and a library containing recreational reading material and reference works for both teachers and pupils. A fund of 50,000 colones has been appropriated for the establishment of a trade school, but as yet the unfavorable economic conditions have prevented any definite action being taken toward its organization. During the year normal courses were offered in the Boys' Normal School, the Girls' Normal School, and the María Auxiliadora School in San Salvador, and the Santa Inés School in Santa Tecla. A greater interest manifest in the need for especially trained teachers has also made possible the opening of teaching courses in Santiago de María and in Santa Ana, and classes in pedagogy are now also being given in a number of the secondary schools. Courses in arts, sciences, and business have been continued regularly in the 52 different secondary schools. The National Institute, the most important secondary school in the Republic, had an enrollment of 363 pupils during the past year. The total number of students in all the secondary schools was 1,119. The girls' vocational school reported an enrollment of 123 pupils for the year; its average attendance was 109. Other schools whose work during the year deserved special mention were the Froebel School, the National School of Fine Arts, the National Music School, and the School of Dramatics. Under the direction of the National Commission of Physical Culture, physical education is being widely developed throughout the Republic, and as a result it is now difficult to find a town, no matter how small, where there is not some athletic or club organization. During the year, 10,440 readers used the National Library, while the reading rooms in San Salvador and other places throughout the Republic reported having been visited by 23,956 persons. There were 3,767 public primary schools in CUBA during the year 1930-31, according to a statement made by the President of the Republic in his message to Congress on April 4, 1932. The total enrollment of the primary schools, which were staffed by 7,572 teachers, was 434,219 and the average attendance was 249,199. The enrollment by grades in the regular primary schools was as follows: Sixty-seven teachers spent their whole time in itinerant teaching during the year, serving schools where it was thought inadvisable to maintain a permanent instructor. This was true of 145 communities; through the work of the itinerant teacher the population of school age was given an opportunity to obtain educational advantages. The enrollment in the schools thus taught totaled 3,089 and their average attendance was 2,376. Night schools throughout the Republic numbered 94, with an enrollment of 7,393 and an average attendance of 3,113. Classes were also held in various penal institutions to afford the prisoners an elementary education. The enrollment in the prison schools totaled 2,277. While as a rule the prison school was called upon to serve persons of all ages, the majority of the pupils were adults. Special teachers totaled 834; included among them were 711 regular and assistant kindergarten teachers, 36 English teachers, 15 instructors in sloyd, 50 sewing teachers, and 18 regular and assistant domestic science teachers. Upper primary schools, of which there were 31 in the Republic, had an enrollment of 7,236 and an average attendance of 4,744. Their teaching staff numbered 363. A total of 457 private schools submitted statistical reports to the Department of Public Instruction during the year. According to the information thus received, these schools have an enrollment of 26,622 pupils and an average attendance of 22,793. They were staffed by 1,483 teachers. Much is being done at the present time in educational circles for the encouragement of agriculture and thrift. A large number of the schools have gardens and experimental fields where the pupils are taught the principles of agriculture, and many have also established savings banks. The school library and museum are likewise coming to be considered necessary adjuncts to every modern teaching center, and the number of parent-teachers' associations is constantly growing. At present there are over 61,000 volumes in the school libraries in the provinces of Habana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Camagüey, and Oriente; figures for those in Pinar del Rio were not given. The selection of books for these libraries calls for careful planning on the part of those in charge; that they shall afford entertaining as well as wholesome and instructive reading material has become one of the outstanding considerations in the choice of books for their shelves. In some cities the school authorities have had the libraries thrown open to the general public also, in order that the facilities may be enjoyed by the adult population as well. The number of school gardens, libraries, museums, and parentteachers' associations by provinces is as follows: According to the message of President Guggiari on the occasion of the opening of Congress on April 1, 1932, there are 108,741 children enrolled in the primary schools of PARAGUAY at the present time; 20,000 of this number are in attendance in the schools of Asuncion and the remainder attend the rural schools. Besides the normal, trade, and agricultural schools, of which mention is made below, the secondary and special schools of the Republic include the National University and the secondary schools in Asuncion and Villarrica. There are six normal schools in Paraguay, with an enrollment of 736, engaged in training teachers for the primary schools. One of these, the National Teachers College located in Asuncion, offers classes particularly adapted for those who have taught before finishing their training, and another, the normal school at Barrero Grande, carries on interesting work in connection with its experimental farm. An important activity of normal schools at present is the adoption of new systems of child psychology and the application of the Dalton plan and the Winnetka method in the practice schools. Trade schools for women now number 23 and have an enrollment of 659 students. While they are generally known as private institutions, they receive Government support and are more or less under the supervision of the Government. The agricultural schools, maintained in Trinidad and Concepcion, offer three general courses. The first, an elementary course, covers two years and provides a theoretical and practical background for persons wishing to engage in farming along scientific principles. Students are taught the use of various farming implements, methods. of selecting seed, crop rotation, horticulture, stock raising, and other related industries. The secondary and upper classes treat the subject from a viewpoint of greater specialization and provide an adequate training for the agricultural expert or teacher of the subject. The statistical information on public education in VENEZUELA during the year 1931, submitted to Congress by the Director of the Bureau of Primary, Secondary and Normal Instruction of the Ministry of Public Instruction, was as follows: SUBJECT MATTER OF CONSULAR REPORTS REPORTS RECEIVED TO MAY 16, 1932 Excerpt from report on general conditions prevailing in Argen- May 6 Author Embassy, Buenos Aires. Trade in Argentine grapes. (Article published in La Nacion and May 24 dated New York, May 17.) Do. Appointment of a commercial agent for El Salvador in the May 27 GUATEMALA Do. Excerpt from report on general conditions in Haiti for the period May 9 Donald R. Heath, consul at Legation. PERU Peruvian employment law. URUGUAY Apr. 23 Wm. C. Burdett, consul gen. eral at Callao-Lima. Excerpt from report on general conditions prevailing in Uruguay May 4 Legation. |