Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-25
IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Tendencies as Noted Among
the Spanish Americans.
REVIEW OF WIDE FIELD
National University in Argentine
Republic q Notable Institution.
FOUNDED ON MODERN LINES
Conditions in Mexico-Ten Thou
sand Public Schools and Uni
versity in Prospect.
REVIEW OF WIDE FIELD
FOUNDED ON MODERN LINES
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
r. S. Packard has recently prepared a
very interesting paper upon The Modern
Aspect of Higher Education in Spanish
American Countries" which will be pub
lished in the forthcoming report of the
bureau of education. The purpose OF the
paper is to impress the reader with the
almost exclusively modern spirit and the
practical tendency Of the instruction given
in the institutions for higher education In
| Mexico. Central and South America and
the West Indies with view to inn
proving their material condition.
Mr.. Packard suggests that perhaps
| one of conservative taste would feel some
| regret at seeing that. the humanities,
which have been a guiding influence In
modern civilization, beside affording those
graces of literary culture that have al
| ways been conspicuous in the mental
equipment of Latin peoples are so reso-
lutely suppressed in the courses of stud
les as to give unusual prominence to
scientific and technical training But
he need have no anxiety on this account.
The writer calls special attention to
the new National University in the Ar
gentine Republic, the organization of
which was completed only three years
ago upon the same plan as the state uni
versities of Wisconsin, Michigan and Ilii-
nois. for instruction in modern branches
of study and has faculties of natural
science mathematics, physics law, social
science, pedagogy. agriculture and vet
Urinary surgery.
the most modern and perhaps the most
progressive on the American continent,
and Is intended to educate men for the
development of the mineral and agricul-
tural wealth of the country, to cultivate
and preserve the forests. to extend the
railway system, to train engineers FOR
the navy and veterinary surgeons for
the ranches and breeding farms.
Similar Institution in Uruguay.
There is an institution across the River
Plata in Uruguay for similar purpose.
in which DR.. Salmon formerly of our
Agricultural Department, and several
other Americans have chairs. DR.. Gu
do Whitman. president of the republic.
was rector of the institution at the time
he was chosen to the executive chair.
The Uruguay University has replaced
an ancient institution, while that in the
Argentine Republic is entirely new and
does not interfere in any way with an
other at CordOva, at the foot OF the An
des, which is one of the oldest in Amer
lea and has graduated some very dis
the control of the Catholic Church, but
many years ago was taken over by the
department of education. The astronom-
ical observatory connected with the Cor
dova University is one of the most ia
nous in the world, and for many years
University and other astronomers from
the United States. A great deal of impor-
tant work has been done there in complet-
ing a map of the southern heavens. The
Uruguay National University has schools
of medicine. commerce, engineering. agri-
culture, veterinary science, art, law and
architecture, with excellent faculties in
each.
Mexico to Have University.
Neither Brazil nor Mexico ever had a
university, although the latter govern
ment Is preparing to establish one to be
| inaugurated next year. on the centennial
anniversary Of the declaration OF Next
| can independence by Padre Hidalgo. Pres
| ident Diaz has erected three buildings at
| the expense Of the national treasury-a
central building with an amphitheater
where scientific conventions and confer
ences may be held: another for the school
of law. and a third for the scnool Of med
icine.
The only institution resembling uni
| versity ever established in Mexico was
under the care of the Jesuits. and at one
time was very influential but when they
were expelled from the country 1t was
closed. During Spanish domination edu-
ca ton was entirely in charge or the JeSu-
it's, the Dominicans and Franciscans, and
| the scope of instruction was limited to
| ,nY
until 1867, when Juarez became president.
that Mexico ever had anything like an
| educational system, and even then 1t was
more theoretical than practical until Diaz
made it one of the features OF his admin
istratve policy.
Free Schools Numerous.
| There are now more than 10000 free
public schools In Mexico, with 1900
| teachers and an average attendance OF
more than 600, 600 pupils; sixty-three col
leges, twenty normal schools for men and
| for women, Industrial schools in every
province. schools Of law, medicine. agri-
| culture, commerce, mining, electricity.
| engineering, etc. all supported by the
| government at an annual cost Of $500
| OOO, and the only official school l know
! for the education of young men for the
| diplomatic, consular and civil service
While appointments to official positions
| are not confined entirely to the graduates
of this school, nearly every graduate
| finds place under the government
Mexico supports twenty or more young
men in foreign universities, in Paris and
elsewhere, who are studying music. archi-
! lecture, painting, sculpture and engineer
| ing.
Oldest in America.
| The oldest university in America is San
| Marcos at Lima, Peru. which was found
ed by Emperor Charles v of Spain In lool
| with faculties Of theology, Jurisprudence.
medicine, philosophy and political science.
For two and a half centuries, while under
the control of the Dominican monks. 1t