The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
TEACHING FILIPINOS.
Teachers Are Having Some
Queer Experiences.
Chicago Evening Post.

school teaching in the Philippines said
Mrs. Clark. lis not very much like school teach
the American teachers, and the one thing they
must accomplish by any means ingenuity can
invent. is to teach the Filipinos English. When
you remember that they speak usually an i'm
perfect Spanish patois. or else a mixture Of
Spanish and Tasalog, or else only Tagalog in
Manila and Cavite. and native languages quite
different in the outside towns and villages. and
then remember also that scarcely one American
teacher in a hundred knows anything Of Spanish,
say no less Of the native tongues, you can Just
get an inkling of the difficulties that beset the
road to an understanding between teachers and
''The school furniture consists Of a few long,
straight, bench-like desks, and my sixty Filipino
pupils Of all sizes. from a married girl and a
man who was a father of a family down TO a
little fodder that could scarcely walk. had to
be huddled on these benches. l was, as all
American teachers are. an assistant to the Fill
plno principal, and had to teach English. TO the
Ny hours were from s to 10 in the morning for
the children from 10 10 II for the teachers. and
we had no books nor charts that at all met
the requirements. so all we could do was invent
lessons. With a little TOW set of furniture. OF
the kind that little girls furnish their doll
no @The Filipino I'll isea @ oiy ssii Seig Rnp'i is E Msird to
say the least. The Tagalog teachers yell at
the children as though they were driving cattle
and turn the schoolroom into a bedlam. Before
American teachers went into the schools it was
children kneel and say their prayers for long
periods OF time. but with American rule all
PUNISHMENT involving devotional attitudes and
all religious pictures were abolished. and their
schools, like ours. made nonsectarian.
The matter or dress was rather a trying one.
The very little children We're sumptuously clothed
In a single garment very often. and / remember
one big fellow. bigger than myself. who insisted
on taking of his shirt one warm day. 1 insisted
on his wearing IL, but he was stubborn. Nv
authority was Jeopardized. and l was obliged
70 whip him. l took a little switch and laid
il smartly across his bare shoulders and il was
too funny 10 see him whimper and beg like a
Newfoundlsnd-bUt he kept his shirt on after
that and I kept order.
The teachers task is a particularly trying
one IL she Is ambitious for ker classes 10 get
on. on account OF the irregular attendance OF
the pupils. Any excuse is good enough 10 make
them late CT Keep them out Of school, and when
they are in school IL takes all ones patience and
ingenuity 10 hold their attention or overcome
their shyness.
Sometimes. when ! have not been able n
get a child 70 repeat English phrases l have
20 coax MIN with my rings. my watch, my comb,
any little trinkets l could win his confidence
with.
The Filipino names were a constant surprise
TO mel might almost say embarrassment. Just
fancy calling on Angel Resurrection Cthe Angel
Of Resurrection OF Jesus Christie Salvador del
Mundo Jesus Christ Savior OF the World). or
Cinco Lagos Give Wounds. or Gregoria Porque
tGregoria Why. to recite their lessons
The American teacher in the Philippines Is
sure OF novel and amusing experiences. but
N she has 70 live on her Salary she is sure also
OF a pretty hard time. The teachers are no,
given the privilege OF buylng from the army
commissary. and their living must be CORE
srondlngly expensive or poor. They are obliged
from school with, because white people can very
seldom I've IN the Vicinity OF a school. and one
Just can't walk in thnt climate. The cost OF
the caromata alone. whether one hires or buys
How she can manage 20 live on the rest without
discomfort Is more than l can hguTe out"