[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH AT LA COPERA.]

"Such t.i.tles as may have been given during Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies should be respected, both in Spain and in Cuba and Porto Rico, without in any way interfering with such rights as may be acquired by those obtaining t.i.tles given after the cessation of Spanish sovereignty in Cuba, which will depend upon the laws which may be applied to both countries in this connection.

"Cuban students, who have commenced their studies in Spanish universities, whether in Cuba or in Spain, after cessation of Spanish sovereignty, should be given credit for the courses of study followed whether in Cuba or in Spain, adapting their future studies, as much as possible, to any new plans adopted. It would be well to give a maximum limit of five years to those who may have commenced their studies under old plans, in which to finish them, whether such studies be elementary or superior.

"All professors remaining in this Island should have all their rights respected, including promotions, prizes, and superannuations, which they may be ent.i.tled to, including _excedencia_. The Spanish sovereignty should also respect the rights of all professors who may go to other universities of the kingdom, whatever inst.i.tution of this Island they may come from in order of antiquity."

Dr. JOAQUIN LASTRES.

Of more interest and of more future potency, scope, and applicability is the "Industrial School of Havana," by Director Fernando Aguado y Rico, who goes into details which are here given in full to show how elaborate are Spanish educational laws and details of instruction, and how very little more work in that line will have to be done by whatever American talent may be called upon to conduct an educational advance along these and other lines in Cuba. The Director says:

"In regard to the origin of the school, one of the originators proposed to the city to establish this school, which proposition was accepted. We first began with night courses and then day and night cla.s.ses and some workshops. We have not been able to keep the workshops going owing to lack of funds, but I think this school is a nucleus from which to enlarge this work.

"We do not graduate civil engineers from our school, and our aim is to teach these boys carpentering, mechanical pursuits, and industrial chemistry, though the laboratories have not yet been established. There is a great lack of elementary schools here with industrial applications. This is something like a manual-training school, and like the one of arts and trades in Paris. I studied systems in France, Belgium, and the United States, and so far as possible have applied the best of these systems here. I graduated in 1881 in physical chemistry in the Department of Science in the University here, and the next year I commenced teaching.

"It does not cost the pupil anything to attend this school. There is an absolute lack of anything between the higher engineer and the ordinary labourer. Mechanics, agriculturists, and industrial chemists are most needed here, and the aim of the school is to supply these. There are a good many architects here who build houses but know nothing about mechanics, and a good many engineers who do not know anything about a steam-engine, being merely copies of what they have seen other men do. There are absolutely no draughtsmen here, though there is a great demand for them. The school will be extended as soon as we have the means.

"_The School of Arts and Trades_ is a public inst.i.tution of instruction, depending on the Provincial Deputation of Havana, consistent with the rights which these inst.i.tutions are ent.i.tled to by Article 147 of the present Plan of Studies (Educational Law).

"The courses of instruction of this school are divided into two sections--day cla.s.ses and night cla.s.ses. Instruction is absolutely free and only day-scholars are allowed.

"The day cla.s.ses comprise:

"Preparatory instruction for admission.

"Technical industrial instruction.

"The night cla.s.ses are intended to give workmen opportunities to improve themselves in their trades, acquiring technical knowledge of their work.

"These are divided into:

"Oral instruction and drawing cla.s.ses.

"Graphical, numerical, and a.n.a.lytical exercises in connection with the above.

"a.s.says, a.n.a.lysis, and manipulation.

"Practical work in the shops of the school, giving instruction of a practical character and in connection with the theoretical courses, besides giving the ways of judging the quality of the raw materials; names, description, and use of different utensils and tools.

"DAY CLa.s.sES--PREPARATORY INSTRUCTION

Writing Religion and Morals.

Spanish Grammar and Spelling.

Arithmetic.

Geography and Spanish History.

Elements of Geometry and Geometrical Drawing.

"The foreign studies are adapted to those to be followed by the students in the other courses and which const.i.tute the main object of the school. The students of these courses do some simple work in the shops.

"To be admitted to the preparatory courses at the request of fathers, tutors, or trustees, it is necessary:

"(1) To be at least eleven years old on the 1st of September.

"(2) To know how to read and write well.

"The admission term will be during all September.

"The number of inscriptions for preparatory courses will be limited to 100, the most promising being selected from such as may apply, preference being given to the children of artisans.

"Vacancies up to the end of December to be covered as they occur.

"Examinations to take place during the last ten days of June.

"Vacations will last from the end of the examinations to the 31st day of August.

"In September, students who may have failed in previous examinations, those not yet examined, and new scholars will attend the courses.

"Those who may have studied and pa.s.sed the examinations in the school of the preparatory courses will be ent.i.tled to commence the technical courses.

"TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL INSTRUCTION

"Young men wishing to be admitted to the courses of Technical Industrial Instruction at the request of their fathers, tutors, or trustees must:

"(1) Be at least twelve years old on October 1st.

"(2) Have followed the preparatory courses.

"Examinations for admission to this section will take place on the 26th of September at 12 M.

"Pet.i.tions for admission should be addressed to the Director, and will be received up to the previous day.

"Both spoken and written exercises will be given in these examinations.

"The written exercises will consist in:

"(1) Dictation.

"(2) A problem in Arithmetic.

"(3) A problem in Geometry, applying the metric system.

"(4) Free-hand croquis with boundaries.

"The written exercises will be the same for all the applicants, and will be all on the same day and hour, which will be duly announced beforehand.

"The Board of Examiners for admission will be const.i.tuted by the Director of the schools, the President, the Professors of Grammar, Geography, and History, one of Mathematics, one of Drawing, and the Instructor of the preparatory course, who will act as secretary.

"Technical instruction will be divided into general and special for Constructors, Mechanics, and Industrial Chemists.