The times., 1901-04-22
FILIPINOS TO TRY ENGLISH
knowledge of the Language to BE
Spread in the Archipelago.

English is eventually to be the Ian
euage of the Philippines, provided the
islands continue to be held as possess
sion Of the United States. in accordance
with the policy of the present Admins
tration This is the opinion of those
who are familiar with the affairs ol 'he
islands the Philippine Commission anu
especially those who. acting for 'he
Government have made careful STUDY
of the educational system, or want OF
-,-ste,,, there and are well informed as
IN what is required for its improve
,nent All of the recommendations
which come to the President and to the
War Department from various sources,
hotb from the military authorities ana
civilians. touching upon this subject, IS
In advocacy Of spreading the knowledge
of English in the islands as rapidly as
,,ossibIe It is argued in the first place
that familiarity with the language VIII
have a strong tendency to instii loyalty
In America in the Filipinos. enaole
them to be better informed upon gov
ernmentaI affairs. and to understand
American institutions. There is said to
be a very ardent desire among all
classes Of natives and among the
various tribes who now speak different
languages and dialects To become pos
eessed of q knowledge Of English. The
Government intends to encourage thls
desire. and to put forth ali possible Ell
fort to spread a knowledge Of the IAN
guage.
A course directly opposed to this was
followed by the Spaniards. who, In
MANY instances not only discouraged
the learning of their language, but
made special efforts to prevent the COM
mon people from learning Spanish
Thus while Spanish is the language
which predominates, it is fact never
theless that not near majority OF the
natives are able to speak the eastman
tongue. The schools in the various pro
viuces outside of Manila and some OF
the other principal cities have been con-
ducted in the dialect spoken by the ma
tives of that particular section. The
metbod which the Government intends
TO take to introduce English is through
the medium of the public schools, which
are now being established and re-or-
eanized. and which will in the course
Of time be brought under general sys-
tern with a state supervision Of the cen
tral government of the islands. 1t IS
calculated with this plan pushed ana
developed that in the course of gen
Grafton English viii be the universal
language of the Filipino-at least that
IT will be more generally spoken than
snanish or any OF the dialects Of the
natives. It is not expected that the
older inhabitants Of the Islands and
some of the more remote and Ignorant
of the tribes VIII readily embrace Eng
lisb. but far less difficulty viii be eX-
rerjenced with the rising generation
and the more intelligent of the Fill
pinos.
II will be necessary, however, for a
time. to continue general instruction in
Spanish in a majority Of the schools,
but gradually English text books VIII
be made to supplant the Spanish text
hooks now in use. It is contemplated
and the plan is even now being carried
out wherever the schools have been re-
organized and are in active operation
10 introduce the study of English and
make il compulsory. This, however, is
scarcely necessary as the pupils are re-
ported to be extremely anxious TO ac-
uuire a speaking knowledge Of the Ian
guage. Until the school system is com
pletely reorganized and brought under
central supervision. il is said, little can
be done in the instruction Of English
outside of Manila. Some Of the better
educated Of the American soldiers have,
however. been detailed TO teach, but
have not always been successful, as q
great deal Of patience is required, and
generally the soldiers are not adopts IN
the methods and art Of teaching. Those
who have interested themselves in the
question are unanimous in urging the
sending of trained English teachers to
the islands. II is said that knowledge
of Spanish. or Of the native dialects, Is
not essential for American teachers "a
instruct the Filipino youth. II is point
ed out that teachers have gone among
the American Indians without under
standing scarcely a word Of the rec
mans language, and have met viii
marked success in teaching English t'
the children. The same result. it is be
Heved. may be had In the case Of th'
Filipinos.
The Spanish and native teachers ar
poorly paid, and they have no metho'
or system of instruction. Reports shov
that save in the higher grade Of school
conducted by religious orders, there i
no attempt made at graduation Of pu
nils. and that the work, lacking super
vision. is aimless. The text books ar
crude and provide a large amount o
religious instruction. The pupils ar
obliged TO learn by heart the exac
words Of the text book. The teacher
with book In hand, hears one pupil at
tire: the others at the same time stud
aloud. apparently doing their best t
drown the voices Of both teacher an
the pupil reciling. The teacher onl
asks the questions contained in the tex
book and makes little or no effort 10 ex
plain anything. The teachers do no
have fixed daily programmes and S
the time Of the school is not well dis
tributed. The Philippine Commission
in its report upon the educational sys
TEN of the islands, referred especial
to the lack Of method employed in III
schools and to the great need for a gen
eral supervision of ali the schools b
the State All Of this is to be change
by the new system which the author
Of tho fc1g,g oya .xrecta5 81,