THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA. 297 
equally gratuitous facilities are afforded for learning Span¬ 
ish grammar, book-keeping, elementary natural history, 
geography, and history of Central America, and some other 
branches (complementary). 
In 1883 there were in Guatemala eight hundred and 
fifty primary schools, divided thus, — for boys, five hundred 
and forty; for girls, two hundred and thirty-six; mixed, 
sixteen ; artisans’ evening-schools, forty-seven; a Sunday- 
school for workmen, one also for women, and nine com¬ 
plementary schools. The attendance at these schools 
was 39,642 pupils, 27,974 males and 11,668 females; 
there were 735 male teachers, and 302 female teachers, 
while the cost was $241,499.14, or $6.09 each pupil. 
These schools, scattered all over the republic, meeting 
sometimes in old convents or other confiscated church 
buildings, sometimes in the cabildo or in buildings espe¬ 
cially provided, are visited and inspected frequently by 
suitable persons appointed by Government, who do the 
duty laid upon them far more intelligently than most of 
the New England school-committee men, — I have had 
experience of both. 
Teachers’ institutes are held in three places each year 
in November, and the teachers are expected to attend and 
gather what new matter or interest may be provided for 
them. As the Government appoints the teachers, it is 
responsible ; and I believe there is a general care among 
these teachers to keep well up to the requirements. 
Wisely, the schools are not overloaded, as are those in 
many Northern cities, with every conceivable subject; but 
the aim is to give every child the beginning of an elemen¬ 
tary education, which he can, if circumstances permit, 
greatly expand. 
