Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05

Arbor day, Washington's birthday, Tu-
berculosis day and Memorial day. More
than ten thousand trees We're planted
last Arbor day around the school
grounds. and probably more at the chill
drsH's homes.
One Of the most interesting features
Of the Porto Rican educational system is
the scholarship ARRANGEMENTS whereby
the most deserving students may secure
the aid of the government in complet-
ing their education. 1t is said that no
other country in the world has a better
or more complete system of scholarship
support than Porto Rico. 1t is possible
for the bright pupil In the remotest
thatched-roof, backless-benched school
house in the island to finish his educa
ton at the best universities of the
United States entirely as a government
scholarship student The law provides
that the municipal schools may use not
to exceed ) per cent of their funds for
supporting pupils who have distinguish
ed themselves in the neighboring rural
schools. Pupils who stand highest in
the municipal graded schools are award
ed scholarships to the high schools, the
scholarships carrying enough money to
support the holders. From the high
schools scholarships are given to Amer-
can colleges and universities. Other
scholarships are awarded for courses Of
study in the University of Porto Rico
and such American schools as Tuskegee
Hampton and the like.
The educational system of Porto Rico
eliminates in the University of Porto
Rico. This in
System eliminates stitution was in
at the University. 1904 A. nressn,
no pf ipvprSify 10
the normal school for teachers. This has
been well filled at all times. and for
a while the demand for teachers made
the course in teacher training necessarily
a short one. An agricultural school is
also in operation, and a college of liberal
arts was established in 1910. 1t is ex-
pected that college of science will soon
be established, thus making provision for
every kind of education in the university
There are now more than a thousand stu
dents in it's several departments.
1t is the ambition of the commissioner
of education Of Porto Rico to make the
university the great pan-American insti-
tuition of learning, which shall become
the academic point of contact between
the English-speaking and Spanish-speak-
ing peoples of the Americas. Already the
university offers better courses in the
Spanish language and literature than any
other Englishspeaking educational insti-
tuition In the western world. Likewise
ii offers a better course in the English
language and literature than any other
! institution in the Spanish-speaking coun-
tries Of the Americas. To attain this end
Commissioner Dexter plans to have the
most prominent educators Of the world
to take turns in visiting Porto Rico for
certain periods. He would establish.
under the control of the War Department,
a school of trOpical medicine who're the
medical authorities of the world would
be invited to make their researches and
Investigations, and where courses i'm
| tropical medicine would come as post
graduate work for the graduates OF
American and South American medical
schools. Likewise, he would establish a
department Of law and jurisprudence for
training American lawyers for practice
| in Spanish-speaking countries.