The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-28
by FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

public school system includes every
grade from the kindergarten to the
technical college for postgraduate
work for university students. The sys-
tenn Is modelled upon that prevailing
in the United States. and the expense
is borne partly by the nation, partly
by the prefecture and partly by the
municipality or district. But the en-
tire Japanese school system costs only
$25, 10000 a year, less than the annual
city Of New York.
Nevertheless, 1t Is a fact that ninety
Ave per cent. OF all the children OF
school age in Japan are actually re-
ceiying instruction in the schools, a
record which cannot be approached in
America. and which Will be equaled In
very few Individual States or cities.
Japan has over seven million children
In school, and not quite four hundred
thousand out OF school. Even these
tensely paternal Japanese government
requires its subjects to be educated.
and the compulsory education law Is
enforced with great rigor.
1t Is uttarly unfair to judge the Jap
anese schools by the amount OF money
everything else, the great difference in
cost Of living comes In again. A Japa-
nese school teacher will work whole
year for salary Of $40, and feel all
right about 1t. This scale OF wages
seems pitifully parsimonious when
compared with that in America. yet
every one knows that teachers In the
United States are underpaid. 1t is a
commentary. however. upon American
standards that the s40-a-year teacher
is not left to starve in old age or sick
ness: his salary goes on under teach
er's pension arrangement when he be-
comes incapacitated for work
Again. 1t is possible for young man
to study two years in preparatory
school and then take full four years
La year. Not only is it possible. but
thousands of young men are doing it.
One great private university In Tokyo
has 5000 students, and the whole body
does not spend as much in year for
board. tuition. books and incidental
expenses AS an equal number Of Amer
lean university students will spend
each year on the Yale Harvard foot
ball game. The government has esti-
mated the expenses of education to 4
can educate their children from the
elementary course to the highest de-
gree for n total cost of $500. This
includes tuition. board. medical attend
ance and books for six years in the
elementary stage, Ave years in the in
university.
In the higher institutions OF learn
ing care Is taken that the estimate of
cost is not exceeded. At the central
universities each prefecture maintains
It's own lormitory, in which are housed
the students from that prefecture. The
parents pay a lump sum to the mana
ger, which Is to ncluue every expense.
II the expense exceeds the estimate,
the deficit is paid by the prefectural
treasury in the form of subsidy. At
one of these dormitories hundred
boys will live in quarters which would
not suffice ten Americans, and the ex-
pense will rarely be greater than $3.50
a month for each boarder The food
is rice and fish. of course except that
times substituted for the rice.
The only weak point about the Japa-
nese school system, so far as the Japa-
nese are concerned, is that the higher
institutions can by no means accom-
modate the students who apply for ad;
School Of Tokyo is a school compare.
BILE to the large business colleges OF
the United States. The annual tuition
lis $3.50. Last year there were 1900
buildings are 50 small and tho appro;
priation so limited that only $40 could
be admitted There Is a three-year
course. and the total enrolment is l..
200. although the plant was designed
to accommodate but 500. The same
in the country. although the greater
number of applicants are turned down
BY the technical schools. Five hun
dred applicants desired to enroll them
electricity, but only 100 could be re-
ceived. These technical schools en-
brace every branch of Industrial and
engineering study, and every one Is
lfull to overlooking. The agricultural
and forestry colleges show the same
The Tokyo Fine Arts School has
classes In Japanese painting, Euro.
poan. painting, designing, sculpture
and in this Institution but few more
than half of the applicants We're adj
mitted last year. Then there is the
Academy Of Music. a school which
seems STRANGELY ont Of place ll Y, In ! tbs
country which, to Occidental ears
melody. But the figures show that the
Japanese boys and girls are willing tt
learn, for there were thousand new
freshman class last year, only $50 be
ling admitted 1t is partly from thi:
school that the Japanese hands are re,
cruited, and Judging, by, the program.
| playeu Oy 2lllESc DdHuo, t!lc f9l1OoN pOPu'
| lar kind OF Occidental music is what
Americans call rag time" That there
| is an essential difference between this
Institution and many American con,
servatories" is proved by the fact thai
| Of a class Of 262 only fifteen passed
| the examination and We're graduated
The Intensely paternal government
i OF Japan has attempted to supply
every seeker for education, general o.
Especial, with the school to meet hi:
needs. That 1t has failed In this ha!
/ been due 10 the lack Of money. FOL
school buildings cost money. ans
teachers salaries, even those III Japan
amount up. Therefore the Imperia
Department ,of Education is .encouragl
Ing the establishment of private
schools There arc already many pri
yate colleges for teaching special PRO,
fessional courses, and a great number
i OF Theological schools, Christian an6
lBuddhist. Two private dlnlversltie,
frank we'll up with the Imperial uniYer,