The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28

desire 10 improve. Especially good nave
been the results where the native teachers
have had associated with them an able and
tactful American man or women as teach
er OF English. Many are taking UP the
studies of English. and a few even direct
ing classes IN the English languages. The
women as a class are far more cOnServa-
tive than the men. There has been put
into operation n plan of having the native
teachcrs meet with the English instructors
for az least the last half-hour OF the morn
ing session for the study of English.
Monthly conferences are being held at
which suggestions are made and rules laid
down for the conduct OF the school. n
teachers institute will be held i'm the va
cation months OF April and May. The SAL
aries of the native teachers nave already
been increased one-third and a further in
crease IS contaminated. The salaries now
paid native teachers range from SO TO $50
"A month. The thirty-fiVe Americans who
are employed as teachers of English re-
ceive salaries ranging from SEQ to 800 a
month. All of the teachers are paid the
unity the programme and order of subjects;
all of the principals have been called upon
TO submit a statement OF their daily work.
a model programme is now being drawn
up.
CHILDREN LEARN EASILY.
PublIc-schoo pupils in Manila are young
looking, initiative and bright. They have as
a general rule good memories. They have
an aptness for acquiring languages. Arith-
metic is their hardest study. They possess
considerable mechanical skill. They write
wei. Writing is in a transition stage. Yer
teal writing has been adopted. but the
majority OF the teachers adhere to the slop-
ing system. They acquire the mechanical
processes OF reading ard writing much more
quickly than the American child.
Introduction OF the English language in
the Manila schools is simplified by the fac;
that Spanish is not and never has been tie
sition that the great majority of the resi-
dents of Manila can neither speak nor un
derstand the Spanish tongue. The children
Nho come TO enter the primary schools
speak only some native dialect. This peo-
RE. 10 whom Spanish was not taught an6
whose affections II has no hold, awaits
the introduction of some common Language
which shall be the free speech of the archi-
guaget hat is TO be here introduced is also
the current international tongue of the far
East.
Ii may be We'll TO close this letter by 8
word or two as TO the educational policy &c
be followed by those now in charge oil
educational matters. Under the Spanish
government the schools were entirely under
the supervision Of the religious orders. 1t
has been their tendency TO place emphasis
upon secondary and higher education of q
few brighter pupils rather than TO further
and promote the primary education of the
masses. The result of this policy has been
that a few persons have stood out promi-
nently as educated Fflipinos, while the
greater mass OF people have either not been
educated at all or only up to a certain
point: that is. the acquiring of the mechan-
ical processes of reading and writing. The
little school instruction the average Filipino
has had has not tended to broaden his in
telligence and has hardly developed indie
pendent thought and action. The aim Of
the educational department will be TO bring
the means of primary instruction within the
reach of the entire child population. Its
ideal is to establish everywhere a graded
school. with a prescribed course and def
mite standards for each. year, under the
charge of trained and duly c%ertiicated
teachers and housed in suitable public
buildings.