The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-26
RAPID PROGRESS MADE.
Report on Philippine Schools by the
InsuIar superintendent.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 24.-The division
of insular affairs, of the War Department.
has received copy of the annual report
of Prof Fred w Atkinson. the general
Superintendent of Public instruction for
the Philippines which covers the time
from the enactment of the Philippine
school law to the close of the last fiscal
year June 80. 1901.
The school law mentioned authorized the
appointment from the United States of
1000 school teachers. of whom Prof. Atkin-
son states ISL had been appointed, either
absolutely or Professionally. That there
was no scarcity of material from which to
make the selection of those appointed di-
rect from Manila, is shown by his testi-
monials appended. showing that more than
5000 personal written applications had been
filed. Four hundred and eighty-seven SOL
dier applicants for positions as teachers
took the examinations prescribed. of whom
seventy-nine passed satisfactorily and
were assigned to schools.
The next step in the organization of the
educational system was the districting of
the archipelago into eighteen divisions
the school work of each being placed i'm
charge of a division superintendent. In
Atkinson said
THE great present need is that of ade-
quate and suitable school buildings. All
school buildings occupied by soldiers. or in
any way used for military purposes should
be vacated and turned over to the school
authorities at the earliest practical mo-
ment. and arrangements should be made
for the rent or vacation of all converts or
other church property now used for school
purposes. Nearly all the buildings that
have been used for military purposes are
in poor condition. 1t will be necessary for
the municipalities to spend money for
their alteration and repair Present school
buildings consist. generally. of one or two
large rooms with several teachers carry
ing on work in each room. These rooms
are everywhere overcrowded and many
have no windows or floors Sometimes one
teacher has one to two hundred pupils
The education of girls has not been
thought important as that of boys.
Wherever school for boys is established
it will be the policy to establish one for
girls. either i'm building near the bows
or under the same roof as the boys school.
but completely separate. with its own en-
frances and Fairgrounds"
DR.. David Barrows, City Superintendent
Of Schools for Manila. reports on the aues-
ton of local support of schools. inviting
attention 10 the fact that the agricultural
land is in large holdings and a large pro-
portion of the products must go for rents.
In the absence OF land tax. which was
unknown under the Spanish reign, and
none patterned upon the American system
being yet in operation. he cites one pueblo
where the local revenues are so small that
the policeman gets only five pesos per
month the native man teacher ten pesos.
and women teacher eight pesos
Prof. Atkinson adds that il was planned
TO conduct teachers Institutes in all the
provinces at an early date. At presen,
there is no schedule of salaries for Filipinc
teachers and IL Is planned to establish the
same on the basis of enrollments and Ger.
tificates. Evening schools have been es-
tablished where practicable, arousing great