The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-06-27


work is done by those schools in be-
half of the Japanese.
At present there is need for all the
schools that can be established. The
demand for education is greater than
the facilities. But steadily the condi-
tions are changing and students will
soon cease to attend mission schools
merely for the reason that they can
find room elsewhere. What, then,
is to be the future of the mission
schools, maintained at so great cost?
The missionaries make prompt an
swer that it is needed to provide the
nation with Christian leaders and
teachers; ii Christian colleges are a
necessity in America, they say, much
more so here.
But find educational experts
drawing the deadly parallel. They
declare that, from an educational
standpoint the mission schools are
now generally inferior to those main
tanned by the government. Even in
the study Of English a government ex-
aminer assured me, the mission
schools, despite their high proportion
of foreign teachers, are below the
level OF other schools. Mission work
ers themselves say that all persons
who come out to be teachers should
be required to possess a teachers GER
tificate, as well as a college educa-
ton. | am told that the Kobe college
for young women, maintained by the
Congregational Woman's Board of
Missions of the Interior, Chicago, and
| the Presbyterian school for young
women, Toxic, still rank among the
leading girls schools in Japan; but
even these feel the changed condi-
tions, On all sides l hear that the
Congregational kindergarten and
training school for kindergartners at
Kobe, conducted by Miss Howe, cas-
lily leads in this form of instruction,
and it would rank with the best insti-
tutions of similar nature at home.
What Japan Wants from America.
In conference with a score of Japa-
nese leaders, only two white men be-
sides myself being present, bluntly
asked what Japan thinks of the mis-
sionaries, and what form of mission
work now needs doing, By common
consent their spokesman was a man
whose conspicuous work has won him
a decoration from the emperor, and as
his judgment comedies with the views
expressed to me by other candid Jap
anese, ! quote his opinion:
Japan most needs help in educa.
tion and philanthropy. If mission
schools are to be maintained, let them
be ,first-class as schools. But If Amer
ica really wants to help us most eff
fectually she should send teachers
strong, able, Christian teachers, to
enter the various middle and higher
government schools throughout the
empire. Every one of these would
welcome such one to teach English
Then by his influence and by person
al work, which after all is what
counts for most, he could do untold
good in shaping Christian character
JuC OupohSoO IC
spect teachers, and especially foreign
teachers; and such men would have
more weight than those whose bust
ness it is to come out and try to max,
Christians"
This man had in mind somethins
even further advanced than the worl
of the Young Mems Christian Associa
, ton teachers. The latter are men sc
) lected by the international Y. M. c
A., with headquarters in New York
These men receive no mission all
! whatever; they have an absolutel
Independent relation with the govern
ment and are supported entirely b
their salaries. But by means of Bibl
= classes, personal conversation, the iI
. PRODUCTION of the students into thei
8 homes to learn foreign ways and tn
r creation of foreign literature, they ar
3 doing an immeasurable service 70
I Christianity. Japan is eager. to IL
r crease the number Of these men ant
d as one of the teachers said to me
Y There is no better place in the worl
e for a qualified American who want
s to do a great educational work tina
b right here"
- Student immortality.