The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-19

knowledge or the English language.
The element Of novelty was doubtless
an important factor also. The schools
possessed all the attractions Of new
toy Soon, however, many adults
found that English could not be ac-
quired by a few weeks attendance at
night school, and they dropped out.
Some Of the children ceased to be
amused by school exercises and failed
to attend, while others stopped in or
der to assist their parents once more
in their various agricultural opera
tions. IN some cases forces hostile to
the public schools, with their purely
secular education, became effective
and school attendance accordingly d.
minished
THE Philippine commission has
planned from the first to give the
schools a better teaching force than
the provisional one they found neces-
sary to use. and IN its first legislation
establishing a public school system It
made provision for a Normal school
in Manila for training native teachers.
This school was opened In 1901, under
the leadership Of Dr. Bryan, formerly
Of the faculty Of Indiana university
The school organized advanced classes
Of students who had received instruc-
tion In Spanish schools and since 1903
has graduated classes Of from l2 to is
members.
Year BY year the standard has
been raised until admission to the reg
ular classes Of the Normal school is
now conditional on preparation for
the equivalent OF the first year Of an
American high school. Graduates are
entitled to enter the civil service as
teachers without further examination.
In one or two more years large classes
viii be sent out
Glasses in each Of the elementary
grades are maintained as training
school, and students are given care
ful drill in practice teaching before
being allowed to graduate Cooking.
housekeeping. gardening and wood
work are parts Of the regular course,
and the students are trained to teach
these things in their appropriate
places IN the grades.
1T is safe to say that no other
phase OF education attracts so much
attention or excites more sympathetic
interest among the Filipinos at pres
ent than the various forms OF indus
trial work that have been incorporated
into their school system. At first
Spanish ideals concerning the dignity
of manual labor constituted serious
obstacles. but practical opposition Of
this kind no longer requires consider
alton.
'The academic work OF the course
approximately parallels that Of the
ordinary American high school. En-
glish taking the place usually allotted
+ to foreign languages. History is mod
ified TO meet the needs Of the situa
ton by making Philippine and co
lonlal history preliminary in that line
T Science is given unusual prominence
the laboratories for physics, chemis
try botany and zoology being vel
/ equipped.
Probably no other feature Of tbs
school offers such opportunities anC
has furnished such results as has tn,
dormitory for young women. A ma
iority Of the women students live II
this home with one OF the American
teachers. Coming from all parts o
the islands. with different languages
and customs. they here use a common
language and learn the essentials o
/ American social customs. Being rep
/ resentatiyes Of the best Filipino fami
lies. on returning 10 their homes the.
become social leaders, spread thei
new-found ideas widely and becom
potent factors in introducing Amer
can ideals among their people.
Although the Normal school wa
established for the purpose OF train
Ing native teachers. its superior equiv
ment has made Il necessary 60 throN
open its doors to students looking Il
ward other lines Of work thln teaci
ing. There are In the school at pre-.
ent classes Of students preparing 70
work In schools Of law. medicine an
engineering; and for reasons OF ecoT
omy the nautical school classes T,
ceive their shore instruction at n
same institution.
In short. Ia the Normal school [.
day may be found IN embryo the Tn
versity Of the Philippines