The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-18

port of the Philippine Commission that
even this adequate provision was never
| carried out There were no schoolhouses,
no modern furniture and until the Ameri-
! cans came there were no good textbooks.
The schools were held at the homes Of the
teachers. or in buildings rented by the mu-
as their dwellings. In some of the schools
| there were wooden benches and tables.
| but it was not at all unusual to find a
school without any seats for the pupils.
From the start the schools were entirely
under the supervision of the religious
orders and there was no organized de-
partment of public instruction.
The Spanish minister for the colonies.
in a report made on December ), 1870.
said: While every acknowledgment
should be made of the service Of the reli-
gious orders in earlier times. their narrow
system of education and their impervi-
BUSINESS TO modern ideas and influences
make the abolition of their system
necessary"
The transitional period from the Old
Spanish methods TO the present American
school system was that OF the military
matters received unexpected attention.
Some American textbooks were introduced
and soldiers were detailed to teach in
various towns. There originated a gen.
eral conviction that English should be
taught directly without the medium OF
Spanish. Gen. Otis was much interested
in education. he selected and ordered the
textbooks. Several OF the district COM
mander appointed officers to act as super
intendents of schools. Capt John G.
Balance. who had charge of schools in
Northern Luzon. worked with enthusi-
assn and intelligence. As a result, 10
schools were opened and pretty well
equipped with stationary and supplies.
He found 1t a difficult matter to get the
many teachers for English instruction
and soldiers were detailed for that pur-
pose sim education throughout the is
lands was chaotic. There was no attempt
At grading pupils and the work, lacking
proper supervision. was aimleSs-
Immediately after his arrival as general
superint. ndent under the civil admin
stration Or. Atkinson began the study CT
the educational situation. The funda-
nentals OF the system which he finally
worked out have freqaetly been described
a glimpse OF its practical side may be
obtsined from the LIST Of textbooks pur-
chased These included BaldwIns Read
ers. Webster's Primary School Diction-
airy. Carpenters Geographical Reader.
tAxia). Guyots Geographical Reader
INorth America wentworth's Eiemen-
tary Arithmetic. FrySs Geography. Mont
gomery's Beginners United States Hist
CRY, Little Nature Studies, Spanish Gram
mar. C-dgren). Wayrarks for Teachers
Health Chats with Young Readers. Rc-
b.nscn Cruscce for Youngest Raiders. the
Young American and Friends Helpers
Briefly. the tangible results since sep
TENDER Isl. 1900. are: An educational biil
has been enacted. the archipelago has been
divided into seventeen divisions ard an
American superintendent Installed IN each
OF I'll. provinces. $50 techers tor primary
work have beer stationed. with consider
alton Of their own comfort as well as Tor
The needs Of the towns: 30 additional
teachers for secondary work had N
untn recently been detailed from their
and 5toe Filipino teachers have
Beer appointed: more than th-ee-Qua-te-s
OF q million OF American school books
have beer purchased. together with an
enormous quantity Of school supplies.
including = .e modern desks: I1.t-uc-
,iou IL the English language has been
provided in abe.s i,sss sceesis. N which .