The state herald., 1901-09-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Filipinos Learning English

The division of insular affairs, War
Department, has received a copy Of the
annual report of Professor Fred w. At
kinson, general superintendent of pub
lie instruction for the Philippines,
which covers the time from the enact
ment of the Philippine school law to
the close Of tho last fiscal year, June
30, 1901.
The school law mentioned authorized
the appointment from the United
States of 1000 school teachers, of
whom Professor AtkiiiSon says 7S1
had been appointed. There was no
scarcity of material from which to
make the selection, more than 5000
personal written applications having
been filed.
Speaking of the general conditions
Professor Atkinson said:
'The great present need is that of
adequate and suitable school buildings.
Present school buildings consist, gen.
orally, Of one or two large rooms with
several teachers carrying on work in
each room. These rooms are every
where Overcrowded and many have no
windows or floors. Sometimes one
teacher has one to two hundred pu-
pills."
The education of girls has not been
thought as important as that of boys,
but wherever a school for boys Is es-
tabllshed It will be the policy to estab-
lsh one for girls. 1t has been planned
to conduct teachers Institutes in all
the provinces at n nearly date. Even
Ing schools have been established
where practicable, arousing great in
terest upon the part of the people. One
high school Mt the capitol of eac.,
province will be established In 1902.
DIR. Barrows, city superintendent of
schools of Manila, reports of the six
months of his work:
"The most significant change is that
which has taken place In the attitude
of the Filipino teachers. In December
the plan was adopted of having the
teachers of English devote Mt least the
last half hour of the forenoon to the
instruction of the Filipino teachers and
at the same time the announcement
was made that very shortly Spanish,
as a medium of instruction, would be
abandoned. With p few exceptions,
the teachers accepted the proposed
change Of language and their attitude
has now become one Of real eagerness
for the adoption of English. They have
also so far progressed in their knowl-
edge OF English that it will be possible
with the opening of school in June
Q9OD TO use only English. Almost
without exception our teachers are be-
coming appreclably more loyal TO their
work and more conscientious in its dis
charge.
'The question Of religious instruction
In the schools has also been settled,
and without friction or any loss In the
attendance of pupils. Upon receipt of
an official copy Of act No. "A of the
Philippine commission. wk.ch forblds
any religious instruction by the teach
er, comprehensive order was issued
fcrbidding the practice of religious de-
votions or their employment rs means
of punishment, the discontnuance of
all teaching of the catechism or reli-
gious doctrine, and the removal from
the school Of all books containing such
matter and OF all religious figures. en-
blems, placards, etc. These orders
We're In every case complied with.
There was no protest from either par
ents or teachers, and as above stated,
no diminution In the attendance, the
school year closing with the largest at
tendance In the history of these pub
lie schools. To many of the teachers
the change was apparently welcome"