Outside the scope of the National Council are the powers of the
provincial councils. These are local, auxiliary, and reinforcing in
character. Some of the Provinces are practically inactive on the side
of primary education, contenting themselves with the provisions made
in that field by the National Government. Others, however, among them
Santa Fe, San Luis, Cordoba, Entre Rios, and, of course, Buenos
Aires, are worthy of note and commendation for steady interest in
matters educational, and in financial support of schools carried on
independently of the central authority.
Progress in the Province of Santa Fe, as evidenced by the annual
message of the governor of that Province for 1917, was steady, despite
the need of economy in provincial finances due to conditions resulting
from the World War. An increase of 14 provincial schools over the year
previous and of the grades in 36 schools was noted. Two problems were
kept steadily in view: The improvement in the teaching personnel,
accentuated by the disclosure of the fact that more than one-third of
the teachers in the provincial schools lacked teacher training, and the
construction of better school buildings. It was estimated that with
these from 25 to 30 per cent of additional pupils could be taught by
the same teaching force.
In the Province of San Luis the general inspector of provinces reported
for 1916 the establishment of 160 local associations of the national
_Amigos de la Educacion_. This society, composed of parents and others
interested in primary education, has for its objects the close linking
of home and school, the fight against illiteracy, the promotion of
good feeling and companionship between natives and immigrants, the
celebration of national festivals, the securing of better primary
enrollment and attendance especially by the poorer children, with the
inculcation of their self-respect, and cooperation with the regional
and national authorities in the safeguarding of public health.
In this Province, by volunteer organizations of teachers and others
interested, local patriotic conferences were inaugurated on topics
of national history, hygiene, political economy, ethics, and themes
generally related to home and school matters.
In the Province of Buenos Aires school excursions have been developed
and made an organic part of instruction in civic and national spirit.
They have been so arranged that children in the several zones may come
by personal touch to know and correspond by letter with each other. In
some places participation in these excursions has been made a reward
of good lessons and conduct. They are to be taken in the last 15 days
of October, and children are not to remain more than 3 days in one
locality. Groups of not more than 12 pupils are recommended.
In July, 1916, the council general of the Province of Buenos Aires
initiated courses in the normal school for the training of teachers
and graduates of the normal schools in the recognition and study of
retardation and its causes, and in early correction of abnormalities
most frequently met. The program of courses includes a series of 16
lessons on related medical and pedagogical topics.
Of direct bearing upon educational problems among the rural population
is the project of the law recently sent by the executive of the
Province of Buenos Aires to the legislature, providing for the issuance
of bonds to the amount of $45,000,000 for the expropriation of parts of
the great landed estates and the division of the land thus expropriated
into small tracts for the use of small farmers. Subsequent purchase
under advantageous terms is to be encouraged. According to reports, the
prevailing system of “arrendatorios,” or small tenants for short terms,
has led to so acute an agrarian unrest, with the consequent shifting
and aimless wandering of an increasing element of the population, as
to constitute a social and economic menace no longer to be ignored.
The educational effects in the increase of illiteracy and the general
retardation of primary education have been manifest.
In 1918 the Legislature of the Province of Entre Rios enacted into
law a series of provisions guaranteeing the stability of the scale of
salaries for teachers in provincial schools. Promotion and increase
of salary were based rigorously upon merit; teachers were declared
unremovable during good conduct and fitness; initial salaries were
fixed as follows: (_a_) For normal teacher, $160 per month; (_b_) for
rural normal teacher, $120 per month; (_c_) for rural teacher, $100 per
month; (_d_) for special teacher, $80 per month. Every five years the
teacher who has worked in the same place for that period shall receive
a bonus of 20 per cent on his initial salary.
The government of the Province of Cordoba has approved a plan for the
introduction of agricultural courses in the primary schools, presented
and prepared by experts in agronomy and pedagogy, without dislocation
of existing courses and schedules.
The inspectors of this Province presented for the consideration of the
provincial chamber of deputies the project of a law to establish a
normal school for the preparation of rural teachers exclusively, the
courses offered being:
(_a_) The development of subjects related to fundamental studies in the
primary schools;
(_b_) Practice teaching adapted to the needs of the primary schools of
the locality; and
(_c_) Elementary teaching, both theoretical and practical, in manual
arts, agriculture and cattle breeding, and minor rural industries.
Private schools conforming to governmental requirements were legally
recognized and incorporated by decree of 1917 and their consequent
validation effected. Pupils of the fifth and sixth grades of such
private schools applying for leaving certificates are required to
undergo an examination upon all subjects for those grades of the
official national programs before a board of three members appointed by
the inspector.
Officially apart from the Ministry of Public Education but calling for
special mention was the establishment in 1917 under the encouragement
of the National Department of Agriculture of 16 schools in rural
domestic science in nine Provinces, including Buenos Aires. Courses
are offered in minor industries, such as dairying, beekeeping, care of
fowls, hog raising, agriculture, horticulture, and canning of fruits
and vegetables. Five hundred women have been enrolled. A number of
these schools, the largest at Tucuman, have been put on a permanent
basis, and private associations are working to effect this in many
places.
School celebrations of national festivals, long popular in Argentina,
have been especially marked during the year 1918, the centennial year
for the nation. They were held in all schools on July 8, the chief
feature being the oath to the flag and the singing of the national hymn
in the presence of the school and civic authorities.