Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02
TEACHING F|L|P|N0S
Public School Work in the
Archipelago.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
INTERVIEW WITH SUPER1N
TENDENT OF EDUCATION.
DR.. Barrows Tells of Improvement of
the Methods Employed Over
Those Used by the Spanish.
BY VIM. E. CURTIS,


Chicago ecOrd-Herald
MANILA, May 81, 1904.
The most typical American INSTITUTION
that has been established thus far IN the
Philippine Islands is the school system
From the beginning the government pro-
claimed its intention to give every lnhap-
liant of the archipelago a primary modern
education through free public schools,
thereby to fit the race for participation in
self-g government, for usefulness as citizens
and for success in the struggle of life. IL
also proclaimed its purpose to supplant the
Spanish language with English as means
of intercourse and communication. Both OF
these purposes have been seriously criti-
cised. but the authorities at Washington
and Manila have more and more thoroughly
committed themselves to this policy, and
after five years of experience it's advocates
are more enthusiastic than ever, and de-
clare that results already achieved demon
strate it's wisdom and the certainty of it's
success.
1t is a serious problem. There is more
than one point of view, and there is no pre-
cedent to guide the government in such
matters: but those in authority have as
sumed the responsibility and are going for
ward as rapidly as possible and with the
greatest encoura cement
While the number of schools and the
number of children in attendance are at
present several times as great as was ever
known during Spanish domination, the bu-
reau of education has only begun to reach
the peasant population of the barrios as
the country villages are called. DIR. Bar
rows, the superintendent of education, says:
What Has Been Done.
I'VE have succeeded in establishing
schools. with perhaps four or five times as
large an attendance, in all of the towns
tod tlny,
have raised these schools to an American
basis, but we have not yet sufficiently eN-
tended instruction to the hamets and little
settlements that lie back in the woods ana
along the streams. and it is in those rural
spots that the great mass or the popula-
ton find their homes. These are the cen
tiers of ignorance, the resort and recruit
ing ground for the ladrones or highwaymen
who perpetuate the ignorance and poverty
of the race as 1t has been for 800 years
The greatest need of our schools at the
present time is Filipino teachers with
knowledge of the English language and
American educational methods and suf-
ficient missionary spirit to go out and
labor in these barriOs under the super
vision of American superintendent.
The Christian population of the phil
ippines, according to the published results
of the recent census, comprises nearly
seven million souls, nine-tenths of the
entire populate of the archipelago. The
school population between the ages of six
and fourteen approXimates one and one
half millions While about one-seventh of
this number is at present reached by the
public schools there is no town of impor-
lance In the islands without school advan-
tages. The class. therefore, that has thus
far been reached may be considered to be
those who are in a condition best fitted to
avail themselves of school advantages.
There is a non-Christian population COM
posed of various savage or semisavage
tribes that would probably total one mil
ZION. For the children of these people lit
tie provision has yet been made or can be
under the present circumstances. They are
scattered through a thousand hamlets,
gathered in groups of only three or four
houses, and in some cases living a semi
nomadic life A large part of the Chris
tian population dwell in scattered barrios,
little villages frequently far removed from
the center of population. Rapid progress
is being made in reaching these barrios,
and the extent and progress of the educa-
tonal work is only limited by the financial
resources of the government.
AT the present time the insular govern
ment devotes 81. 10000 in gold to the sup
port of the schools yearly. 1t is estimated
that in addition to this, from provincial
and municipal funds $500 600 is spent an
nually upon the schools. Considering the
resources of the islands and the revenues
of the government this is a very generous
assignment of funds. Many American
teachers have hundreds of children under
their supervision"
The Educational Situation.
The following statement will show the
present educational situation in the is
lands:
Total Christian population ........... G. 967 OIL
Estimated Christian school population i 1854 778
Enrolment in schools. ................ Is2 POP
Average daily attendance. ............., l3l 81
Percentage Of school population in attend
Total number of towns in archipelago. 49,: $50
Number Of towns with American teachers. 1873
al 81 a N lean rnle
Number OF native teachers. ...--......... 2,493
These figures give us the extent of the
day free school system, and they have
grown at the rate of about 20 per cent
a year during the American occupation.
In addition to these day schools the gov
eminent maintains 227 night schools in the
larger towns for the benefit of those who
cannot attend during the day, and last year
they were patronized by IL 429 persons, the
average nightly attendance being $685..
The patrons of these night schools are
mostly adults who desire to learn English,
to acquire the art of reading and writing
and a sufficient knowledge of arithmetic
and other rudiments to qualify them for
better positions than they now occupy, and
to enable them to improve their condition
in life 1t is quite pathetic to see grown men
and women struggling with the alphabet
and the multiplication table with the hope
Of fitting themselves for something better
than manual labor. They make progress
slowly, according to the reports of the
teachers.
The Filipino children are precocious.
Teachers of experience tell me that they
have never seen children who learn so
readily and so rapidly, but IL these faculties
are not exercised in early youth, as Is per-
fectly natural, they become dull and after
a Filipino reaches manhood 1t Is difficult
for him to learn anything.
The bureau of education Is making special
efforts to secure favorable sites and good
buildings for the schools, and is paying
particular attention to school house archi-
lecture and construction. The present year
will be notable for construction. Not only
are a great many village schools in process
of erection, but many municipalities are
undertaking large school buildings, which
are to be of the most modern and
imposing type and character. The
bureau of education has an architectu-
raj department in charge of j. ]. Eaton.
who has authority to examine and approve
all plans for school houses. And Dr. Bar
rows keeps another of his assistants busy
inspecting sites proposed, for the purpose
of securing spacious Fairgrounds and
healthful surroundings for municipal and
village schools. The bureau also urges
local authorities to secure suitable sites
for future occupation even If they are
without the means for immediate construc-
ton.
The Projected System.
Limiting ourselves for the present to the