THE TURK AT SCHOOL.

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 961, 8 October 1928, Page 3

THE TURK AT SCHOOL.

The picture was drawn not long ago of the President and the Cabinet) Min- ' isters of Turkey, with their secretaries, seated in front of a blackboard, by the aid of which they were receiving their first lesson in a new alphabet), that is to be introduced in their ' country. There was recently published a cablegram stating that the President, Mustapha Kemal, has completed a tour of Northern Turkey, the object of which was to instruct the population in the alphabet!, and indi--1 eating satisfactory progress is being made with the reform. The reforms furnishes one of the numerous signs of the awakening of a national in Turkey. Musilapha Kemal has reorganised the country and abolished many abuses. After the close of the Great War the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor by the Turks was followed by the adoption of progressive measures of various kinds. The loss of provinces from which revenue had long been extorted spurred the Turk to develop the latent resources of his own rightful territory, Anatlolia. Foreign capital has been welcomed and the Government has instituted a land bank. Mines of copper, lead, chrome, emery, and coal are being opened up. Shipping at) Smyrna is increasing, combeing thus provided for the at Constantinople. Education is s J3eing established on a much broader basis. Schools are being founded for. all girls, so that the emancipation of the Turkish women is being accompanied by better provision for their education. The adoption of the modernised alphabet is evidently one result of the visit of a Turkish Educational Mission tfc> the schools and educational institutions of western countries. The alphabet increases the

number of letters used by Turks from f to 23. 11l is based on the Phoeni- | cian alphabet, which was devised 1 more than a thousand years before the Christian era. Though the Turks have practically been expelled from Europe, it may be conjectured that j they have a future before them as an ' Asiatic nation. It is certainly a sign that is hopeful for them that under wise guidance they are setting their own house in order. Mustapha Kemal fully recognises that they must come into line with the progressive West if they are not to perish as a nation.