The times., 1899-07-31
SCHOOLS IN MANILA.
Work Done by Father McKinnon be-
fore He Started Home.

fore He Stnrted Home.
Manila. June 19-Padre McKinnon fas
gone to Negros to join his regiment, the
First California Volunteers. preparatory to
starting for home, and the schools, the
cemeteries, and the leper hospital are left
without a superintendent. Padre McKin-
non has had a lively year of it. Before we
took Manila he was constantly exposed not
only to the dangers which the men of his
regiment met, but also to several others
OF his own seeking. as, for instance, when
he walked into the city to see the Arch
bishop and was shot at several times by the
Spaniards before they recognized him as a
priest On the day of the surrender of the
Spaniards Father McKinnon was wounded
slightly as he advanced along the beach
with his regiment.
Almost at the beginning of the American
occupation of Manila Padre McKinnon was
put in charge of the public schools. The
system under the Spaniards was not very
extensive nor was the work very thorough.
and there was lot Of hard work for the
padre in getting things to running again
in anything like proper shape. Before he
had fairly got started at it, the 'eper
hospital was put in his charge also, end
there was lot more work. Then he was
made superintendent of the cemeteries. all
of those in Manila being under his direc
tion, and that did make his hands fall. All
this work the padre has looked after
steadily since he took hold OF 1t last fall,
and besides, he has found time some-
how TO go with his boys under fire in
their fighting about Manila
1t was in the schools that Father Me-
Kinnon was most interested. At the ttart
it was slow work. There were compara-
lively few pupils and there were only
two schoohouses. Both of these were
conducted by the Jesuits, one in the walled
city and the other in Malate. The school
in the walled city was the only regular
municipal school in Manila; that in Ma
late was normal school for the training
of teachers, conducted much on the nes
of similar institutions In the State. These
schools the padre at once arranged TO con-
tinue the Jesuit fathers being glad of the
opportunity. There had been several dis
trict schools of little better than primary
standing and these Father McKinnon re-
organized and set at work as soon as ios-
sible. He was able to employ most of
the old teachers, and where these could
not be had he found others. This was not
a matter of great difficulty, although it
required some time.
The Filipino as a rule is extremely am
bilious for his children. Especially is this
SO in the matter of education. There was
| no great lack of pupils when it became
known that the new schools were free and
that care would be taken of all the chill
j dren who came. II soon became necessary
/ to provide more room. and Father Mckln-
non. began to spread out. Buildings were
| rented in various parts of the city and
new schools were opened as fast as was
/ required. Teachers were not difficult to
| get. although the pay was very small. in a
very few cases amounting to $40 tMexican)
| q month.
The system was in fleurishing condi-
| ton last fall when Father McKinnen met
| his first Indication of the force of the in
| surrectionary movement. II came in the
| shape of prohibition by Aguinaldo of enc
of his pet plans. He had arranged for a
| formal raising of the Stars and Stripes
over the Normal School building in Malate.
I All the native teachers and some of the
pupils We're to take part In the ceremonies,
/ and an elaborate programme was prepared.
Aguinaido simply forbade any Filipino to
! have anything to do with the raising of
the American flag and all obeyed him.
! Nevertheless the flag was raised ON the
day and at the time appointed After that
the feeling between the Americans and the
Filpinos kept growing steadily more and
more strained, and its effect was shown in
a diminishing attendance at the schools.
There were some pupils, however who
were faithful, and even in the most trying
times of the first fighting the schools were
not shut down altogether.
a couple of months ago Father McKin-
non decided to bsgin giving instruction in
4 English. There we're a few of his regular
teachers who were compstent to give the
children a start in the new official language
and few Spaniards were found who could
and would help. Then some of the Amer
lean women here took hold and the English
department was pretty well equipped An
astonishing increase in the number of pu-
pills was the immediate result. Men and
women applied as well as the children. The
| Filipinos are eager TO learn English and
display an astonishing aptitude for il. They
came in such numbers that it was neces-
sary to establish an age limit, and new
only children between six and fourteen are
admitted to the schools There are more
than 5000 pupils. and there is hardly room
for them all in the thirty-two schools
which have been established since Father
McKinnon took hold of the system.
Ii general the curriculum of the Manila
schools Is not extended or advanced. The
simplest rudiments are taught for the most
part, but. on the whole. the work under
Father McKinnon has been very successful
and it is almost entirely due to his untir-
ing energy and interest In the work thai
this is So The schools have closed now
for the long summer vacation, and there
will be no effort to select a new superin-
tsndent until 1t is certain that Father Nc
Kinnon is not coming back. Naturally h'
desires to go home with his regiment ani