Among the resolutions officially adopted by the congress which had
educational bearing were those recommending that--
(_a_) Institutes or sections of economic expansion in faculties
of economic science, schools, and higher centers of economic and
commercial study be established which should devote themselves
especially to the study and practical solution of the various economic
questions affecting inter-American relations and solidarity.
(_b_) For social and economic ends American countries create and aid
industrial schools for fisheries and derived industries.
(_c_) Propaganda primers be prepared for exchange among the public
schools of the (South) American Continent.
(_d_) There be included in programs of higher commercial study courses
of comparative American economy and comparative customs legislation
(the latter for consular courses), and that existing seminaries of
economic investigation or higher commerce schools write the economic
and financial history of their respective countries.
(_e_) The interchange of professors and students between the higher
institutions of commercial learning be initiated.
(_f_) International agreements be concluded for the reciprocal
recognition of degrees issued by institutions of commercial learning
and that scholarships be granted for the interchange of students.
(_g_) The compilation of legislation of American countries concerning
commercial education be intrusted to the permanent commission created
by the congress. The commission will be assisted in this work by a
committee of professors and experts in commercial education and will
be charged with proposing plans and curricula in accordance with the
following: Commercial instruction, which presupposes primary education,
to be divided into three categories--(_a_) Elementary instruction,
which may be dependent or independent; (_b_) secondary instruction;
(_c_) higher instruction. The purpose of these branches is: (_a_)
To train auxiliaries of commerce; (_b_) to prepare for commerce in
general; (_c_) to furnish economic, financial, and commercial knowledge
preparing for directive functions in commerce and industry, insurance
and consular work, etc.
(_h_) Preliminary cultural studies of two grades be established, one
confined to the first and second categories of commercial instruction,
and the second for broader instruction in the third category.
(_i_) The study of the proposal of the National Institute of Commerce
of La Paz, Bolivia, concerning education of women be referred to the
permanent commission.
(_k_) Higher institutions of commercial education establish, if not
already existing, in their curricula the separation of commercial from
economic geography, the study of commercial geography to begin in
primary schools, with periodical competitions for the preparation of
the best commercial and economic geographies of each country and the
exchange of prize works be arranged for.
(_l_) Institutions of bibliography and information be established,
independent of or annexed to seminaries or institutes, for
investigation existing or to be founded in America, and providing for
the widest exchange of economic, financial, and commercial information
collected.
(_m_) The practice of the professions receiving diplomas from higher
institutions of commercial learning in commercial, civil, and
administrative matters be legally recognized.
(_n_) An extraordinary prize to be known as the Pablo Fontaina Prize
for Commercial Studies be offered for students of higher institutions
of commercial learning. (Sr. Pablo Fontaina is director of the Superior
School of Commerce of Montevideo and played a prominent part in the
organization and work of the congress.)
(_o_) Entrance into consular and diplomatic services be granted by
competitive examination or to candidates presenting degrees issued by
official institutions of higher commercial learning.
(_p_) Courses of ethics in preparatory studies and lectures on
commercial ethics in higher institutions of commercial learning
delivered by distinguished professional men be established.