Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1892

Mr. Newberry to Mr. Foster.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, July 21, 1892. (Received August 4.)

No. 499.]

Sir: Replying to your No. 351, of July l, requesting a translation of the “school law” as it now stands, so far as it relates to the interests of citizens of the United States, I have the honor to inclose herewith the information asked for.

I have, etc.,

H. R. Newberry,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.

[Inclosure with No. 499.]

School law of Turkey.

In the school law promulgated in 1869, there are only articles 129 and 130 which relate to schools conducted by foreigners, of which the following is a translation:

Second category—Free schools.

Article 129. The free schools are those founded by the communities or by private Ottoman or foreign subjects. The instruction is either gratuitous or by tuition, and their expenses are covered by their founders or by the vacaufs (a trust foundation in mortmain for a charitable or pious purpose) to which they are attached.

The foundation of free schools shall be authorized in the provinces by the governor-general or by the academical council, and at Constantinople by the ministry of public instruction.

This authorization will not be given but under the following conditions:

(1) The teachers and professors must be furnished with a certificate of capacity, or diploma issued by the ministry of public instruction or by the academical council of the locality.

(2) There shall be no teaching against politics and morals. To that effect the program of teaching and the text books in the free schools must bear the approbation of the ministry of public instruction or of the academical council of the locality.

Any school opened without these formalities will be closed.

The principals of the said establishments will be bound to get the certificates or diplomas. Their professors may be provided, legalized by the ministry of public instruction or by the academical council.

Article 130. It is formally forbidden to ill-treat the stubborn or lazy pupils, and to use injurious expressions towards them, either in the public schools or in the free institutions. The different degrees of punishment to be inflicted to children of bad conduct will be set forth by special instructions. Any offender will be punished in accordance with the law.

(Sec Legislation Ottomane, by Wistarky, Vol. iii, page 299.)