388 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



A GROUP OF PERSIAN SCHOOL BOYS AT HAMADAN 



While modern schools are increasing, the old Makhtab Khaneh, with the Arabic Koran 

 as the text-book in the primer class, is still a national institution (see illustration on opposite 

 page). More than 98 per cent of the people of Persia are followers of Mohammed. 



Photographs by J. W. Cook 



A GROUP OF ARMENIAN AND PERSIAN SCHOOL GIRLS 



Probably 95 per cent of the women of Persia are illiterate, but in recent years foreign 

 educators, and since the war the Persian Department of Education, have done much to 

 promote the cause of education for Persian girls. It has only been within the last few years 

 that girls have been allowed to attend the mission schools. Formerly they were married at 

 the age of ten of twelve. 



