The past biennium has seen a considerable development of interest
in commercial education. By executive recommendation and by law of
January, 1916, there were introduced in the liceos and national schools
of commerce in the capital and three of the larger cities courses of
varying length for the training of boys for the consular, diplomatic,
and foreign agency services. By ministerial decree of April, 1917,
there were incorporated in the national schools of commerce courses
in civil and commercial law, American history, and advanced courses
in accounting and bookkeeping; and legal permission was given the
individual school to extend the latter courses into the fifth year
wherever deemed suitable. In common with students finishing the courses
in the liceos, those from national school of commerce were granted
opportunity to compete for scholarships abroad offered by decree of
January, 1918. These scholarships are good for one or more years
according to the success of the holder, and are apportioned among the
departments according to the discretion of the council of secondary
and preparatory education. Among the usual scholastic requirements
called for are periodical reports from the holder of such a scholarship
concerning the social and economic conditions of the people among whom
he has been sent to study.
Following the plan drawn up at Montevideo in the summer of 1918
by governmental and educational representatives from most of the
South American countries, invitations were sent to all interested
in commercial education to attend the South American Congress of
Commercial Education to be held in that city in January-February,
1919. The best talent in this division of education was assigned the
discussion of topics which were considered as most urgent at the
present time. They were treated under two main heads, those of (_a_)
economic commercial expansion and (_b_) commercial instruction. The
former head, not being essentially educational, calls for no notice
here. The latter included the following topics:
1. From what points, how, and by what means commercial education should
be developed on the American continent; extent and sub-division of such
instruction.