New-York tribune., 1904-09-28
SCHOOLS FOR FILIPIN0S.
AID SELF-GOVERNIfENT.
Secretary Taft on Education in the
Philippines.

I
American Education in the Philippines" is the
subject of a long and well Illustrated article by
William H. Taft, Secretary of War ard former
Governor Of the Philippines. in this weeks issue
OF The Churchman." BY the courtesy of THE
Churchman The Tribune is able to give to It's
readers FROM advance proofs the following extracts
from the article:
when there was thrust upon the American peo-
PIE the task of governing the Philippines. with
d er elght M million souls. it was natural and proper
the oE tne nshest 4ty that We should profit by
cGtPp OF the British and Dutch in their
coIonla ADMINISTRATIONS but so far as the people
under their control in So far as the object of
our taking control of the islands was different
10 vary our policy from theirs. The chief differ
ment Of tTonicaI eer p4lcy and ours In the treat
we, we are seeking TO prepare the people under
We are attempting to do this first by primary
ana secondary education. offered freely to all the
Enpino people; and, second. by extending the
F1hplnos wider and wider practice in self-goveru-
i so t3at by actual experience they may
Iern the duties of the citizen his proper of
resPonsioiltty for the government and the self
= apsoutely necessary 10 wise control OF
1t Is not the purpose of the American govern
to secure permanent government of an ignorant
people, from whose industry and trade commercial
nor are the peace and tranquility OF the islands
TO be our ultimate aim. our chief object is 10
develop the people into a self governing people,
and n doing that popular education is, in our jGdg
meur the drst and most important means. Now
II. in extending the education. we may prepare In
our own schools men who will subsequently revolt
AGAINST the goyernment, or seek to disturb the
must run for the greater benefit involved in
spread OF intelligence among the whole people.
TO IMPLANT sELF-GOvERNArENT.
We. in America. believe in popular self govern
ment We believe IN 1t because in the long run
we are sure that each man can be depended on
with reasonable intelligence TO protect his own
trusted to look after that interest. Hence the
problem which the United States has had set before
is hA rffa= Of bOyy n a6r
OF his ~ poc M are reiI fnn5ded on denial of the
self-government. We must admit that. with re-
such a policy has never been attempted by any
government having tropical colonies or dependen,
c!es. and the issue whether 1T is a feasible and
practicable policy remains TO be decided Speak
sufficient time and effort and patience are given 10
implanted in the breast Of those who partake in
1t some sense Of responsibility as to the govern
The part of the people among whom il is to be
n1TodGced sense ot pHonG responsi9iE TICa Srara
against the public interest in a just punishment
because It has not been found possible as yet to
juries any sense OF responsibility In regard 70 the
panelled there does not understand that the jury
IS a tribunal. upon the just operation OF which
to free every DEFENDANT crime viii be rife and
the vicious VIII prey upon the community.
LACK OF POPULAR OPINION.
Another thing Is needed in successful and salts
os a reasonable intelligent public opinion To-day,
in the Philippines this IS altogether absent. To
dartty that shall give it force. the people must be
educated 10 mink alike, ana IN common IahS uI5e
II was therefore determined that the hrst step
10 be taken was the education Of the present gene
ration OF children in the primary and secondary
vinced that no greater benefit could be conferred
~ communesflon. and that. one that viii enable
them be at home anywhere in the East, for
II Is the language OF free government; II is tho
language OF Anglo-Saxon freedom; it IS the Ian
The hamme1iug out BY our ancestors OF the heri-
upon US.
NUMBERS OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS
The number Of American teachers in the islands
had been reduced in 1893 by illness. WithdrGwai
am IeS,eh3uon drg,l , ~ 20 ~ ei,i 'S ne sGo $500
q o0W during the present year. The American teach
towns in the entire archipelago It will be seen
that We could use SgD Amerleap teaSners .t II we we
are limited and we must cut our garments to suit
mary schools IN operation. These employ the
vices of upward Of 200 FIIipno te2TSers Lnstr1f,
sfa gssn are maTican methods The subjects taught
arr English language primary arithmetic and pri-
mary geography. with Supplementary Teacing IN
Philippine and American history ard in eemen-
Tho zChoOlhouecs are crowded to the very limits
OF health and efficiency. and Filipino teachers are
cCssitv for the construction or schOolhouseS IN All
parts OF the islands Is a pressing one The span
iards erected schOOlhcuseS in many towns. but the
Attendance was then so small that the afford
ed by them is entirely inadequate for the present
attendance.
STUDENTS SENT TO AMERICA
In addition 10 the normal schools and normal
tion Of Filipino teachers the government has also
entered upon the course OF sending one hundred
Filiuino students each year % America TO prepare
themselves in the schools colleges and universities
useful profession. The first one hundred pupils
have been here for nearly a year ana nave MADE
reuarka HE proeress They drink in. OF course. in
America the spirit Of our institutions, and carry
back to their homo country something or tho
atnosphere Of constitutional liberty -
am far from saying that the puouc school
system in the Philippine Islands to-day Is perfect
No one feels IT'S defects more than 40; nut 40
svsten, has been carried sufficiently far TO show
that If the principles which have hereJoIote beeh
established are carried out ana thS pld1s Mnlch
have been made for the future shall pe IoiioWeu.
there will be in the Philippine Islands a system or
education which will revoluuonZe IIe Si'4CteI
Of the next generation. will introduce EnsIsn as
common language of all the tribes anu WI con
stitute "A long step In the dfecl4oh oA NUNS 'ie
peOpIe for self-goVernment
~ the roicy is be followed which shalI TAKE
av,a = from the hands the American government
the power TO do this people an innntte 5000 s., oS
carving out thoroughly the plan or education
which / have outlined it will be TO every one VINO
really knows the situation a source OK ihnm'e
regret.
LEAVES $4,000 FOR HIGH SCHOOL.