Diario las Américas., 1958-03-04
Know thy
Neighb!i!.o!!'!i!!
n~.,st, ~,
BY o RUIZ

CHILE - Higher education in
the country is provided mainly
by the University of Chile, the Ma
tional University in Santiago, the
Catholic University of Chile, also
in the capital, the University OF
Conception; the Catholic Unlver-
sity OF Valparaiso, and the Federi-
co Santa Maria Technical UniVer-
sity of Valparaiso. There are, also
a School of Industrial Engineering
and three Schools of Social Ser
vice.
Established in 1912, and opened
the following year, the University
of Chile had as its first Rector
Andres Bello, author of the origin
al education plan, and distinguish
ed educator and scholar born IN
Venezuela.
The eight faculties of the Uni
versity are Philosophy and Educa-
ton, Fine Arts, Juridical and So
cial Sciences, Commercial and In
dustrial Economy, Biology and
Medical Sciences, Veterinary Me-
dicine, Physical Sciences and
Mathematics, and Agronomy.
Within these faculties there are
various institutes and schools. To
promote the nations cultural acti-
vities, the Chilean Government
maintains a number of libraries
and museums, including the Ma
tional Library in Santiago, the
Public Library in Valparaiso, more
than a hundred provincial librar-
les. museums of fine arts, and his
tory and natural history, in the
capital and museums in VALPARAISO,
Conception and Talca.
Some of the country's numerous
scientific, learned and cultural So
cieties are directly connected with
the universities, and others receive
aid from the Government to carry
on their activities. The Chilean
Academy of Natural Sciences, for
example, is under supervision OF
the Catholic University; the Ma
tional Committee on Geography,
Geodesy and Geophysics receives
funds through the Government.
run Military Institute of Geogra'
ply; and the Chilean Historical
and Geographic Society is given
some government support. The
Chilean-North American Cultur'
al Institute, the Chilean Academy
of the Language, and the Society
of Chilean Writers, are but a few
of the other organizations that in.
fluence the nations cultural life.
During recent years University
groups have taken the lead in pro-
viding Chileans with good thea,
tire. The University of Chile's Elk
perimental Theatre not only stages
first rate performances of classic
al and modern drama for Santiago
audiences but through its Depart
ment of Extension Theatre, travels
throughout the country, playing at
schools, army camps, labor union
halls, and rural centers.
In 1945. A School of Dramatic
Arts was established; besides offer
ing classes, it now maintains a lib
rary and encourages study abroad
through scholarships. In order to
encourage literary activity among
Chileans, an Experimental Theatre
prize, in the form of an annual
cash award, was also established.
Another important experimental
theatre group is apart of the
School of Fine Arts of the Catho'
lie University. II has been success
full in presenting works by Chill
can and foreign playwrights and
offers a three-year specialized
course of study. Organized more
recently than these two groups, the
Free Theatre encourages the pro
duction Of national dramatic lit
erature by sponsoring regular
broadcasts of new works and
round table discussions on the pro
blems faced by the Chilean Thea
tre.
Spanish Version Fase