The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-07-18
Consuls as Reporters

That many of mi diplomatic and consular representatives aDroau
are rendering a very real service in obtaining information o III foreign
.a4o, nove,,e Is the belief of the L. S. bureau of education.
The bureau acknowledges that it counts N the diplomatic N consular
service for a considerable part of the matter Oh foreign choos 1t pup
fishes every wear for the sake of American school men n cannot go
abroad but who need to know what other countries ar dong educaton-
aIv Bv special arrangement with the department OF state the bureau
Of education receives all reports forwarded by consuls or other diplo-
matte agents n educational subjects.
MANY of these reports supplement admirably the official docu-
men ohtainable. Recently Ambassador Joseph E. Willard furnished
the bureau with a statement of educational conditions in Spain, which
contained interesting references to the character Of university mStruc-
ton, especially in medicine. The report shows not only a discriminating
knowledge of educational requirements generally, but a special knowl-
edge of educational conditions in Spain.
Some OF the most useful material in the field of vocational educa-
ton has been furnished through consular advices. Bulletin 50, 1913 Oh
the bureau of education contained statements IN industrial education by
consuls at Erfurt, Nuremberg, Frankfort and Cologne. The article by
Ralph c. Busser, consul at Erfurt, on The System OF Industrial
Schooling in Germany" is considered one of the best summaries OF the
subject ever published, and has proved particularly useful to American
school authorities considering the establishment of systems 81 industrial
education. The other articles in this bulletin are special reports on
schools for builders, courses for master craftsmen" the trade institute
at Cologne, and schools for fruit growing:
Consuls in England and Scotland are sending special information
On the social welfare work that is now a prominent feature OF school
activity in those countries. Much of this material is o new it has
scarcely begun to find its way into printed reports. Some OF the con-
suls specialize in educational subjects in which they are most interested.
Thus, at stavanger, Norway, the U. s. consulate is especially keen on
furnishing information about the school extension work that is M Oh
the characteristics of education in Scandinavian countries.
In Central and South America, United States consuls keep the
bureau informed of changes in educational policy as indicated IN presl-
dental messages, DEGREES, etc. Much of this information throws light
on current American problems. 1t has often been urged IN thu past that
each consulate have an educational atache" to report On educational
matters, but in the opinion of bureau of education officials the consuls
themselves and their subordinates are fully qualified to keep the United
States informed on important educational work abroad. Representa-
tves of the bureau of education who have recently gone to Germany,
Switzerland, Denmark and the British Isles report that they found not
only the courteous hepfuness that would be expected in agents OF our
government, but frequently, in addition, a special knowledge of the
educational situation in the countries for which information was de,
sired.