Agricultural education is of a two-fold type, special and general. Special or so-called regional schools look toward the education of future workers in special fields, such as the sugar industries of Tucuman, the wine industries of Mendoza, the lumber in dustry of Misiones, the dairy industry of the Plata Valley, the fruit industry of SanJuan and several other regional activities. Other schools provide for the thorough scientific in struction underlying all agricultural occupa tions, and they are of a type similar to the ag ricultural colleges in the United States.
Commercial Commercial schools for men and women offer courses in commer cial practice (five years), boolikeeping (four years) leading to the degree of public account ant (three more years). A more recent addi tion to the scope of the commercial schools is the degree of doctor for advanced work in eco nomics.
Other Educational Interests.— Besides national schools for abnormal children, deaf, dumb and blind, the government is establishing a number of special schools for weak children in need of fresh air as well as mountain or seaside climate. In connection with such pro visions for the health of children it is inter esting to mention here that every school child in the city of Buenos Aires is given a glass of milk at the noon hour. After 15 years of such practice milk drinking has become a habit among all classes of the population, thereby re ducing the consumption of intoxicating liquors.
The National Academy of Fine Arts gives free instruction in drawing, painting, decora tive and industrial arts.
Popular interest in education is shown by the number of organizations established either with the purpose of studying educational prob lems, helping the schools or conducting edu cational centres. The working classes them selves, through the Socialistic party, have done considerable good in organizing lectures, edu cational excursions and other elements of self improvement.
Education of women has made great prog ress in Argentina. In certain districts primary and secondary schools are co-educational. Also some of the normal schools and all the univer sities. Pedagogical departments are well pat ronized by women who also are pre-eminent in medical studies. Women take an active inter est in social work, notably through the remark able Philanthropic Association, which although recognized and endowed by the national gov ernment is practically under the management of a woman's board. Women are active in education and have also done much to bring the child-saving agencies to the present state of efficiency.
The national government, as well as some of the provinces, maintains numerous scholarships to support Argentine students in England, the United States, Canada, Italy, France and Ger many. Those in the United States number about 50, and as many more are supported by their own means or enjoy private scholarships; they are principally engaged in studying en gineering, agriculture and commerce.
No fewer than 300 young Argentinos are at tending courses in Europe, the great majority of them paying their own expenses.