Education in South America by R. H. Habenicht, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1912

Education in South America

By R. H. Habenicht, M. D.

THE South American Union Conference is composed of the republics of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, with the Falkland Islands as a mission field. It has a population of 20,000,000, the majority speaking the Spanish language. Of this vast multitude only a small per cent can read or write. The younger people are apt and anxious to learn, but the advantages in this direction are so meager that many become discouraged at trying. There are large, thickly populated sections of country where there are hundreds of children and young people and not a school within forty or fifty miles. Many of these inhabitants are farmers who are quite well to do, and they would gladly build schoolhouses, and pay for teachers could they be obtained. Even in many of the cities the government can not supply room for half the children who might attend could they be supplied with teachers. On every hand one will find great numbers who are anxious to learn to read and write. The governments are making efforts to provide school facilities, but the progress is very slow.

Could we at this time be in the field with teachers who would not only teach the people to read but who would sell them our books and papers as their textbooks, the minds of thousands would be impressed with the truths taught, and many would receive the message from reading their daily lessons. In Argentina and Chile we have made a small beginning in the work of education; but we are very poor, and have such limited facilities that we are greatly handicapped in our efforts. Because of lack of help and means in Argentina, I have had to act as teacher as well as doctor; and many, many times I have had to leave my classes to attend some sick person in urgent need. The pupils would patiently wait until I could resume class work. So anxious were they to learn that such interruptions were gladly borne with.

Please remember our two small schools in this great field that are trying to help a few of these dear young people get an education, that they may act as teachers for the rest; and when you know how poorly we are supplied with the necessary things to make these schools a real success, your hearts will doubtless be touched, and you will make the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering of this quarter a large one. As you know, this offering has been dedicated to our schools. I assure you that many glad hearts will well up with thankfulness for the help this offering will be to our struggling schools in this dark part of the world. May it be said in the final day that the offering of Dec. 28, 1912, was the means of bringing the truth to many souls through the help given to our schools in South America.

R. H. HABENICHT, M. D.