El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-21

Ut HAS BEEN SAID that the educa-
ton which Diaz provided for the
common people and the middle
classes in Mexico resulted in his own
undoing-that he taught them how TO
think. how to advance. now to develop
their social sense, how to demand their
political emancipation. and, at last how
to revolt However thai may be. 1t Is
fact that the educational development
Of Mexico in the last two or three de-
cades furnishes an impressive chapter
in the book of civilization.
Robert H. Murray thus describes Mex
ico's educational methods:
Popular Education.
There was no popular education in
Mexico under Spanish rule. For the
sons Of the wealthy, or those who were
patronized by the opulent, opportunity
for mental training was offered viz
tually only IN two professions. the
priesthood and the law Colleges were
founded, it is true, but, like the schools,
they were under the domination Of
the priests. and no encouragement was
given the children of the poor either
70 seek admittance, or TO prepare them
selves by q course Of preliminary study
to attack the higher citadels OF learn
ing. The priests taught the indians
70 read and write, but only as a means
for spreading the propaganda Of Cath
osicisrh among them The Spaniards
and their priests subscribed to the the
Org that education tended to foment
discomfort and rebelious tendencies
smong the masses. So, generally
speaking, the educational policies Of
the conquerors was repressive.
Yet Mexico saw the birth Of the first
university and the first college upon
the American continent The uniyer-
stty OF Mexico was founded in 1885,
and enjoyed high rank among the
worlds institutions Of learning until 1t
was closed In 1888. One of the pro-
5eets inaugurated by the government
IN celebration of the Mexican centen-
NAL is the reestablishment Of the uni
versity. The National Preparatory
school. which now partakes in part Of
the functions of a national university,
With the scope of the university also
are likely to be brought a number of
thriving and well organized schools Of
higher education, among them the
preparatory school, the national med
ical school. the San Carlos academy of
fine arts, the school Of Jurisprudence,
the agricultural school, the pedagogic
department Of the two normal schools,
tie school of mines and the school Of
engineering, the advanced school Of
Commerce, the national conservatory of
music besides several others The /
college CT san Nicholas de Hidalgo was
founded at Patzcuaro, Micbcacan. in
1870 The first university medical
school in America was that founded by
TIE university of, Mexico in the 16tn
century.
1t was estimated 80 years ago that
less than 10000 Of a total estimated
population Of 1900, 600 could read and
write In the latter part Of the 18th !
century there were only 10 schools in
Mexico President Juarez, in 1857, had
enacted a compulsory education law.
Il remained non-effective until presi-
dent Diaz gave it force and vitality
Education is our foremost interest 1
=
dation Of our prosperity and the cass !
Of cur very existence For this reason (
we are doing all that we can TO
strengthen its activity and Increase is !
power"
Discipline and Cleanliness.
In the primary schools three striking. !
conditions force themselves conspicu-
o1Isly upon the notice. One is the dis
cipline, another IS the cleanliness OF !
the children, and the third is the as
tcnishing proficiency with which they
master the English language. English /
is an important part OF the curriculum. !
When one listens to youngsters of 3 !
and 10 years reading, writing and !
speaking English. comparisons are
forced upon one which are not alto /
gether complimentary to the children
Of similar age in the United States's /
public schools. Perhaps. the reproach /
should be directed tow ard the educa- |
tfonal authorities at home who. are /
prone to underestimate the growing i'm |
portance ard value which foreign Ian
guages should occupy in the education
of the present generation, and who fan |
10 appreciate the fact that a working
knowledge of languages can best be
supplied when the pupil is young
have visited few schools IN the |
United States where the advent of a
visitor evoked so little notice from
the Children or distracted their az 1
tention from their studies so slightly,
as in the Mexican schools.
Children Of wealthy and we11todc |
Mexicans are sent to the public schools.
I watched a son of Jose Yves Liman-
tour, the minister Of finance, sitting at |
4 desk side by side with the son of al
cab driver A subsidiary influence Of /
the present educational system of the /
country would seem to tend toward in /
culcating a spirit Of comradeship and |
democracy among the classes.
Kfndeertens; Night Schools.
Kindergartens and night schools are |
O late manifestation of the expansion /
of the free education in Mexico The |
government pays for all, text books, in
struction, etc. in primary. normal and |
professional schools.
President Diaz turned his attention |
to the education OF the indian children |
nearly 20 years ago. Attendance upon |
study was made compulsory with them. 1
The states have been spurred to ap-
propriste as much money as they can /
afford toward education There IS not /