Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-27

European which gives him such won
derful control over the physical forces
of nature. As to all other branches of
earning-literature, philosophy and
history-the Chinese stlll desplsed the
western learning as inferior to his own.
The Japanese government gladly lent
its aid for purposes only too obvious.
Japanese teachers, nearer at hand,
cheaper and fellow Orientals, were in
vited to come to China, and they re-
sponded by the thousands Tens of
thousands of Chinese went to Toxic,
where they believed they could learn all
the western sciences in six months.
Many persons believed then that the
"Japanization" of China was inevita-
BILE. But 1t was not long until the thor
oughgoing Chinese discovered the dis
appointing superdciality of the western
learning as infiltrated through Japan.
The laundering diplomacy of Japan has
tended to ALLEVIATE the two nations, and
the power of the Japanese influence in
Chinese education is rapidly diminish
ing.
Tho greatest advance made In the
cause of the new education in the four
years since its establishment has been
In the province of Chilli, over which the
progressive Yuan Shih-lxai was former
ly ruler Some of the institutions -four
ishing there antedate the imperial de-
cree, but have since then been merged
into the general system. In Chill there
Is an imperial university at Tien Tsin,
a medical college of high grade, anoth-
er higher college, over ninety normal
COLLEGES for training teachers, nearly
forty ''middIe schools" corresponding
to American high schools and college
preparatory academies, and no fewer
than 5000 primary schools under the
new system.
In addition to this provision for aca-
demic training, much attention Is paid
to technical education of the kind most
suited to the people and the country
The Industrial high school in Tien
| Tsin is an institution of which any
western city might be proud, and the
Agricultural high school affords oppor-
tunity for the advanced work in scien-
tific study for the students from the
score of primary agricultural schools of
the province. This is evidence of the
intention of the Chinese to turn the
new education" to practical use.
Not least among the innovations
brought about by the new order OF ed
ucation is the establishment of schools
for girls-something absolutely un-
heard of a few years ago. These
schools often provide for instruction In
English as well as Chinese, and in most
of them sewing and other domestic sci
ences are taught.
| 1t must not De tnIeIT0u lndL lflbSo
! institutions have the effectiveness of
old established schools of like grade in
! the western countries. 1t would be
| impossible for even so clever people
as the Chinese to do at n stroke what
| other people have been able to do only
after years of toll. 1t is true, how
ever that the progress in educational
work is marvelously rapid and the
foundation for an effective system has
been laid. The great difficulty at pres
ent is the lack of a sufficient number
| of competent teachers, and progress
halts on that account.
It Is an illustration of the distinct
| lively Chinese attitude toward education.
that all of the provisions for the new
| learning are absolutely free and are
| open to the son of the poorest coolie
as well as the scion of noble family.
instruction Is free, and in the middle
schools the students are boarded ana
] even clothed. at public expense.
The middle schools are the most Inn
portant factors in the new system as
worked out in China Physical train
| ing Is emphasized, military drills are
| instituted in the lower schools, and In
| the higher colleges the students wear
military uniforms and are put through
military maneuvers. The object is to
| inculcate military spirit, and develop
! n Chinese patriotism. The textbooks
| impress upon the students the duty of
developing the power of China, the dan
ger of military weakness, and the I'M
portance of self-sacrifice for national
| interests. The story of the rapid de-
velopment of the power of Prussia and
| Japan is told to illustrate the argument
and inspire the students.
Chinese boys who used to wonder
why the rich foreigner did not hire a
coolie to play his tennis game are now
as wildly enthusiastic over college
sports as western students ever were.
! Athletics are a part of the new educa-
| tion. and the Chinese are being taught
| that scholarship and bodily activity are
not necessarily antagonistic. This edu-
cational evolution Is of wonderful Sig
nifcance. If history shall ever record
the renascence of the Chinese empire
as one of the chief powers of the world,
! a large share OF the credit must be
| given to the imperial edict OF 1905,
which abolished the old and established
the new education.
Tomorrow-In Modern China; Vm-oe-
| IestIaI Tariff Reform.