Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-23
CROWD THE SCHOOLS.
Filipinos. Old and Young. Are Very
 Eager to Learn.


 Consideran.G .aeeres. ls manifested by the press in the report of Fred ". Atkinson, superintendent of public in struction in the Philippines, which has just reached Washington. appears from this report that an effort is be- ing made to displace Spanish with Eng fish in the schools, and, eventually, no doubt. throughout the islands. Says the Philadelphia Ledger:
 1.-The most interesting part of the re- port is the announcement that English has been adopted as the medium of instruction in the training of Filipino teachers, and that during the year English will displace Spanish in the schools. Spanish was the off cial language during the old regime, but even then it was used by very small proportion of the inhabitants, who speak various Philippine dialects. There are many difficulties in the way of a sudden transition from Spanish to English, but under the gradual process of educating the youth the change will probably be made easily and nat urally." h
 Another interesting part Nof the re- port tells about the selection of teach CTS. To quote again from the same paper:
 .'The Philippine school law author ized the appointment from the United States of 1000 school teachers, and of these 7s1 have been selected. Of the 4s7 soldiers who applied for positions, 79 passed the examinations, and have exchanged the bayonet for the pen. The school-teachers chosen seem generally to be of an unusually high grade, both in character and ability. The 7s1 were sifted from among over 5000 ap- monials from trustN Nrthy sources, and care was taken to select those who had Siyen evidence of equipment and teaching ability, rath- sr than those who applied because they 1ad nothing else to do. in many 1n- stances ambitious young men have en- tered upon the work, who were filling moost acceptable positions as teach CTS at home.
 '.The educational system in the archi- pelago consists of IS divisions, each with a division superintendent. One high school in each division will be established next year, and teachers institutes will soon be held in all the provinces"
 The Filipinos, old and young, are very eager to learn, and they crowd the schoolrooms until sometimes one teacher has 100 or even 200 scholars.
 The question of religious instruction was soon settled. Says the report:
 Upon receipt of an official copy of act No. 74 of the Philippine commis- sion. which forbids any religious in- struction by the teacher, comprehen- sive order was issued forbid ding the practice of religious devotions or their employment as means of punishment, the discontinuance of all teaching of the cathechism or religious doctrine, and the removal from the schoolhouSe of all books containing such matter, and the removal from schoolrooms of crucifxes, religious emblems, sacred pictures, placards, etc. These orders were complied with. There was no protest from either parents or teach CTS, and, as above stated, no diminu- ton 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 welcome.
 The people are so eager to learn that Superintendent Atkinson thinks '.it will not be necessary to resort to com pulsory education;" and he adds the remark that "Tagalo chil- T~ xt- most precocious have even seen, very bright and studious and exceedingly well behaved"