  WHATEVER the Cuban people may have thought of Spain and her methods, it is plain that in one regard, at least, the child deemed its mother a pattern of excellence and followed her example far beyond the pattern,—and that regard was education. Spain has always been at the head of the ignorant list among European countries, but Cuba is far worse, for she has the sloth of climate against her, in addition to other handicaps, and the people are slow to avail themselves of even such opportunities as they have. Indeed, the opportunities seem not to be lacking for a great many, for there are laws for general education, even compulsory education, and there are schools and colleges; but neither those for whose benefit the laws were made nor those to whom their execution is entrusted care to work any harder than is necessary, and the result is that the proportion of scholars to population, including all kinds of schools, is as 1 to 40. The rates in the United States are 1 to 4.39, except in the South, where they are 1 to 8. Nowhere in rural Cuba does the country schoolhouse prevail as we know it and feel its influence all over the United States, and possibly, quite surely indeed, it will never exist there as it does with us; but a great deal of improvement can be made, and to the 300,000 children of school age in Cuba who do not yet know their a, b, c’s, may be given an opportunity to get, at least, a little sip at the fountain of learning. Although the country schoolhouse was entirely absent, in the city there was a pretence of having so-called “It is tolerably clear that military control will not be able to do much for Cuba in the way of education. The most that can be done will be to encourage the reopening of municipal schools and to sustain the local authorities in rigorously enforcing the laws against truancy. The reconcentration has left large numbers of children on the streets. After a time, when homes are found for them, it will be important that they shall go to school. Before that the various towns will have to get the schools opened and provide means for keeping them open. That will come when the municipal revenues again appear, and these revenues will be slow in making their appearance. As for the teachers, there is little prospect for those from the United States. It is a common delusion that the need of Cuba is a school system of which the basis is the English language. One tongue is all that the mass of the children can use during their primary schooling, and that is the tongue which is heard all around them. Reading, writing, and arithmetic can be taught in Castilian as well as in English. The first two are taught the easier because in Spanish every syllable is pronounced as written. “A large number of young Cubans who have been educated in the United States are now wondering what they will do to earn a living. Most of them are thinking of getting office. The best office that they could seek would be that of schoolmaster. If any educational system can be provided under which they will find employment, their energies and their knowledge will not go amiss. Most of them are full of sentimental patriotism. They want to help raise their people above the plane to which Spanish rule had degraded the mass of the inhabitants. The schoolroom is the place in which to do it, and it is the only place. These educated young Cubans will be better employed in teaching than in talking politics or in fretting about the independence of the Island. “This is said only of the municipal schools. I do not know when a system of country schools can be established in Cuba. The present problem is to get what is left of the reconcentrado population back into homes in the country, and to raising crops which will support them. Some progress has been made. Next year they may all be back on their farms and on the plantations. Then it will be possible to plan schooling for the children of the fields. In the meantime the education of the few Cuban youths at American colleges does not solve the question. That is praise-worthy in its way, but the mass of children in Cuba cannot be transferred in a body to the States, nor is it desirable that they should be taken away. They have got to be given their schooling in the midst of the surroundings to which they are born. That can only be done by planting the schoolhouse. It will not be a little red one, most likely will not be painted at all, for the bamboo frames and the palm thatching do not need to be painted. When the country schoolmaster (or perhaps under the new conditions it will be the country schoolma’am) becomes part of the rural life of Cuba the future will no longer be blank.” While it scarcely seems necessary to comment upon matters of the past, which will soon undergo such changes as scarcely to be recognisable, still history is interesting, and a short description of the University of Havana, the chief educational agency of the Island, its purpose and its future, by Dr. Joaquin Lastres, will not be inappropriate. It may be said of the University that it has branches in all the provinces, and numbered before 1898 about 3000 students, 1800 of whom were in Havana. Dr. Lastres writes as follows, under date of September, 1898, in Havana: OLD ARCH OF THE JESUIT COLLEGE, HAVANA. “The University of Havana, which is the highest institution of instruction in the Island of Cuba, has, ever since its foundation in 1721, had a personality of its own, and consequently it has never been considered a property, or dependency of the State; but, like municipalities and deputations, has constituted an institution, self-supporting as regards the State. Since its foundation it has occupied buildings that have not been State property. At the beginning, its own property and income maintained “The property and estate seized by the State in exchange for the obligation to maintain this institution were numerous and important; a full statement is to be found in the Treasury Department of this city. Among the properties may be mentioned quit-rents in favour of the University, the building occupied by the old College of Pharmacy, the building occupied by the University ‘Instituto,’ the important sums of money delivered to the State when it undertook the maintenance of the College, and several other effects. Some of this property has been already expropriated by the State partially or totally. “By the law of the 24th of March, 1883, published in the Gacota de la Habana on the 5th of the following May, it was decided to construct a new University, the