The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-04-15
EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
SOME OF THE FEATURES OF COMMISSIONER MOSES
REPORT ON THE WORK OF EDUCATION IN THE
PHILIPPINES-THE PROBLEM OF INSTRUCTION IN
ENGLISH-A PEDAGOGUE'S VIEWS.
From the Springfield Republican.

Front the Spring blcan.
The first annual report OF Commissioner Moses
public in the Philippine Islands, for the ending
October s. 1902 OF those discreet cooess documents
which suppress puch they and leave the
who seeks the heart of things unsatisfactory OF mind
"Oficiaism is stamped deeply it. At the time the
document is veraclous III the impression leaves OF the agn
ude OF the labor that has been performed impossible
anime pages without paying tribute the earnesnes and de-
voon of the persons who have themselves the task OF
creating educational system in the islands Much OF their
work. especially organization will be of permanent value
But now that the first wave of enthusiasm passed concern
ing movement the inherent difficulties OF the sit
uaon will be sharply and the possible weakness OF
an American school system transpanted bodily to an oriental
country where is the least indigenous, will be the
clearly exposed The experiment of sending large number
young American school teachers to instruct children whose
language they did know the very outset proclaimed
great although there inherent absurdy in the
scheme when the decree had gone forth that the teachers
should their language the basis OF all instruction.
Commissioner Moses now free to say that the ultimate Cha
public depend the character OF te
Filipino teachers which will be possible to develop This con-
cuson would be forced upon the authorities by circumstances
they did accept the principle that the teachers OF
people the long must be drawn from its own ranks he
fact from America be kept the islands
any length Their personnel would be rapidly changing
their total number could be kept by constant
sions from this country But rapid influx and eHN OF American
teachers ignorant utterly Of the language OF the people,
would be evil in itself and destructive of good results The
great problem therefore, is the training OF body OF Filipino
teachers capable of carrying the work In their hands will
be inevitably the modng OF the character OF Filipino youth i'll
so far as that can be public schools We face that
prospect.
remarkable the whole Commissioner Moses
official report is the article by American teacher in the hill
ppne Dr. Theodore de Laguna the March number OF Gun
tons magazine He presents picture OF the present plight OF
which easily be pesSinnsc yet
of what he is doubtless 1t is not pur-
pose ndorse this teachers that mOnstrouS Notifying
failure being made for the evidence does ali point that
Yet of his statements OF fact challenge attention.
while of his conclusions matters OF opinion, seem the
simplest DR.. de Laguna be too severe i'll
his criticism of the American teachers whose most common type
was college graduate either fresh from his alma with
of high school teaching behind him. yet he prob
ably hits upon of their special weaknesses when he Wres
The teachers regiment OF carpebaggers come to eN7
plot their small and then after lew years
sail happily home without regret to spare Had every
thing smoothly with the work here the capetbaGScts IN
might have been sufficient keep them at their task but
with breadth OF failure would be hard to ind any class
of men more liable hopeless Encouragement Then indeed
became question OF living ones time somehow and
getting home again.
ignorance of the Spanish language displayed by the teach
had peculiarly bad effect upon their social relations WIN
the cultured the native lpno FOR though in these ISL
ands small percentage of the inhabitants can speak Span
sh il is none the established dOm OF culture Every
gentleman speaks without exception Thus happens
that American teacher in his ignorance OF Spanish and still
his picturesque attempts to express himself in broken
ungammaca phrases puts himself upon the level OF the boor
and unavoaby exposes himself contempt This contempt he
NAV overcome but there remains formidable obstacle to ms
asserting himself force in the community and his acquiring
respect OF the leading citizens and their sympathy and sup
port in his work.
tlp