Imperial Valley press., 1922-02-23
MEXICO MAKING GREAT
STRIDES IN EDUCATION

Mrs. Robert J. Burdett gives a mar
veous picture of Mexico and its edu-
cation program in the last issue of
"Clubwoman. - Mrs. Burdett has but
recently returned from Mexico City
where she attended convention us of
ficial representative of Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce and during
which time she visited schools, orphan
ages and hospitals in Mexico City,
which, in her judgment, rank among
the best and most efficient in the
world.
There are four national schools of
art in the city, where boys and girls
are being fitted for wage earning.
Mrs. Burdett visited one of the girls ,
schools where there are 1900 students,
and their exhibit filled the classrooms
in building large enough for so many
students to work, The writer says:
"Thcrc is no public school in the
United States with which | am famil-
lar which could approach this cxhib-
ition in general scope. The Home Ec-
onomics Department was revelation
for. variety and attractiveness. No
French chef could have prepared a
more tempting array. Each article was
picture in itself--if that may be said
of food. There were gowns made after
New York patterns, millinery, artifi-
cial flowers, furs prepared and made
up by the students. There were soaps,
creams and toilet waters; hair goods
of the latest, fancy satin boxes for
candy and all kinds of candies. Paint
ings in oil and water colors, drawings,
art works in marble and metal, artis-
tic wood carving, needle work of all
kinds, etc. Gardening is taught with
good results. Nine new schools have
been opened in Mexico City the past
year, to accommodate the increased at
tendance due to stricter enforce
ment for the Compulsory Education
law
President Obregon who believes that
"morality, constructive and generous
intelligence and culture are the forces
destined to rule the world in our mod
ern life,o called for volunteer teach
crs, who, without compensation, would
teach the iliterute to read and write,
and literally hundreds volunteered
their services.
Mrs. Burdett graphically describes
the General Hospital which covers
forty acres of ground and has 1000
freed beds, together with 800 pay beds.
The institution is supported by the
federal government and private, con-
tributions. The equivalent of $2,500,-
600 has been given for the care of
tubercular patients.
The penitentiary is described as a
model institution of its kind. "With
comfortable beds, flowers and grass in
the enclosure and other features of
like nature, the gloom of the prison is
lessened. Each inmate must have at
least two hours of sunshine daily by
requirement of law, and the death
rate is very low. The prisoners arc
paid SO cents per day of which they
have 10 percent for their own use, 60
percent goes to their families and the
balance is held on account for them
when they leave the prison. The
warden of this particular prison seem
ed to consider his job one of human in
terest,' says Mrs. Burdett.
The description of the orphanage
where are kept 800 boys and girls is
no less interesting. The children are
well fed, kept reasonably clean, are
given education up to and through the
eighth grade, and have such amuse-
ments and pleasures as children should
have. There has not been death i'll
that orphanagc for a year and half,
and the low rate of one per cent sick
ness was reported, u remarkable rec
ord.