The marked educational awakening of Uruguay during the last biennium
has been only one phase of the universal demand of the nation for a
new social and economic adjustment. Perhaps the chief manifestation of
this has been the adoption of the new constitution in place of the old,
which had been in force exactly 90 years. At a plebiscite of November,
1917, the constitution as formulated was submitted to the people and
adopted by a vote of 85,000 to 4,000; and it became the fundamental law
of the land on March 1, 1919. As regards its bearings upon educational
administration, the most noteworthy change--and perhaps that around
which centered most opposition during its consideration--was the
provision which divides the executive power between a President and a
National Council of Administration.
The latter body, composed of nine members elected for six years
directly by the people, and absolutely independent of the President,
has charge of all matters relating to public instruction, public works,
labor, industries, public charities, health, and the preparation of
the annual national budget. The administrative officers of public
instruction of all grades, including the minister, are appointed by
the National Council and are subject to its authority according to
such particular laws and regulations as the Congress may enact. This
substitution of a composite board for an individual as the fountainhead
of educational authority is an experiment whose operations will be
observed with much interest in a country of South America habituated by
tradition to authority concentrated in an individual.