Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-06
FAILURES ARE FEW
Teachers in Philippines Equal
to the Emergency.
RANGE OF SALARIES
INDUCEMENTS OFFERED FOR
SERVICE OF THREE YEARS.
instruction Given in English-Educa-
tional Advantages Highly Priced
by the People.
RANGE OF SALARIES
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS

ny the 1eOple.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, June 4, 1904.
DR.. Barrows, superintendent of education,
tells me that there are on duty at the pres
ent time in the Philippines 81 American
teachers, of whom 263 are women. The ap-
preparations of the commission for next
year authorize the employment of S73 Last
year there were Oil.
About thirty new Americans have ar
rived recently or are en- route to fill a por-
ton of the vacancies which have been
caused by designations, and the remainder
will be appointed during the summer. Since
September 1, 1902 the bureau of education
has been brought under the civil service
rules and regulations and teachers are now
appointed from a list of eigibles certified
by the United States civil service commits
sion as having passed the required exam
nations. The selections for the existing va
cancies will be made by the bureau of in
sular affairs of the War Department at
Washington, but thereafter the papers of
all successful candidates will be forwarded
to Manila, where the selections will be
made by the general superintendent of edu-
cation.
The appropriation bill Classics the teach
ers according to their salaries as follows:
Three at 5000 a year; eight at $500 a
year; six at 81 800 year; fifty at $500 a
year: eighty at 81 400 a year; sixty at 81 300
a year: $50 at 81 200 a year; fifty at 81. 100 a
year; 100 at 81 600 a year; 100 at $500 a year.
and six at $500 a year.
Appointed First to Lowest Grades.
All appointments originally to the low
nd
efficiency after examination. No political
influence Is needed and 1t would injure
candidate II it were used. Not long ago
the members of a social and benevolent or
ganization here approached one of the COM
mission, who Is also member, to sonclt
his influence in behalf of three OF their
number who were clearly entitled to promo
ton. and they undoubtedly would have been
promoted but for this little incident. HaV-
ing violated the spirit and the letter OF the
regulations, which they were bound TO Cd,
serve their names were passed over anu
they will not be advanced for another year
at least Such incidents are rare, however.
I am told that this is the first time during
the administration of the present superin-
tendent that any teach has attempted TO
use underhanded methods to secure promo
ton. o., .h
ers receive 81, 200 year or more, whlch ~
paid in gold, and is two or three times as
much as the same grades of teachers re-
ceive in the United States OUTSIDE OF
Manila living is cheap. and they are ana
to save most of their salaries. They couio
not spend them If they wanted to, because
there is nothing to buy. :.
No distinction in pay or promotion is
made between men and women anu M n,, tMn.
particular the government of the Phlnp-
nine Islands sets good example TO tne
'.higher civilization of Iowa. ILLINOIS, Ohio
and every other state IN the American
Union. -.
T have written on that subject good
many times. Again and again have called
attention to the unjust discrimination III
favor of men teachers throughout tne en-
tire country, and there is not sihele al
gument to be advanced In defense OF the
unjust custom of paying men 80 OF ~ per
cent more than women for the same work
and the same efficiency. If woman Is
competent to perform a given service she
is entitled to the same compensation ana
emoluments that men would receive LOT IL.
But the world over pays them less; hence
1t is a cause of rejoicing TO Discover out rii
this archipelago that the educational au'
thorities are beginning right and are treat
ing women with even justice
Rewards for Long Service.
All teachers are brought here at the ex-
nense of the government with the under
standing that they will remain on duty at
least two years, and, in order to secure a
fulfllment Of the contract, certain sum Is
deducted from their salaries each month
until the cost of transportation Is reserved
At the end of two years the money Is re-
funded to them. Those who remain through
three wears of continuous ana Satisfactory
service are given free transportation nome,
their salaries for the vacation period anu
one-half salary en- route. Ihose returning
home at the end of two years are gwen tlie
government rate of transportation ohis'
which is equivalent to about hall tare
After three years of continuous ana satis
factory service teachers are allowed ieaVes
- he m
United States, with full salary, government
rate Of transportation home, and actual
necessary expenses back to thelr posts.
Those who have served only two years are
allowed government rates. or about hal1 ol
their expenses, going and coming, and halI
pay during their leave A..
AZ nearly FL, the teachers now in the
Philippines came out here In 1871, 'hei.
three years of service have expired, and
MANY of them have already started, or are
expected to start coon, for thir hrst Visi!
home The great majority OF them expect
to return in time to begin~the school year
next fall They are very much needed;
they like the service and the country mos
of them are deeply interested In thel,
work; and the terms OF their engagemeh'
are satisfactory. especially since the teach-
ing force was placed under the civil service
Remarkably Few Failures.
There have been remarkably few insists
among the thousand or more teachers WHO
were originally brought out from the United
States, considering the manner in which
they were engaged. The percentage OF fall-
ures has been surprisingly small. Some OF
those who arrived early were sent home
almost Immediately as lmpracucapIeS or IN
competents. There were d NUMBER OF Cases
OF .lncompatibility, as they call II IN I'll
yorce suits; the usual proportion oi crahhs
and eccentrics and nostalgia claimed It's
snare OF victims. II takes great zeal OF
stamina tor a young woman to 30 on aione
INTO d strange country without any KNOWN
euge Oh the Language, withoue Iriends, COM
panlons or society, ana set up new pan-
ner out the great MAJORITY Oh Inc young
american women ana men VINO volunteered
To come here as Ieacners proved equal 10 II,
and developed apillty, courage, strength Oh
character and all tie other quantities winch
the American nation Claims 10 poSseSs ia i
lASnef degree tndn any otner
MANY became IdSclna ted WIN thelr WORK.
ana have gone INTO Al win d zeal ana energy
That will ue felt III the civilization OI tniS
co,lntrv AltOgetner the corps OF Anne rlC.,Il