The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-22
FILIPINOS TO TRY ENGLISH
knowledge of the Language to Be
Spread in the Archipelago.
Familiarity with the Tongue Essen
tinI for the Loyalty of the Natives
to Amcricn-PIans for Reorganiz-
ing the schools in the Islands.


English is eventually to be the Ian
guage of the Philippines, provided the
islands continue to be held as a posses
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 OF the
islands. the Philippine Commission ana
especially those who, acting Tor the
Government. have made careful STUDY
Of the educational system, or want OF
system there and are well informed as
IN what is required for its improve
ment. All of the recommendations
which come to the President and to the
War Department from various sources,
both 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
possible II is argued in the first pace
that familiarity with the language VIII
have strong tendency to instill loyalty
to America in the Filipinos. enable
them to be better Informed upon gov
ernmental 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
sessed of a knowledge Of English. the
Government intends to encourage TINS
desire. and to put forth all possible eff
fort Ia 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 a fact, never
theless. that not near majority OF the
natives are able to speak the Castilian
tongue. The schools in the various pro-
vinces outside of Manila and some OF
the other principal cities have been con-
Quoted in the dialect spoken by the ma
tives of that particular section. The
method 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-
ten with a state supervision OF the CEN
trail government of the islands. 1t is
calculated with this plan pushed and
developed that in the course of a gen
Grafton English win be the universal
language of the Filipino-at least that
It will be more generally spoken than
Spanish or any of the dialects of the
natives. 1t 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
lish. but far less difficulty will be eX-
perienced 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 will
be made to supplant the Spanish text
books now in use. 1t 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 it compulsory This. however. is
scarcely necessary as the pupils are re-
ported to be extremely anxious to ac-
quire 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
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 to
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 red
mans language, and have met with
marked success in teaching English to
the children. The same result, it is be-
Heved. may be had in the case of the
Filipinos-
The Spanish and native teachers are
poorly paid, and they have no method
or system of instruction. Reports show
that save in the higher grade Of schools
conducted by religious orders. there is
no attempt made at graduation Of pu
pills. and that the work, lacking super
vision. is aimless. The text books are
crude and provide a large amount of
religious instruction. The pupils are
obliged TO learn by heart the exact
words of the text book. The teacher,
with book In hand, hears one pupil at a
tine: the others at the same time study
aloud, apparently doing their best TO
drown the voices Of both teacher and
the pupil reciting. The teacher only
asks the questions contained in the text
book and makes little or no effort TO ex-
plain anything. The teachers do not
have fixed daily programmes. ans so
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 especially
"a the lack of method employed in the
schools and to the great need for a gen
eral supervision of all the schools by
the State. All of this is TO be changed
by the ne,V cvsfer, which thu a,,.horf