Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-07
ASIA MINOR SCHOOLS
Widespread Influence of
American Teacher.
OVER 10000 STUDENTS
Natives Appreciate Education and
Are Willing to Pay for It.
FREE SERVICES NOT GIVEN
Experience Has Shown That More
Good Has Been Obtained by Re-
quiring Compensation.
FREE SERVICES NOT GIVEN
BY WILLIAM F. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
CONSTANTINOPLE. September IL, 1910.
There were al last accounts 427 Ameri-
can schools in Asia Minor, with from 49,
OCn to 5000 students in all grades, from
kindergartens to theological seminaries.
The lower grades are entirely supported
by the patrons: the higher grades require
a certain amount of assistance to main
tain high standard. but no more than
corresponding institutions in the United
States. There arc hospitals connected
with most of them which are also very
important. In almost every case they are
the only places in those sections of the
country where the sick may receive medi-
cines and care. Some of the hospitals
are practically self-supporting, the fees
of the patients and the sums paid for
medicines being sufficient to meet the
cost of attendance, supplies and care.
Few of the schools receive financial as
sistance from missionary boards, and
whenever assistance is given it is with
the understanding that it shall diminish
as the income Of the school increases.
The people for whom these institutions
are provided appreciate the value Of edu-
CdtiOiI dhu diC WILING ~ pNS "AA~~ ~--S'
can for it, Methods of selI-help are pro-
vided for students who cannot pay their
tuition, so that their self-respect and in
dependence are not disturbed: In the
same way provision is made for BOOKS:
| In the hospitals no one who Is worthy Is
ever refused treatment or medicine, but
those who are able to pay are required
to do So
fixed rule from the beginning IN all mis-,
sionary work in Turkey, and 1t has proved
to be one of the most important features
could accomplish more good by requiring
compensation for all services rendered,
because, in the orient. as elsewhere: no no
nothing. Parents and pupils would De IN
different regarding attendance II the
schools were free; books would pc easily
lost or damaged or destroyed II they hao
not been paid for; and where assistance
is rendered to individuals 1t IS arranged
| in such q way that the beneficiary snail
be impressed with the value OF what ne
is receiving.
Training for Citizenship.
The FIVE colleges and the many pre-
paratory and high schools for men and
women in Asia Minor have not less
than six thousand students who are
being. trained for useful citizenship in
l
lted sciences, agriculture. chemistry.
!, pharmacy, engineering and even man
| ual training The courses OF study
are adapted to the needs OF the coun-
try and with view to qualifying the
l'students for the highest service Tor
their own people There are six theo-
logical seminaries training young men
for the ministry. Two OF them are IN
tended especially for workers among
Arabic speaking people; one for WORK
|
Turks and another for Greeks and Bull
garians.
In these seminaries the largest num-
Der Of students are natives OF turkey:
Some Of the graduates have aiterwaro
had the benefit Of postgraduate train
ing in Europe or the United states.
but that is not encouraged. 1t has
been demonstrated by many cases tnat
students from Turkey who go to the
United States find it difficult to return
), to their native country. while others
are made disconnected by the diner
ences in conditions
1t is the policy to employ native
teachers and professors, SO 1ar as Is
consistent with maintaining high IN
tellectual and moral tone In the
schools That is the rule in all lines
of work No missionary is ever pastor
of a native church. He supervises ano
| directs, but he leaves the dcIl'o WI
to the natives.
Perhaps the greatest value OF the edu-
cational work done in Turkey by the
American missionaries has been It's 1nflu-
ence upon native educational methods: IN
setting q standard to native schools; In
furnishing text books and In awakening
an ambition for learning. These mission
airy schools have in large measure
caused a revolution in the social lie OF
Turkey Men and women who have grad
luated or have taken partial courses COM
mand the best positions In commerce ano
trade and have been most successful In
professional life. Their services are
sought for. and they are apie 70 com
mand larger salaries than others who
have not enjoyed their advantages. Large
numbers of former students are pros.
porous business men in the prlnclpa
cities of Turkey, while others are the
Most of them are examples in the eyes
of the community of the benefit and the
value of an educational training.
The College at Beirut.
The college at Beirut is not included
in the estimate 1 have made. 1t was
esta blished in 1866 by Rev. Daniel Bliss
who remained at the head of it until a
few years since, when his son succeeded
him. 1t is one of the most successful
educational institutions in all the world
and one of the most prosperous. 1t mas
campus of over forty acres; mode
plant of dormitories, laboratories and lee
ture rooms for between 100 and SoO stu,
dents. representing fourteen different
races and nationalities. No other insti'
tuition between Athens and Toxic com
pares with 1t.
The International College at Smyrna Is
the youngest of the group of American
institutions. having been established ir
1907 Under the direction of DR.. Alexan
der .MacLaclan it has had remarkable
success and has not only become SELF
supporting, but two or three years age
the trustees were astonished to find q
surplus in their treasury. There is g
faculty of twenty-five professors and IN
structors and between $50 and 400 stu
dents, the largest number being Greeks
The International College has wide
field, because Smyrna Is the second city
in Asiatic Turkey, whose cosmopolitan
and enterprising population. previous II
it's foundation. had no educational privi
leges nearer than Beirut or Athens, ant
sent their young men to European uni
verSities.
The great popularity and success OF thu
college has undoubtedly been due to 1t:
nOn-sectarian policy, and while the chris
tian religion is the corner stone OF IT
foundation and attendance at chapel exer
| cises and Protestant worship is required
of Jews, Greeks and Mohammedans as wei
as Christian students. every tendency t!
nroselyting is avoided The courses ar
especially strong in the scientific branches
and the college has been made a govern
ment meteorological station. with a seis
nograph. full set of apparatus for re
cording the weather and for taking tn,
| Tho American College for Girls In