necessary funds to be raised by the sale of the building occupied by the University and Instituto, the sale of State property not yet expropriated originally occupied by the old city walls, provided this property be free of all incumbrances, the sale of other lands in Havana belonging to the State not yet disposed of, gifts and subscriptions that may be obtained for this object by the Governor-General of the Island, and the amount annually fixed in the budget of the Island as an appropriation to this end. The subscription was never started, nor was any appropriation made for it. The same law that assigned the means of raising the funds declared it a public benefit and liable to compulsory appropriation. “The royal decree of the 7th of July, 1883, ordered the Governor-General of this Island to commence the construction of the University building, and blocks eight and nine of the old city walls were chosen by the State architect. The corner-stone “By decree of the 9th of August, 1886, the Botanical Gardens of this city were ordered to be a dependency of this University, as they continue to be. “The scant scientific material of this University, and the valuable collections of the Havana Instituto, and also the modest appurtenances of the Matanzas Institution are all the exclusive property of the colleges in which they are, as they have been acquired by the same and they have the legal right to their possession. “The library belongs to the University, as nearly all the books came from the Pontifical Library; the appropriation made by the State in the annual budget for the University Library has scarcely sufficed to provide for its care. A good proportion of the books are donations of professors and private individuals, and are mostly valuable acquisitions. “As all the present furniture of the University is new and has been paid for with the proceeds of the academical dues of the different faculties, in other words, with the University funds, it must be considered as University property. The archives of the secretary’s department referring to the files of those graduated from the University should be retained as the University has an individuality of its own, and these documents being purely of a personal character can have no interest for outsiders. Files of an administrative character and those relating to examinations and degrees should certainly be kept in the University archives. Those professors who decide to remain in Cuba should have their files kept in the secretary’s department of this University; those who may wish to be changed to some university in Spain, or who may not renounce the Spanish citizenship, may obtain at their own expense a certified copy of their files or a certificate of their services duly legalized, the originals to be kept in the archives of this University so long as its individuality be retained. OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH AT LA COPERA. “Such titles as may have been given during Spanish sovereignty “Cuban students, who have commenced their studies in Spanish universities, whether in Cuba or in Spain, after cessation of Spanish sovereignty, should be given credit for the courses of study followed whether in Cuba or in Spain, adapting their future studies, as much as possible, to any new plans adopted. It would be well to give a maximum limit of five years to those who may have commenced their studies under old plans, in which to finish them, whether such studies be elementary or superior. “All professors remaining in this Island should have all their rights respected, including promotions, prizes, and superannuations, which they may be entitled to, including excedencia. The Spanish sovereignty should also respect the rights of all professors who may go to other universities of the kingdom, whatever institution of this Island they may come from in order of antiquity.” DR. JOAQUIN LASTRES. Of more interest and of more future potency, scope, and applicability is the “Industrial School of Havana,” by Director Fernando Aguado y Rico, who goes into details which are here given in full to show how elaborate are Spanish educational laws and details of instruction, and how very little more work in that line will have to be done by whatever American talent may be called upon to conduct an educational advance along these and other lines in Cuba. The Director says: “In regard to the origin of the school, one of the originators proposed to the city to establish this school, which proposition was accepted. We first began with night courses and then day and night classes and some workshops. We have not been able to keep the workshops going owing to lack of funds, but I think this school is a nucleus from which to enlarge this work. “We do not graduate civil engineers from our school, and our “It does not cost the pupil anything to attend this school. There is an absolute lack of anything between the higher engineer and the ordinary labourer. Mechanics, agriculturists, and industrial chemists are most needed here, and the aim of the school is to supply these. There are a good many architects here who build houses but know nothing about mechanics, and a good many engineers who do not know anything about a steam-engine, being merely copies of what they have seen other men do. There are absolutely no draughtsmen here, though there is a great demand for them. The school will be extended as soon as we have the means. “The School of Arts and Trades is a public institution of instruction, depending on the Provincial Deputation of Havana, consistent with the rights which these institutions are entitled to by Article 147 of the present Plan of Studies (Educational Law). “The courses of instruction of this school are divided into two sections—day classes and night classes. Instruction is absolutely free and only day-scholars are allowed. “The day classes comprise: “Preparatory instruction for admission. “Technical industrial instruction. “The night classes are intended to give workmen opportunities to improve themselves in their trades, acquiring technical knowledge of their work. “These are divided into: “Oral instruction and drawing classes. “Graphical, numerical, and analytical exercises in connection with the above. “Assays, analysis, and manipulation. “Practical work in the shops of the school, giving instruction of a practical character and in connection with the theoretical courses, besides giving the ways of judging the quality of the raw materials; names, description, and use of different utensils and tools.
