The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-03
TRAINING THE FILIPINOS
Work of the Nautical School ES-
tabIiShed at Manila.
Its Operations Described by the Su-
l,erinteudent. Lieutenant Cooper.
Course of Instructions Divided
Into Three CIasse=-PupiIs as "a
Rule AmenabIe TO Discipline.

Lieut. George F Cooper. [. s y, has
submitted to the War Department an in
teresting report Of the Nautical School fer
the Philippine Islands, Of which he is the
superintendent. The institution was es-
tabIished in Gale Santa Elena, Manila, a
little more than year ago. and as far as
possible has been modelled dix he Uni
ted States Naval Academy at Annapolis
Il is as yet however. in q very rudimen-
tary condition. being located in 4 build
ing rented by the Quartermaster-s De
partEnent. the lower floor of which Is used
as place FOR storing property belonging
10 Spain. II is, however, Lieutenant Coop
er says. well suited for the purpose and
there the young Fflipinos are instructed
in nautical arts. The furniture was. by
authority of the Military Governor. nearly
ali taken from the old Spanish Nautical
School and School of Arts
The course for the institution Is fixed at
three years The instruction during the
first year includes arithmetic. algebra,
English, geOgra ply. and drawing, that Of
The second year. geometry. plane trigo-
nometry. geography, mechanics. English,
and drawing; for the third year. spherical
IrigonOmeJTy- nautical astronomy naViga-
<
graphical drawing. The course in the last
is sufficiently simple to enable the pupil
TO read and understand charts. All the
classes are instructed in practical sea-
manship three times week. Lieutenant
Coltman was the schools first superin-
fendent. but shortly after its establish
ment he was succeeded by Lieutenant
Cooper IN his report the latter says:
Twenty-Five pupils were present at the
opening of the school They had all been
examined to determine their qualifca-
tious for classification. Some of
them had been pupils 10 the Spanish
nautical school Three of them were
found qualified to enter the second year
The other nineteen were placed in the
first year, or third class. While the work
WAS not hard. methods were very differ
ent from those to which the pupils had
been accustomed. and they dropped out
one by one until al the end OF the school
year only thirteen remained.
During the month Of April and Nay
the school was closed. 10 give the pupils
q vacation during thelhot months I re
queSted the CCmpania Martina TO take
such Of the pupils as desired TO go on
board their steamers. They Tery kindly
consented and IN this manner i've of the
scholars received valuable exDerience IN
the profession they are to follow.
In order TO give as much practical in
erected in the school grounds and fitted
with tOpSail- The pupils are frequently
drilled al this 10 make them familiar
with The nomenclature and the hand
ling OF ropes and sails OF course II is
not possible 10 get sea experience from
this. That must come from life On board
ship 4 boat, presented by the com
mander-iu-chIef Of the naval forces en-
the station has been hoisted on the hanks
OF the river, near The lighthouse. About
once week the pupils are taken out IN
the boat IN order that they may learn
boat sailing and handling.
During the months OF March and april
and he first and second weeks in May
notice was published in one Spanish paper
IN Manila, Cebu. uoio. and Dagupan Civ
Ing the date Of the opening Of the new
year and The requirements for ad-
mission Il was desired 10 publish more
widely these notices, but the necessary
authority WEs withheld BY the former Nil
it2ry Governor But five candidates pre-
scented themselves for admission. After
consultation with the present military sec
rotary. the department decided 10 adver-
tise the school and increase the interest
Of the people in IL After this thirty-five
candidates presented themselves and
tWsuty-Eiue passed the examinations L
Is believed that in another year the full
number set as the limit, which Is sixty.
VIII be reached.
The new school year opened with the
superintendent assisted as follows: Juan
B0sa. instructor. first class. SI0S-33 month
ly5 Carlos DieZ, instructor. second class.
500: Jose AIarcaida. instructor, third
class. SS2-35; E L. Filmer English $50
and SIS as secretary; janitor. $50. Last
year the school was run upon an average
cost OF about $3.50 per month. including
incideDtafS For this year the expense viii
average about $50 monthly.
The methods Of instruction. system Of
marks, and records. and the discipline Of
the school are based on those Of the Uni
ted States Naval Academy. II Is naturally
impossible 10 make the changes required
by this system all q once but it is hoped
that IL time the system viii be in full
working order II is impossible 10 re-
quire a very high standard Of work from
the pupils who have hitherto lived under
E system requiring practically no stand
ard But the standard has been sufficient
J. high TO get, ii is believed, the best
material Monthly. semi-annuaI. and an
nuaI examinations viii be held. Monthly
reports OF the efficiency and conduct of