The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-05-21
MIR ATKINSON IS APPOINTED.

Superintendent of instruction in the
Philippines and Will Soon Leave the
High School.
Fred w. Atkinson, principal of the
Springfield high school, received a dis
patch May z, from Judge William H.
Taft, president of the new Philippine
commission, announcing that he had
been elected by the commission super
intendent of instruction in the Philip
pines. The dispatch was dated April II,
on board the United States transport
Hancock, four days out from San Fran
cisco, and was evidentlY> brought to
that port by a passing vessel 1t was
filed at San Francisco on Saturday.
The dispatch stated further that Mr.
Atkinson, and his wife, would be eX-
pected to sail from San Francisco for
Manila on a government transport early
in the summer, and that meantime he
should visit the schools at Carlisle, Pa,
Hampton, Va, and Tuskegee, Ala, and
study the methods employed in the
teaching of Indian and negro youth.
The expected has thus happened, Mr.
Atkinson has decided to accept the
appointment, and the Instructions
coupled with it imply that he must
speedily terminate his connection with
the high school. No doubt arrange
ments will be made for the completion
of the work of the school year under
Vice-Principal William Orr, and natur-
ally Mr.. Orr will be generally thought
of for the succession to the prinsipal
ship. 1t is a question, however, in view
of his marked scientific interests and
tastes whether he will wish to be
candidate for a position the work of
which Is largely executive. No doubt
the school committee will take ample
time for careful consideration of so
important a matter
Mr. Atkinson Wiss close his service of
six years at the head of the high school
to the deep regret and with the warm
respect, appreciation and goodwill of
everyone interested in it's welfare. He
as not sought the new position to which
he has now been appointed. He has de-
clined other offers since he came to
Springfield, notably the principalship
of the Gilbert school at Winsted, CT, at
a salary of $4,000 and the principalship
of one of the Massachusetts state nor
NAL schools, but this one appeals to him
and he has been counseled to accept it
by educators in whom he has confidence.
His salary here has been $4,000, and of
course 1t will be much larger in the
Philippines Mr. Atkinson has Of course
formed some plans for his work in the
new field, but they are largely tenta-
tive. He proposes to study his problems
on the ground before he developes any
definate scheme, and he will take no
teachers with him from this country.
i, hi hat no AL in he
islands sould be on industrial lines and
that native teachers should be employed
so far as practicable. During his con-
ferences with the commission and others
in Washington he learned some interest
ing facts about the schools already ex
listing in Manila 1t appears that there
are now 5000 children in that city's
schools, which are conducted, after
modified American PLAN under the sup
erintendency of George P. Anderson,
Yale graduate There are So native
teachers, mostly men, 40 Spanish and %
American half of the last being women,
some of them daughters of army Off
GERS. The widow of Rizel, the famous
Filipino patriot, is one of the teachers.
The school year begins June l and ends
March /, and there are II holidays
adopted ny tHe AiherlcdH SoNerHileHl.
The sessions are from 730 to 1890 a. m.
and from 2.30 to p. M, and there are
no sessions on Thursday, that being the
weekly holiday, instead Of Saturday as
with us The children are bright and
quick to learn and their parents are
ambitious to have them learn. Many
parents go into the schools themselves
to study English, which is taught for
one hour daily in all the schools. The
course of study is reading, writing,
arithmetic, grammer, geography and
history. The great needs of the schools
are reported to be buildings with mod
ern furniture and conveniences, and
textbooks. There are no blackboards
even and several children have to use
one textbook. Springfield Republican