THE RESULTS
At the beginning of the second scholastic year I once more drew up a programme. Let us, I said, confirm our earlier programme; vindicated by results, approved in theory and practice, the principle which from the first informed our work and governs the Modern School is now unshakable.
Science is the sole mistress of our life. Inspired with this thought, the Modern School proposes to give the children entrusted to it a mental vitality of their own, so that when they leave our control they will continue to be the mortal enemies of all kinds of prejudices and will form their own ideas, individually and seriously, on all subjects.
Further, as education does not consist merely in the training of the mind, but must include the emotions and the will, we shall take the utmost care in the training of the child that its intellectual impressions are converted into the sap of sentiment. When this attains a certain degree of intensity, it spreads through the whole being, colouring and refining the individual character. And as the conduct of the youth revolves entirely in the sphere of character, he must learn to adopt science as the sole mistress of his life. [[76]]
To complete our principle we must state that we are enthusiastically in favour of mixed education, so that, having the same education, the woman may become the real companion of man, and work with him for the regeneration of society. This task has hitherto been confined to man; it is time that the moral influence of woman was enlisted in it. Science will illumine and guide her rich vein of sentiment, and utilise her character for the welfare of the race. Knowing that the chief need in this country is a knowledge of natural science and hygiene, the Modern School intends to help to supply it. In this it has the support of Dr. de Buen and Dr. Vargas, who lecture, alternately, on their respective subjects.
On June 30, 1903, I published in the Bulletin the following declaration:—
We have now passed two years in expounding our principles, justifying them by our practice, and enjoying the esteem of all who have co-operated in our work. We do not see in this any other triumph than that we are able to confirm confidently all that we have proclaimed. We have overcome the obstacles which were put in our way by interest and prejudice, and we intend to persevere in it, counting always on that progressive comradeship which dispels the darkness of ignorance with its strong light. We resume work next September, after the autumn vacation. We are delighted to be able to repeat what we said last year. The Modern School and its Bulletin renew their life, for they have filled, with some measure of satisfaction, a deeply-felt need. Without making promises or programmes, we will persevere to the limit of our powers.
[[77]]
In the same number of the Bulletin was published the following list of the pupils who had attended the school during the first two years:—
| MONTHS. | GIRLS. | BOYS. | TOTAL. | |||
| 1901–2. | 1902–3. | 1901–2. | 1902–3. | 1st Yr. | 2nd Yr. | |
| Opening day | 12 | — | 18 | — | 30 | — |
| September | 16 | 23 | 23 | 40 | 39 | 63 |
| October | 18 | 28 | 25 | 40 | 43 | 68 |
| November | 21 | 31 | 29 | 40 | 50 | 71 |
| December | 22 | 31 | 30 | 40 | 52 | 71 |
| January | 22 | 31 | 32 | 44 | 54 | 75 |
| February | 23 | 31 | 32 | 48 | 55 | 79 |
| March | 25 | 33 | 34 | 47 | 59 | 80 |
| April | 26 | 32 | 37 | 48 | 63 | 80 |
| May | 30 | 33 | 38 | 48 | 68 | 81 |
| June | 32 | 34 | 38 | 48 | 70 | 82 |