Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-09
SCHOOLS IN TURKEY
American Missionaries Start
Boom in Education.
SOURCE OF TEACHING FORCE
Desire for Learning Manifested
Among Women and Men.
COLLEGES FOR BOTH SEXES
Institutions Unable to Make Room
for More Than Half the
Eager Applicants.
SOURCE OF TEACHING FORCE
COLLEGES FOR BOTH SEXES
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The educational boom which has begun
in Turkey is throwing a bright light upon
the American missionary colleges in that
country, which, until now. have afforded
the only opportunity for higher education
Within reach Of the ambitious young men
and women of the Ottoman empire. And
today they are the only source Of sup
ply for teachers for the schools that the
government is establishing. The release
OF the women OF Turkey from the re-
strictions that have kept them in Sc
clusion, well as the universal desire
for modern knowledge on the part of
the men. has increased the importance of
these institutions, and, at the same time,
has caused them the greatest embar-
rassment, because there they are COM
PEELED to turn away half of the students
that should have the chance to learn, be-
cause there is no room for more. Only
a few years ago these institutions were
the object of suspicion on the part of the
Turkish authorities: today they are looked
upon as sources of salvation for a gov
eminent which cannot respond to the
demands of it's people without their aid.
Robert College at Constantnople is one
OF the most conspicuous and best known
monuments of human interest in that
city. The American college at Beirut is
even larger, and has exerted similar
influence in the development of modern
civilization in the near east.
Other Noteworthy Institutions.
But there are other institutions in the
interior Of Turkey, which cannot be
reached by tourists because of the long
distances and the lack of transportation
facilities, that today are of even greater
Importance than either of those just
mentioned. because they are the only
hope of the ambitious: the only places
where modern learning is taught in a
population of thirty millions Of people.
Young men of Constantinople, Smyrna
and the Syrian coast can go to Greece,
Italy or Austria, but young men in the
Interior of Asia Minor are walled in from
such privileges by distance and the diff
ficultieS of travel.
One of the most important Of the Amer
lean colleges in the interior of Turkey Is
situated at Harpoot, capital OF the prov
ince of Mamuretta- ul-Aziz, the most
populous and prosperous section Of east
ern Turkey.
Harpoot city of some 10000 inhab-
itants, is on the top Of a small mountain
which rises abruptly from the plain a
thousand feet below. The plain stretches
away to the Euphrates river and is one
vi Tie iIlOSl IeIllle anu ueHSeIy populdleu
sections of Turkey. The residence of the
governor is at the end of the mountain,
in city called MeZereh, which in the
last ten years has increased rapidly in
population. while Harpoot has been prac-
tically at a standstill. There are other
large cities like Malatea, two days to the
west on the Euphrates rives; Diarbekir.
two days to the northwest. and Egin, still
farther north. within the province.
1t was inevitable that this center of
wealth and population should have been
chosen fifty years and more ago as
center from which to carry on missionary
work for that district. The people were
found to be unusually intelligent and en-
terprising. They responded quickly to the
western ideas which the missionaries
brought into the country. 1t was from
this district that the first em1grants to
America came in large numbers, and to-
and Turks in the United States from
there than from any other single province
in the empire, Notwithstanding the fact
that from Harpoot to the Black sea IS
tourney of from four to five hundred
miles, and it is nearly the same distance
to the Mediterranean on the southwest
Prompt Response of People.
The people responded promptly to the
suggestion of modern education This
natural impulse was greatly fostered by
the Young men who came to the United
States and reported the great value OF an
education in English. 1t was but natural
for the schools. started at the beginning
of the missionary enterprise, to pass
through a stage of rapid development, un-
til a college resulted, which at first was
called Armenia College, because Harpoot
is really in the heart of ancient Ar
menia. and also because the students
were mostly Armenians. When the Turk
ish government became suspicious OF
HING Armenian 1t necessary to
change the name, and accordingly it has
since been called Euphrates College.
Unlike other American institutions in
the Turkish empire, it has been coedu-
cational from the first. 1t has depart
ments for both women and men, under
the same administration, although, of
course, it is impossible for the two sexes
to mingle in the same schoolrooms, and
ONLY in few cases in later years have
they been able to recite together. From
the first, however, teachers in the boys
department have also had classes in the
girls department, and the institution has
been under a single president The girls
department has had separate head,
holding the title of dean.
From the beginning the college has been
overcrowded with students. The Ar
menians, instinctively eager for advance
ment with minds unusually alert, saw
at once the commercial value of modern
education for their sons. At the same
time not few of them realized the
value of education for their daughters.
We cannot be sure What advantages were
uppermost in their minds in discussing
this matter among themselves, but per-
haps a statement made by widowed
mother who, at great sacrifice, put her
daughter into the school, may show one
side of the question.
II am perfectly willing to make the
sacrifice" she said, because l know in
the end I shall get the money all back.
and more II my daughter marries, with
her present ignorance, she will have to
marry a farmer or common laborer. If,
however. / can give her college edu
cation. she will marry preacher or a
teacher. or some other professional man,
who will have a much larger income and
hold a position of greater honor
Girls College Prosperous.
AS a result of this general sentiment