The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-06-28

TO, the protestant Episcopal, PreSby-
terrain and joint Methodist Episcopal
schools at Toxic, the German Re
formed school at Sendai and the
Southern Methodist school at Kobe,
may be cited as conspicuous exam.
ples-is beyond the knowledge of the
people of America That one country
should contribute such tremendous
influences to the upbuilding of an
other is certainly an evidence of the
altruistic character of Christian mis-
sions. While it is true that by far
the larger proportion of the gradu-
ates become Christian it is also true
that a disinterested philanthropic
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-
tons 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; if Christian colleges are a
] necessity in America, they say, much
more so here.
But I 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 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 teachers GER
tificate, as well as college educa-
ton. l 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-
lions. On all sides I 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-
ton and philanthropy. If mission
schools are to be maintained, let them
be 1rst-class as schools. But If Amer
lea 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 a one to teach English.
Then by his influence and by person
al work, which after all is what
counts for most, he could do untol4
good in shaping Christian character
among the students. Japanese re-
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 make
i Christians"
This man had in mind something
even further advanced than the work
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 aid
| whatever, IuSy nave an absolutely
independent relation with the govern
ment and are supported entirely by
their salaries. But by means of Bible
classes, personal conversation, the in
PRODUCTION of the students into their
homes to learn foreign ways and the
creation of foreign literature, they are
doing an Unreasonable service for
Christianity. Japan is eager to in
crease the number of these men and,
as one of the teachers said to me,
There is no better place in the world
for qualified American who wants
to do great educational work than
right here"
i Student immortality.
i The whole student problem in Japan
must be viewed from moral side
While morals and ethics have place
in the curricula of all higher schools,
they have not an equal place in the
conduct of the young people whom
they are supposed to affect The min.
lister of education and other national
leaders are frankly alarmed over the