The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-29
Education OF the FiIipino,

ITO reach, through the school teachers,
the whole body Of Filipino people with
matters which pertain to the whole
work of the Government and the educa-
ton in physical, civic and moral duties
which it ofiors through all its bureaus
to the Filipino people: such is the
commendable aim. of the Philippine
Teacher, The first number Of which was
published in Manila, Dec. IS. 1t is edited
by JOHN G. COULTER, under the general
supervision of the General Superin-
tendent Of Education, DAVID p. BAR
ROWS. II is excellently printed, and a
circulation of 1000 is guaranteed to adj
vertisers. As a fun, candid exposition
of what Uncle SAM is doing for the edu-
cation Of his wards in the Far East II
ought TO be reprinted entire for the en-
lightenment of the doubters and fault
finders at home" and school classes
in civil government might with profit
devote a weeks study 20 it,
The second convention Of Philippine
school superintendents. at Manila, Dec.
-, opened with an address by Superin-
tendent BARRows, in which he dis
cussed the history, present status and
prospects Of Philippine education.
The policy of the Bureau Of Education
is to place primary instruction within
the reach Of every child in the Christian
provinces Of the archipelago; to organize
intermediate schools throughout the
islands; to establish in every province
a high school; to advance on its present
linesthe development Of the three techni-
cal schools established by the Insular
Government in Manila, the Philippine
Normal School, the Philippine School
Of Arts and Trades and the Philippine
Nautical School; to prepare the way
for the establishment Of the Philippine
University, and to train young Filipino
men and women for the work among
their countrymen. Such is the plan;
what of the practice?
There are 100000 children between
the ages Of six and fifteen. To give
each child three years of primary educa-
tion there must be school accommoda-
tons for 100000 children at once. In
this three year primary course the
ground covered comprises a study of
the English language that enables the
pupil TO speak and read it we'll enough
10 result IN his permanent adoption Of il;
two years Of practical arithmetic, cal
culated to fit him for the business trans
actions Of civilized life; geography.
moral and physical training. II is not
an imposing system but it is eminentlv
sensible and practical, perfectly fitted
to the needs Of the children
At present 1000 native Filipinos are
engaged as teachers in the islands; but
$500 are needed. Superintendent BAR
ROWS finds the problem solved in the
Internal Revenue act, which devotes s
per cent. Of the entire revenues TO the
school funds. The income from this
source during the present year will per-
NIT the employment Of 1900 additional
native teachers, raising the force to with
in a thousand of the necessary number.
The deficiency will be met by using a
force Of apprentices, the waiting list
OF candidates for appointments, who
are expected to serve part time without
compensation, until the growing revenue
shall make their regular employment
possible.
The children are to be educated. but
they must first be caught, A year and
eight months ago not more than iOO. 900
had been gathered into the school fold
in September, 1903. there were 1872, 900;
in March, 1904, 227 600. Al present there
are 322 ,O1O pupils in the primary course,
5000 in the intermediate and 1900 in the
might schools, total Of $40 900.
Superintendent BARRows's entire re-
port i one Of harmony and progress
The Filipino teachers work well under the
American supervisors, and the Filipino
press and Filipino gentlemen Of culture
and influence the islands over gener-
ously and heartily cooperate with the