The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-06
American Progress.


slow work. 1t took our fore
~ fathers several centuries to
get America into shape, and
every little while we are informed by
some superior person, native born or
imported, that they botched the job.
But If the work be slow and occasion
ally unsatisfactory it is at all times
necessary and should be at most times
interesting. A piece of information
along this line is communicated by n
Havana correspondent of the Sun, and
we consider it of sufficient Importance
to deserve quotation, for it shows that
in the island of Cuba (now in Ameri
can trusteeship) progress is by no
means at a standstill:
THE official gazette of Nov. 8 an
nounces the appointment of Alexis f.
Frye, of Boston, as superintendent of
schools. His jurisdiction covers the
whole island. Within a week Cover
nor-General Brooke will probably pub
lish an order establishing a general
public school system, in the study of
which he has spent much time. The
American school system is followed as
closely as possible. The attendance
of all children between the ages Of
seven and fourteen will be compul-
sorry. The teachers will be Cubans.
English will be taught. The salaries
will range from $45 to $65 a month.
Plans are being made on the basis
of 100000 children, though there are
probably 100000 children in the island
of school age, judging from the pres
ent census approximation. All BOOKS
and supplies will be furnished free.
The ayuntamientos Cor local councils)
will appoint the teachers and pay SAL
aries and rents. Deficiencies will be
made up from the funds of the island.
After this year all candidates for
places as teachers must hold certif-
Gates from Mr.. Frye in order to Sc
cure appointments from the ayuntami-
entos. This is not possible this year.
All teachers will be paid for twelve
months services. When not teach
ing during the. thirty-siX weeks COM
prising the school year they must at
tend normal schools or follow the
course Of study laid down by Mr.. Frye
In order to improve themselves. The
material for teachers is at present
very crude. Mr.. Frye's chief atten-
tion will be paid to the primary
schools. These will include pract-
cally all children between the ages of
six and eleven years. The text books
will be printed in the United States
and will be mostly in Spanish, but
some will be in English and Spanish
Civil government and hygiene will be
taught
Secretary Root recently aroused the
powerful sarcasm of the Scranton
Times by asserting that the American
behind the gun stood just a little way
in front of the American with the omen
Bible and the free text book. The
quotation Just made shows that the
secretary of war knew what he was
talking about; but lest that should not
suffice we have another Says the Phil
ippine commission report: when we
reached Manila lin March) the situa
ton in the city was bad. Incendiary
fires occurred daily. The streets were
| almost deserted. Half of the native
population had fed, and most of the
remainder were shut in their houses.
Business was at a standstill. Insur-
gent troops everywhere faced our lines,
and the sound of rifle fire was fire.
quently audible at our house. A reign
l
of terror prevailed. When we
left Manila lin August, only five
months later), a large volume of busi-
ness was being done, and the streets
were so crowded as to be hardly safe.
The native population was quiet and
orderly, and all fear of an uprising had
| long since passed. An efficient corps of
native policemen was on duty. A sys-
| tenn of public schools, in which English
was taught, had been advocated by the
commission and established by General
Otis. Some eOOO scholars We're in at
| tendance"
! The condition in Porto Rico was ex-
planned quite recently in these columns
1t is similar in kind only more ad-
vanced in degree. These eloquent facts
OF record ought to shame into silence
the demagogues who metaphorically
throw mud at the American flag for
fancied political purposes of their own
|
A vote for Barnett for state treas.