The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-24
GROSS IGNORANCE
OF THE FlLlPlN0S
The Kind Of Ignorance the Soldier
Boys Are Fighting With
Rifle Balls
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
MANILA. jan 20.-Education among
the Filipinos is extremely backward. The
few who have any education at all either
acquired it from prejudiced or meager
sources. for the little knowledge they
possess concerning the world outside the
Philippines is so distorted that it is gro
tesque. Even Aguinaldo and his advisers
are not exempt from the common misin-
formation. American occupation so lar
has done scarcely nothing to enlfghten
them They are set in their convictions.
are naturally proud, are suspicious of all
white races and it is going to be tedious
and difficult undertaking to remove their
INSTRUMENTATION and the prejudices of gen
erations.
The only schools in all the Philippine
group are confined to the city of Manila
There are not more than ten for the edu-
cation of the natives, and they are con-
Quoted by the Catholic church. All of
them but one are primary schools, where
nothing higher is taught than reading.
writing and elementary arithmetic, COM
bined with religious instruction. The sim
gle high school includes branches CORE
spending with those of the average third
grade public school in the United States.
The English residents of the city maintain
a very good school for their own children,
as the Germans do also. But the educa-
tional efforts of the Spaniards seem to
have been restricted to imparting the
possible prejudice and superstition
AS an Illustration of Philippine enlight-
eminent, the common idea of the world s
geography is a good example. Every
Filipino who knows anything about other
parts of the world than his native prov
ince or village will readily tell you that
China has the largest area of territory
and the greatest number of Inhabitants
of any nation in the world 1t is so large
that it cannot be measured and contains
so many people that they cannot be
counted France and Spain are next to
China in the extent of their territory,
but incomparably superior to China in re-
finement, education, wealth and religion.
Close by the side of France and Spain
stands Italy. the home of the Great
Father, who alone of all men can commu-
nicate directly with God.
Germany is a country north of France
and Italy, and is inhabited by the de-
scendants of men who but few genera,
beasts. The size of Germany is unimpor-
tant, as the Germans are not very re-
fined people. They go to France and Italy
for instruction in music, art, language
and astronomy, and majority OF them
are cursed with false religion England
is very small nation, but on account of
it's favorable climate, rich bankers make
1t their home Those rich bankers have
had many powerful warships built for
their own protection. They hire Seamen to
run the ships for them.
The United States resembles China in
extent of territory, but is small enough
to be measured The AmerieanS IN r part
f1I
peans who came over years ago and
found ineXhaustible mines or gold. Ihose
gold mines have made America one or the
richest countries in the world, ana all
white Americans have more money than
they know what to do with. The early
immigrants from Europe intermarrfed
with the native Indians, then brought
millions of negroes from somewhere TO DC
their work for them and gradually mixed
with the negroes also. The result is that
the great bulk of Americans are a mix
tire Of European, negro and Indian blood.
The few whites in the United States are
verv we'll educated because they possess
wealth to obtain good educatlonS In
Erance and Italy. Most Of the Ameri-
cans. however, are 1iliterate ana poor,
having but recently emerged from siav-
erv. Like the English, the Americans are
devoted to false religion, except a lew
Who have been favored with special ad-
1n NJ ges in education. The white Ameri-
cans are good fighters, but there are so
few of them that they have their hands
fuiI most of the time in suppress1ng in
sIrrections among the millions or negroes
and mixed breeds, as well as IN keeping
the Indians out of the cities.
Schools for Eilipinos are held IN rooms
attached to churches. seats ana Denches
are not provided as in American schools,
but the pupils sit on their teet on the
| floor Ali study aloud, and In conse-
ouence the school room is bedlam or con-
| fusion No school Is permitted to have
more than eighty pupils on its rolls at
one time That is a regulation of the
church. Just why 1t is so cannot be as
| certained by Americans. Various. ex-
cuses are given, the most common being