San Claudio, Cuba by Mrs. Ida Fischer-Carnahan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1910

San Claudio, Cuba

By Mrs. Ida Fischer-Carnahan

OUR school closed the third of June, after a successful run of seven months. With the exception of a few days’ vacation, we have kept steadily on. Our students accomplish the same work marked out by the Church-School Manual for church-schools in the United States. We have been pleased to note the progress of those who have been faithful in attendance, and loyal to the school.

The past year has been a trying one to all connected with the school; and only the fact that we were walking in the path of duty has kept us at our post. Last spring word was sent us that the inspector of our district had threatened to close our school, because I did not have a Cuban certificate. I secured a book containing the laws for schools, and found that if he pushed the law, he could do this. We went steadily forward, not knowing at what time he would visit us; but the Lord’s care has been over us, and we have been permitted to finish this year’s work.

Believing that it is the Lord’s will that we relate ourselves loyally to the laws of the land, I determined to take the public-school examination in Spanish, as there are no examinations in English. I sent in my application, and it was accepted. July 17 I left for Pinar del Rio, in the extreme western part of the island. I carried a letter of introduction from the secretary of the board of public education of this municipality, or what corresponds to a county in the States. At 8 A. M., July 18, the examination began with the history of Cuba, followed by geography, and in the afternoon, grammar. The next morning came natural science, which included elementary physics, zoology, and agriculture. Drawing was the next study. Physiology and hygiene, writing, composition, pedagogy, moral instruction, and civics closed three days of hard work. I left the next day, not knowing how I stood, only in arithmetic, the president and secretary of my room having told me in the presence of all that my arithmetic was good. After several days of anxious waiting, my name appeared in two of the daily papers among the list of those who had passed; and the secretary showed me my certificate, which was sent to him, with others, to be recorded.

We feel grateful to the Lord for this blessing, as it would have been impossible for our school to have been secure without it. This places our work on a basis with the Cubans which no diploma or certificate in English could give it, and gives us the right to open up school work in any part of the island. I would suggest that those who are planning to come to Cuba to open up school work, make all the investigation they can in reference to the laws and requirements both for English and Spanish schools.

We have our new home—built of lumber, and with cement floors below—almost completed. It is two stories high, and will contain eight rooms. We had hoped to have the new schoolhouse finished in time to open the school this fall, but Mr. Carnahan has had his hands full with the farm and the building of the home. We are therefore planning to use three of the lower rooms for a temporary school, one room for the Americans, one for the Cuban boys, and the other for the Cuban girls. We are thankful for the interest which the Cubans and our friends have taken in our work. As a result of my work at the examination, I understand that the examiners and others feel that our work is not superficial, but substantial.

We believe that God is going before us, giving us victory, removing the lions from our pathway. We praise him for all these blessings, and are confident that he is able to care for his own. We are expecting a competent teacher and family from the States to join us this fall. This will release me from the English work, as I desire to give all my time to the Cubans. We know no defeat in God’s work.

MRS. IDA FISCHER-CARNAHAN.