Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-17
EDUCATION OF FILIPIA0S
What Americans Have Done in the
Philippines.
SCHOOLS ARE ESTABLISHED
Vacation Courses Arranged to Train Native
Teachers beginnings Of he Present
Mork..

Work.
The report of Dr. Fred ~. Atkinson,
the general superintendent Of educa
ton IN The Philippines, IN which he
reviews waat bats ,-e0 done by an
American school system planted there,
contains many Interesting acidents.
which throw an effective s.delight upou
the nature Of the Aeiarigan problem III
the orient, says q Was tnst9n special
dispatch TO The View York Eyeuaas
Post.
Before the American occupation
there were no sc|hoolhouses. 30 modern
furniture, and uagii the American I'D
there were no good textbooks. The
schools were held at Che homes OF the
teachers. or in buildings rented by the
municipalities and used b. the prin-
eipals as dwellings. IN some of the
schools there were wooden benches and
tables, but it was not at all unusual
TO dnd a school without any seats for
the pupils. From the start the schools
were entirely under the supervision
of tRq religious orders, and there was
no organized department of public in
struct0n.
The transitional period from the old
Spanish methods 10 tie present Ameri-
can school system WIS that of the mill
tary government, under which educa-
tioual matters received unexpected
attention. Some American textbooks
were introduced, and soldiers were de.
tailed to teach in various owns. There
originated a general conviction that
English should be taught directly
without the medium Of Spanish. Cen
aral Otis was much interested in educa-
ton. He selected and ordered the text
books. Several of the district com
manders appointed officers to act as
superintendent of schools. Captain
John G. Balance. who had charge of
schools in northern LuZon. worked
with enthusiasm and intelligence, As
a result, 100 schools were opened and
pretty well equipped with stationery
and supplies. he found 1t a difficult
matter 10 get teachers for English in
struction, and soldiers were detailed
for that purpose, Still education
throughout the islands was chaotic.
There was no attempt at grading the
pupils, and the work, lacking proper
supervision, was aimless.
Briefly, the tangible results since Sept.
1, 1900, are: An educational bill has
been enacted, the archipelago has been
divided into seventeen divisions and an
American superintendent installed In
each of the provinces, 1000 teachers for
primary work have been appointed, re-
eeived in Manila and been stationed,
with consideration for their own COM
fort as well as for the needs Of the
towns; 200 additional teachers for Sec
ondary work are being appointed, about
200 soldier teachers had until recently
been detailed from their regiments, and
9.400 Filipino teachers have been APP
pointed; more than three-quarters of a
million American schoolbooks have
been purchased, together with an enor-
o quantity of school supplies. in.
Guiding 10000 modern desks; instruc-
ton in the English language has been
provided in about 1900 schools, in
which more than 100000 children are
enrolled; night schools for adults and
those unable to attend during the day
have been opened throughout the archi-
pelago and are working successfully,
with an enrolment OF about . 5000.
Salaries Of Filipino teachers have
been increased, and a definite an
nouncement las been made to them
that the American teachers are there
not to displace them, but to prepare
them to take charge Of their own
schools. The Filipino teachers have
received daily instruction IN English.
ana In addition to this, when they have
progressed sufficiently with the Ian.
Guage i,self, have learned the ommou
branches and the methods of teaching
Nltct. on la ,4@l courses lavr hrsu
at.,u"pd W fie V,ro> ~al.oi diyl
s....s. primer Ais ,c ..lu TIE uat.y"
teacars, lG, a.s. a. ai. t.t american
tee. is. fFnri s.Iat. uui#.u4 ~c... ~
have uccn established iu a.. PROVINCES
t-.ll. .ty tn t'e E.i..3 NJ 0ial school
IndH rr.al v..6 is go .auetad sacce S
fuNg aul plans Tor ask! oual trade
sci ,a.s j.. .ae l~.a-Luc.~ a.a lIatur.
las,ele3 Iy q REGULAR appropriation for
tu.s work which ls raw available AS
i ,:r.u> Of |Irtuavi0s ,ap Fup.nos fog
W.r. in the si@aol ,..us tpIe-rapuy Is
LD.r tHuvlt In These schools Sites for