The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
Teachers Are Wanted
in the Philippines

The Philippine Teacher, which has Just
been established in Manila. tells about
the openings to be found in the Philippines
by American teachers. L the Ameri-
can Bureau Of Education In the Philippines
thrre are thirty-five school divisions, with
s64 900 pupils, 1884 900 OF whom are in the
primary courses. 1900 in the intermediates
and high school departments, and 1900
in the 800 night schools for the instruction
Of adults in Manila and the largest pro-
vincial towns.
Steps have been taken 10 train Filipino
young men and women as teachers, to carry
on the work. There are now $500 Of these,
who are known as municipal teachers and
are paid from funds in the municipalities
in which they are employed, and 29l in the
Insular list, who are appointed and paid
by the bureau.
The Americans are employed as super
intendents, rather than teachers OF single
classes or schools. There are sos Of them,
drawing salaries that range from 5000 to
5000, the average being 81, 200.
Over these teachers are the division
superintendents, whose salaries run from
81, 900 TO 5000, In four cases those super
intendents are the Governors Of their prov
lnces The superintendents Of the Philip
pine Normal School, the Philippine School
Of Arts and Trades and the Philippine
Nautical School rank as division superin-
tendents.
Promotion is easy and rapid, because
many Of the teachers 50 TO the Philip
pines for few years only, not as a life
settlement, and vacancies are OF frequent
occurrence Appointments are made by
the general superintendent, subject to the
approval Of the Secretary Of Public In
struction, and the merit Of the teachers Ia
tested 10y competitive examinations. There
are more than 200 positions with salarieO
above 81 200.
The work Of instruction is, Of course,
rather elementary, and is Of tho most prao-
teal nature being designed especially 70
train the Filipino youth in agricultural SCI
enoe and industrial m tho $. The study Of
the English language IS first; then follow
arithmetic, geography, the civil government
of the islands, tool worH Tor the toys ana
Housekeeping 70 the girls, commerce and
agriculture, art and trades.
The life Of American teachers in the
Philippines is thus described in the state
ment OF organization and aims published
by the Bureau OF Education;
'The teacher usually lives alone in a town
separated by some miles from other COM
munities, and very frequently he is the only
American resident in a large area. He
must consult tactfully and helpfuly with
the municipal President and Council, repre-
sent the school needs Of the locality to this
body and obtain their cooperation and
financial support. His relationship with
the people Of the town must be kind, help
full and above reproach.
A great part Of tn time Of the super,
vising teacher l. spent In school visitation.
travel ing some times on foot or by horse
and vehicle, and sometimes 10y banca or
canoe. As a part Of their duty these
teachers have 70 GcquaInt themselves
thoroughly with the geography Of their
distrcts They must know every hamlet
and road and must thoroughly understand
the social composition Of the community
where they are working.
This is work which can obviously only
be done by a man For this reason the
great majority ~ the teaching force arc
men In many cases, however, a man and
wife are assigned together 10 a town, the
ma carrying on the work Of supervision
and the woman the instruction Of the ad-
vanoed classes In the central municipal
school