education il Just as
high as that in the United States. The
Argentine girl IL very ambitious and very
studious, excelling in languages and
history. Her memory Is 40 excellent that
it is with difficulty that she is taught TO
recite her lessons without using the exact
words of the book. Science and mathe-
MATES, however, come hard 70 these South
American girls.
Courtesy IL an Unborn instinct with
these people. The poorest street arab
has finer manners than any American boy
/ ever met. The girls are sweet, traotable,
and until about "a years old, when they
grow too stout, are usually beautiful.
They lack the independent self-con-
ddence OF the American girl. which Is
the result OF association with men. The
Argentine girl Is brought up without mascu-
line society Of any kind; Is not even allowed
10 speak alone to the man she Is TO marry.
Happy marriages possible under this
systemf Well. certainly as much so as
in the United States, where the opposite
kind prevails. In fact, my residence in
South America has convinced me that
the freedom of intercourse which the girl
here enjoys with nen il an evil.
Divorce il not found necessary in the
Argentine. A divorce law does, indeed,
exist, but as remarriage Is not permitted
it is practically worthless.
The great ambition OF every Argentine
girl Is 70 marry. After marriage a woman's
ideal h TO have a large family. Ten or
twelve children Is the average number in
a household. There ia one woman who
has foartaan zpna all Of whom ara carving