“The foreign studies are adapted to those to be followed by the students in the other courses and which constitute the main object of the school. The students of these courses do some simple work in the shops. “To be admitted to the preparatory courses at the request of fathers, tutors, or trustees, it is necessary: “(1) To be at least eleven years old on the 1st of September. “(2) To know how to read and write well. “The admission term will be during all September. “The number of inscriptions for preparatory courses will be limited to 100, the most promising being selected from such as may apply, preference being given to the children of artisans. “Vacancies up to the end of December to be covered as they occur. “Examinations to take place during the last ten days of June. “Vacations will last from the end of the examinations to the 31st day of August. “In September, students who may have failed in previous examinations, those not yet examined, and new scholars will attend the courses. “Those who may have studied and passed the examinations in the school of the preparatory courses will be entitled to commence the technical courses. “TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL INSTRUCTION “Young men wishing to be admitted to the courses of Technical Industrial Instruction at the request of their fathers, tutors, or trustees must: “(1) Be at least twelve years old on October 1st. “(2) Have followed the preparatory courses. “Examinations for admission to this section will take place on the 26th of September at 12 M. “Petitions for admission should be addressed to the Director, and will be received up to the previous day. “Both spoken and written exercises will be given in these examinations. “The written exercises will consist in: “(1) Dictation. “(2) A problem in Arithmetic. “(3) A problem in Geometry, applying the metric system. “(4) Free-hand croquis with boundaries. “The written exercises will be the same for all the applicants, and will be all on the same day and hour, which will be duly announced beforehand. “The Board of Examiners for admission will be constituted by the Director of the schools, the President, the Professors of Grammar, Geography, and History, one of Mathematics, one of Drawing, and the Instructor of the preparatory course, who will act as secretary. “Technical instruction will be divided into general and special for Constructors, Mechanics, and Industrial Chemists. “General instruction comprises the theory of the following subjects applied to Industrial Arts and the apprenticeship in the shops: “Spanish Grammar; Geography and History; Arithmetic; Geometry; Elementary Algebra; Trigonometry; Applied Geometry; Completion of Mathematics; Descriptive Geometry; Elements of Physics, with practical applications; Elementary Chemistry, with experiments; Elementary Mechanics, with practical applications; Elements of Hygiene; Notions of Accounting and Industrial Economy; Geometrical, Mechanical, and Applied Drawing; Ornamental and Decorative Drawing. “Woodwork: Carpenter’s work and turning; models. “Metal-work: Mechanics; forge; adjusting. “The special studies comprise a separate course each as follows: THE CATHEDRAL, HAVANA.
