The Delta independent., 1902-08-29
PROSELYTING DENIED
ISLAND SCHOOLS noNsEcTARlAN
Charges Against School System Of the
Philippine Islands Refuted by the
Superintendent's Report.


Superintendent's Report.
Washington, Aug. 25-The bureau of
insular affairs of the War Department
has made public the report of Frank
II. Bowen, acting general superintend-
ent of public instruction for the Phil
1ppine islands, upon charges made in
the United States against the school
system of the islands, alleging that 1t
was used as proselytlng agency
against Catholics and generally used
to the prejudice of Catholicism. The
charges We're forwarded to Manila,
and the reply WAS made to Acting Gov
ernor Wright. The report of Superln-
tendent Bowen is dated July 9TH, and
is n general and specific denial of the
charges.
He says that of twenty persons who
have been division superlntendents,
only one has ever been clergyman
Three division superintendents were
appointed from list submitted by
leaders OF the Roman Catholic Church
In the United States. In this connec-
don the report says:
THE question OF the religious belief
OF applicants and appoiniees was ney-
er considered until late in 1901. AT
that time special lot of applicants,
gathered by the authorities of the Ro-
man Catholic Church in the United
States. was sent to the civil govern
ment OF the island and transmitted to
the general superintendents. From
these special lists three superinte end
ents and twcniy-three teachers were
appointed. In reporting these ap.
yointments to the civil government the
general superintendent stated: Il have
had much difficulty in finding people in
this lot OF applications who are pos
sessed Of the educational prepara ton
and teaching experience which IL re-
quired OF other appointees In this de-
Iartnent Those who have not been
selected seem To be wholly unsuita BILE :
The only departure from strict non
Sectnrianism Ia the conduct of the
schools was provision OF the Philip
pine Commission which made Il lawful
for priest or minister Of any estab-
lished church In n pueblo where n pub
lie school Is connected TO teach relig-
ion for onc-half hour three times q
week In the school building TO pupils
whose parents have expressed a wish
for such instruction"
Concerning PROSECUTING. the report
says:
Not only is no proscly;inr allowed
or attempted in any of the public
schools. bu, Inquiry OF the leaders OF
the four principal Protestant denomi.
nations here brings out the fact that.
so far as h known by these leaders,
there Is not one Protestant SUNDAY
school teacher la the entire nrchipel-
ago. The statement that not on..-third
OF the Protestant teachers ever
tnught n day before going to the Phil
sent TO The distant prorinces Is en-
phatically denied"
The assertion is made that the etiu.
entionnl department has no knowledge
Of the distribution of Bibles I'm n pri.
vnte church school by missionaries. Ii
Is also stated that the conditions OF the
public schools In the Philippines do not
warrant the statement that they are
worse In the islands, as viewed from a
Catholic standpoint than in the Unit
ed States
The report cio<-es with the following
The rcnomous attack on the Philip
pine Commission. especially the Fiji.
pino members thereof. who are termed
traitors and r1scals. serves TO show the
degree of bitterness and recklcssncss
which chnrnctcrizcs the whole article.
The negotiations, af present under way
In Rome In regard so the church lands
In these islands Is sufficient refutation
Of the last wild statement OF this cx-
iraordinary production. In which not
one material statement is true"