Evening star., 1901-08-26
intendent. as illustrative Of general con-
ditions and the sentiment Of the people:

intendent. as illustrative OF general con-
ditions and the sentiment of the people:
The parents are willing, the children
eager and enthusiastic to procure an edu-
cation and q knowledge Of the English
language. In 1hct, At appears to me they
are 80 anxiouS for public instruction that
n It WIN not be peceFary to resort to com. com.
that even an imperfect knowledge OF Eng
lish will double their earning power and
TINS AT time when pacifcatfon Is incom-
plete and when there are less than one hun
dred teachers of English distributed
throughout tha- archipelago.
'The disposition and attitude of the peo-
PIE are reassufing apd hopeful. They seem
TO realize that the foundation. success and
safety OF their new government depend
largely on the education Of the present
generation. The erection Of school houses
mas already begun, and few years of Ie-
construction will see the masses enjoying
more prosperity and happiness and a high
er civilization than would have been possf-
Die under a continuation of Spanish rule
or the proposed Filipino republic.
Improvement I'm Manila
Dr. Barrows. Lity Superintendent of
schools of Manila, reported, under date Of
May last, for the first six months of
his work:
THE most significant change is that
which has taken place in the attitude of
the Filipino teachers. Owing to the uncer-
ta1nty that has attended American occu-
patton of these islands, six months ago
scarcely any changes had been introduced
into the public schools of Manila.
In December the plan was adopted of
having the teachers of English devote at
ieast the last half hour of the forenoon to
the instruction of the Filipino teachers, and
at the same time the announcement was
maze that, very shortly, Spanish as me-
olum or instruction would be abandoned.
with very few exceptions the teachers
hn l..Ixpy af 1o
and their attitude has now become one of
real eagsrness for The adoption Of English.
Ihey nave also so far progressed in their
knowledge of English that it will be pos
slpIe with the opening of schools in June
QsOD TO use only English. Almost with
out exception our teachers are becoming
appreciaoly more loyal to their work and
more conscientious In It's discharge.
Ine question of religious instruction In
the schools has also been settled, and with
out friction or any loss in the attendance
OF pupils. Upon receipt of an official copy
OF Act No. "A of the Philippine commits
sion, which forbids any religious instruc-
tfon by the teacher. comprehensive order
was issued, forbidding the practice Of re-
hgfous devotions or their employment as
means OF punishment, the discontinuance
OF all teaching of the catechism or religious
doctrine and the removal from the school
house Of all books containing such matter
and the removal from school rooms of cru
clnxes. religious emblems, sacred pictures,
placards, etc. These orders were In every
case, immediately and exactly complied
with. There was no protest from either
parents or teachers and, as above stated,
no diminution in the attendance, the school
year closing with the largest attendance
In the history of these public schools. To
many Of the teachers the change was ap-
parently welcome"
After speaking of the new school houses
and other accommodations which were be-
ing prepared. he says;
o~,Ho xr,in (y,T T,,r ni
with definite course Of English studies,
force of native teachers who have some ac
quaintance with American educational
ideas, and who, believe, are fully in
sympathy with our aims, and with an ade-
quate number of trained American teach