“The tuition of each special course is complemented with graphical work, applied drawing, plans, and practices. “Special studies cannot be followed unless the general courses have been studied. “The courses will commence on the first Monday of October and will close on the eve of the examinations, which will take place in June on the days and hours that may be chosen. “July and August are vacation months, but a limited amount of work in the shops will be continued, as may be determined by the Board of Professors. In September the extra examinations will take place. “NIGHT CLASSES “To be admitted to the night classes, it is necessary: “(1) To be at least twelve years old. “(2) To know how to read and write well and the rudiments of Grammar, Arithmetic, and Geometrical Drawing. “Those under fifteen must call accompanied by their fathers or tutors when applying for admittance. “Admittance examinations will take place in September. “The night classes comprise the following courses:
“In studying these courses the following rules shall be observed: “(1) Arithmetic and Geometry with practical applications shall precede all the oral courses, excepting Grammar. “(2) Geometrical Drawing shall precede Mechanical and Applied Drawing. “The term for inscribing in the night courses shall be during all September. “All persons soliciting matriculation in the night courses shall be admitted free of charge. “REGULATIONS: “All courses shall be public and anyone is entitled to attend with the sanction of the Director. No dues are charged for matriculation or the examinations that may be necessary to get a diploma. “New students are entitled to inscribe in the higher courses prior to payable examinations, once they show having followed the elementary courses in some other institution. “During the college term the classes will be suspended only on Sundays, holidays, Saints’-days, and birthdays of the King and Queen, All-Souls Day, from December 23d to January 2d, the three days of Carnival, Ash Wednesday and the last four days of Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. “The matriculation term shall be all of September. Applicants will solicit the same in printed forms furnished by the school, together with this prospectus. “Duties of Students: Students will attend the courses punctually and with decorum; they will endeavour to benefit by the lessons of the professors, doing the work assigned to them in connection with their studies and the trade they may be following. They will use a special suit for working in the shops, a model of which will be furnished by the school. “Due respect will be shown the Director, professors, and the shop instructors. The file of each student will show the prizes he may be given, as well as the punishment he may receive. “Should a student commit some offence deserving special “The fathers, tutors, trustees of the students, will attend to being informed every month of the behaviour and progress of their charges, calling at the secretary’s department where the information on the subject will be exposed for inspection. “Examinations: Examinations for passing to higher classes are divided into ordinary and extraordinary. The former to take place in June, the latter in September. “In June such students will be examined as the professors may consider deserving it. Those failing to go to the examinations when called upon, may do so the next time the examiners meet if they justify their previous absence. “In September may be examined: “(1) Those included in these lists by the professors. “(2) Those who may have been absent at the June examinations. “(3) Those failing to pass in June. “(4) Those wishing to improve their record in the June examinations. “Prizes: To encourage students, the School will distribute prizes every year, consisting of medals, books, instruments, tools, etc. “One prize will be given for every 25 students; “honourable mention” will besides be made of others. “Only those rated first-class in each course may be awarded prizes. “There will be extraordinary prizes, awarded by competition, during the first fortnight of September. “Diplomas: Students will be given at the end of the third year a certificate or diploma of general instruction and apprenticeship of the trade they may have followed, if their practical work of the three years’ course is considered satisfactory. “Those finishing a special course are entitled to a diploma, after a theoretical and practical examination. These examinations may be solicited at any time excepting during July and August. Those failing in their first examinations will have to wait at least two months before being examined again. “A certificate of the studies followed and practical work done by each student will accompany every diploma. “The Director, “Havana, August, 1898. “School: Diputacion Provincial, 32 Empedrado St. “Shops: Belascoain St., between Maloja and Sitios Sts.” The following figures indicate what amount of public money goes to the cause of education in Cuba:
The municipalities in all the Island pay $775,646 for 888 schools for boys and girls (1893), four per cent. on all municipal taxes taken from this. The Provincial Elementary State Schools are paid by the Diputaciones Provinciales. (Paid out of cedula tax.) In 1893 they (the Diputaciones Provinciales) paid:
The religion of the Island is Roman Catholic, and no other religious bodies are permitted to exercise their belief in public, although no interference has ever been attempted with individual belief so long as the individual was careful not to interfere with the established religion. There are no churches of any kind except Catholic and Baptist. THE CATHEDRAL, SANTIAGO DE CUBA. From the beginning until 1788 the Island consisted of a single diocese with the seat of the bishop at Santiago de The priests of the Island are appointed by the archbishop and bishop, and as a rule the Captain-General has not interfered to any extent with religious matters. Generally speaking, the Cuban men, outside of the profession of the Church, do not pay much attention to religious observances, leaving that duty mainly to the women. The Church has always been a State institution and receives its regular annual allowance in the budget, in addition to its private income, which is not small. In 1894 the amount given by the Government amounted to $385,588. Under the new order there will be no union of Church and State, neither will there be any interference with the religious belief and practice of the people. Every denomination will have equal rights in New Cuba. |
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