Arts and crafts for women, commercial subjects and mechanical arts,
are generally taught in Salvador in the public schools, though their
incorporation in the courses of instruction is comparatively recent.
Many prominent teachers of the country have taken the pains to spread
abroad the appreciation of the necessity of “enlarging the educational
sphere of the State, and opening to the youth and to workmen schools
where they may acquire practical knowledge of the sciences and the
arts and by these means may contribute to the advancement of general
intelligence in the country.” In compliance with these ideas the
Government has founded in Salvador a National School of Graphic Arts
aiming “to aid the youth of Salvador to the acquisition of knowledge
of a practical nature, and to put it in a position to be successful
in the economic struggles which are the most important signs of the
modern age.” In this school the preference is given to the teaching
of physics, mechanics, drawing, printing, lithographing, carving,
bookbinding, and technical telegraphy and telephoning. Night courses
are also given in this school.
In consequence of the public sentiment above mentioned, there has been
opened in the National Institute of Salvador a course in commercial
and economic subjects lasting three years. This course comprises the
study of various modern languages, commercial law, political economy,
industrial chemistry, commercial geography, bookkeeping, stenography
and typewriting. The pupils in this school are required to work several
hours daily for a period in the different ministerial departments
before graduation. Salvador also established in 1913 a school of
agriculture, with a department of animal husbandry. Two years later
there was established the Technical-Practical Colegio for Girls, in
which instruction in crafts for women is combined with that in general
subjects.