Evening star., 1901-07-12
TEACHERS WILL SAIL
About Six Hundred Instructors to
Leave for Philippines.
WILL TEACH FILIPINO YOUTH
Several Washington Pedagogues
Included in Party.
TO INSTALL OUR LANGUAGE


the chief, has completed all preparations
for the TRANSPORTATION of the GOO educa-
tional instructors who will sail from San
Francisco on the government transport
Thomas on July % for the Philippines The
incursion of so many teachers from the
United States to oriental parts is a dis
tinctive innovation in the scholastic and
educational history of this country, and
great deal of interest will attend the deVel-
opments of their efforts to induct Filipino
children, who will be instructed, into the
channels of ordinary American lore.
The 600 teachers who have been selected
from all over the country, some of whom
were chosen from Washington, will, imme-
diately upon their arrival in the Philip
pines get down to the work of teaching the
Filipino youth his A, B, C's. "See the cat
catch the rat" that staid old expression
first drilled into the Uranium of the Amer
lean youngster, will be one of the starting
points from which the American teachers
hope to proceed in their work, and at the
beginning the teaching will be practically,
as it is in this country, of the simplest and
most primary nature. 1t is intended that
rising carnations in the Philippines shall be
given the opportunity to go through future
life with the advantage of knowledge of the
English language in their possession, for 1t
is especially with that point in view that
the pedagogues are being sent to the is
lands.
Washington Teachers Aboard.
When the Thomas sails Tuesday week its
passenger list will bear the names of the
following teachers from this city: Miss NJ.
B. Stinson, John F. Gillian and Charles H.
Goddard, selected from the Catholic Uni
versity; Thomas ]. Donovan, selected from
the Georgetown University; Marian X Rog-
ers and Sarah A Tichenor, from the Wash
ington Normal School; A. V. Smith and
Lydia K. Williams. On the transport the
following named, who are employed under
the civil service by the government will
also be conveyed: William W. Barclay,
Victor Emdem, Edwin NJ. Hamilton Russell
Howard, George P McCabe NJ. l.. Mitch
ell, w. Morgan Shuster and F. ]. Yanes,
the last named being an interpreter Miss
Minnie A. Reifenrath, another Washington
teacher, has already sailed for the Philip
pines, where she will engage in the work
outlined by the insular bureau.
Some OF these persons Will be accom-
panied by relatives. The government in
projecting the scheme to introduce English
teachers to the Fil!pinos outlines its plans
upon quite an elaborate scale, for it is in
tended to pay some of those selected sala-
ries as high as S12o a month, and, in ad-
dition, furnish every one with free trans
portation including sleeping fare from
their places Of residence to San Francisco.
In the case of relatives, however, the gov
ernment thought it would be juStifable to
furnish transportation from San Francisco
to Manila only, so that such relatives will
be obliged to defray their expenses out of
their own pockets on the trip from Wash
ington to the coast. Among the relatives of
the above named persons who Will make the
trip are the following: Mrs. F. J: Yanes,
Mrs. NJ. l.. Mitchell and Mrs. Stinson
mother of Miss Stinson Mr.. John j.
O'Brien was offered position as teacher
in the Philippines, his name having been
selected from the roster furnished by the
Catholic University, but he declined the
appointment The two teachers selected
from that institution and named above
will be paid 81 LOCO year each in gold,
that amount being equivalent in value to
about 81, GOO in the silver coin of the Philip
pines. Mr. Donovan from Georgetown will
receive an equal amount of compensation
for his work, while the remainder of the
teachers will receive amounts ranging from
$15 to $125 month
Will Arrive Next Month
The entire party will arrive at Manila
about August 20. 1t is intended that the
teachers shall remain In harness there for
three years. and judging by the enthusiasm
being manifested by the instructors over
their proposed trip, that period Of time
away from their own firesides here in the
west will be considered rather short, if
anything. 1t is also intended to send an
manner within a month They will join
the teachers sailing on July 23
The teachers who will leave on the
Thomas were selected in accordance with
system adopted by the insular division of
communicating with some 100 college prin-
clpals, representing about thirty states and
asking their cooperation in the choice Of
persons entirely capable of executing the
mission proposed There was no difficulty
experienced In making the selections, for
shortly after the initial notice was made
applications began coming in by the score
The places offered were evidently deemed
by teachers all over the country as very
desirable ones. Some rather eXacting quail
itications were demanded by the War De-
partment officials, but no difficulty was ex-
perienced in locating a sufficient number of
persons eligible for the positions. Among
others the following qualifications were
stipulated:
The Qualifications Demanded.
Applicants must be either normal or
college graduates.
They must have several years success
full experience in school work and be now
engaged in teaching
'"rhey must be phy sically sound and able
to withstand tropical climate, and will
ing to accept whatever location may be
assigned them by the general superintend-
ent of education"
None of the teachers Is required to have
q knowledge of the Spanish language for
1t IS intended to beg1n work on the young
Filipinos while they are virtually in their
infancy and before the Spanish tongue or
Filipino dialect succeeds in getting a hold
on their minds. According to this plan the
inculcation of the English language NAV
be found comparatively easy although the
pupil may have some little knowledge of
the other tongues What the War Depart
ments is aiming at Is to entirely supplant
the Spanish tongue with that now prevail
ing iE the Philippines. and although this
is thought to be task that will REQUIRE a
great deal of time and patience, there is
no doubt that'it will eventually be accom-
plished.
On the subject Of religion there shall be
a free expression of belief on the part of
the natives attending the schools, Just as
there is in this country. There is pro-
vision in the Philippine law which saws
that mo teacher or other person shall
teach or criticise the doctrines of anv
church, religious sect, or denomination. or
shall attempt to influence the pupils for or
against any, church or religious sect in any
public school established under this act !"
The penalty provided for an infraction Of
this law Is dismissal
Religious Learning Not Compulsory.
Priests or ministers win be allowed, un-
der fho lavvi m fcor ra1so1o,, L.. %h>