New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
EDUCATION IN TIE NEW POSSESSiONS d
THREE STEPS TO BE TAKEN -ENGLIsH AND NAN
UAL TRAINING.
William T. Harris, in The Independent


William T. Harris, in The Independent
II seems to me that there are three simple
steps i'm the inauguration or an educaIiohai
scheme for Cuba and Porto Rico.
First / take it for granted that the poVe'n-
rnent will leave the management OF the isidhis
for several months or even years, in the hahus
NJ military commanders, who VIII govern
through provost marshals assigned to districts
these being instructed to take all proper steps "
interest substantial citizens, cltlZehs pp9SeSS"s
educateJ Intelligence or successful IN the man
agement Of property, to come forward ana as
sist in restoring social order ana IN re-eslaoIial-
ing schools and business in the proper chahhsa
nv q gentle pressure on the part OF these provost
marshals old schools could be re-estaDIlshed AT !
perhaps new ones opened 1t is important mat
the United States Government should 90 s'fH'-
thing as soon as these schools nave peeh r.
opened-namely. it should furnish supervisors 20
visit these schools and suggest improved meth
DDS Of instruction. giving the teachers Oh thr9e
new possessions the benefit Of the experlencr IN
the United states that has accumulated dut'"5
the many generations that our common SCH"o'
system has been in operation the superEla'rs
should consist Of one general superintendent N
So hools and sufficient number of assistants 20
make possible i weekly visit TO each ~ me
So hools on the island
In the next place something should be done
with regard 70 the instruction Of the natives N
the English language. Great care should oe
taken not TO attempt too much. If the unlteI
states Government should employ teachers ~
English (and these must all be acquainted win
the Spanish language 10 make weekly VISITS ID
he.
instruction i'm English and direct the instruction
in this branch, one lesson day being required
in each Of the schools the native teachers W'ull
soon become good instructors in this Drancn. ana
the English language would very soon come -
/ b. tau sht in an effective manner and TINS with
minimum Of outlay from the pubic iunaS.
Besides the literary work there should p'' -
have suggested schools Of industry with Sp'-
oial tel.hers in every considerable town ana
village. The general manual training sch"oi. -
il exists with us would DO good work there, put
| think that special trades schools are better.
They would tit all who desire instruction Tor
their special VoCItons.
The revenues Of The islands collected by me
United States should support the teachers ami
the Supervisors.
After the military rule. Of course. civil RUE
must come Indeed it should be the policy N
the Government to make the military rule a SyS-
TEN IF nurture to develop civil rule and s'i-
government on the part Of the people or theSP
20 sessions While the military rule lasts it viii
give opportunity for the National Government
at WASHINGTON To become acquainted with me
I poctIliarities Of these islanders, 10 learn their
strong points and their weak points, and. - ID
speak acquire a fund Of experience necessary
for the formation IF proper civil codes and M
. organization Of system OF government t'r
them.
. proyuerity must be the re-establishment II the
various industries and civil YOcations OF Ia"
people The establishment Of schools should
proceed step by step with this settlement Or
. civil and Industrial VOcatiOnS. so that the youth
growing up may understand the rationale OF the
things that they practise. that when they grow
fled to enter into new order Of citizenship
which our National Government will hope 10 on
courage and succeed in bringing 10 a vigorous
maturity in these islands