The Washington herald., 1915-09-11
Washington Is Center of Educational Work

schools for both sexes-schools where q
young lady may attain either a sociaI
| training or become a doctor, nurse do.
| mestic science teacher. vocational train.
ing expert. lawyer or business educa.
ton; schools where young men can be
educated for certain lines Of scholastic
work before they enter their universitiea
OF course the University Of the United
States was a wish closest to the heart OF
George WashinGton-an institution OF
higher learning which might be the per.
| fection in education, IL such a thing there
can be. At the coming session Of Con.
| gress efforts for the establishment Of this
school will be renewed
Mrs. Harvey E. Jester, of 1923 Nine
teenth street northwest, has been one OF
the most active workers for the schools
of this country in the broader sense. She
is now travelling in South America, bring
ing to the attention of the people there
! the institutions in North America, and
specially the Capital Of her native coun-
| try. Her work Is meant to be a further
ance of the ideas being carried out BY our
diplomats in those countries.
! Last June she addressed a letter to Sec
retary OF the Treasury McAdoo outlining
| her plan. Portions Of that letter follow:
\ I1tdi Nidy nave tne
pleasure Of laying before you. for your
| consideration. plan of mine which may
| eventuate in the creation by you Of a
commission on schools to be one Of the
commissions which you are at the mo-
ment appointing in connection with the
! financial congress to meet again at
! Buenos Aires. November /. 1915?
This commission, If appointed and
! indorsed by you, might bring to our
| North American schools next fall many
of the pupils from Latin-America who
have previously attended the schools Of
Continental Europe
This commission might further make
a comprehensive report both to the finan-
cial congress which will meet the fol-
lowing spring here in Washington under
your auspiees. This report might cover
the possibilities for the attendance of
Central, South American, and Argentina
pupils, both preparatory. collegiate, and
commercial. at our schools of the United
States, and. in addition, it might cover
the Of course, smaller possibilities for
the attendance of the pupils of our
United states at some Of the great
schools south Of us. This latter phase
Of the matter covers, of course, the
possible desire OF North merican parents
to give their sons an opportunity to
substitute Spanish in the future for the
German, with a view to fitting them to
participate in the trade activities be-
tween North and South America.
Thousands Go Abroad,
"As you know. the financial back
bone of the schools of Germany, Bel
gium. Switzerland. Italy. France. and
England. for some years has been
greatly strengthened by the influx of
pupils from the great South American
countries. 1t has been said by the
Minister from Panama. DR.. Morales,
who educated his seven children in
Continental Europe, and is well equip
ped with knowledge of educative pos
sibilities. that my estimate that 10000
Latin american pupils entered these
European schools each year. is under,
rather than over the probable num-
Der. He recalled that from his own
relatively small city of Panama, alone,
there were flfty-six pupils attending
the convent with his daughter in Brus-
sells.
TT stands to reason that, not with
in the school life of any children of
this generation in South America will
the schools of Europe again be avail
able. Particularly is this true, when
1t is remembered that war was de-
clared July 81. 1914. just at the time
when European teachers were closing
their schools. The men among these
teachers were quick to answer the call
to arms. Under the circumstances of
war that means the practical extinc-
ton Of Europe's active band Of educa-
tors.
Where are these thousands Of pupils
to attend school next year:
outside of their own sometimes excel |
lent schools. these schools of ours are the
only safely habitable schools now open
to Central Americans. South Americans
or Argentina pupils.
Ignorant of Our Country.
South America is Just as ignorant of |
our country and its school possibilities as
are we generally Of its vast educative |
needs |
May add that my project already had |
the unqualified Endorsement and support |
OF Ambassador Moan. Of Argentina; Min
lister de Pena. of Uruguay. and Dr. Nor
a!es, Minister from Panama, who are
now taking the necessary steps to bring |
my mission officially to the attention of |
the governments of their respective coun-
tries. and have assured me that every
phase Of assistance will be given which
Is In their power to inspire in the gov
ernments of their respective countries.
With my children. chaperone and
Interpreter I sail for Havana early |
IN August and my itinerary from
ShSic y" III fdndma City ana
the principal cities on the west coast
OF South America. so that I cross the
Andes and arrive in Buenos Aires by
November 1.
Il know that the cementing Of the
entente cordiale' between the United
States and South America is very
close to your heart. in a word. tha,
1t was that ideal which inspired you
to issue the call for the recent anu
successful first pan-American financial
conference. Will you give me the
privilege Of assisting in the further
ing Of this project through the grant
ing. by you. of your Endorsement to
this plan"
Efforts such as these which are
now being put forth in South America
will have much to do with strength
ening American institutions and the
minds Of the fathers and mothers
there will naturally turn first to
Washington as the capital Of this
country and to it's schools and coll
leges.