The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-07

4anuo.--AmertcouO have undertake
On. durlnk the course ef thsir history.
three separate tasks - educators OF
have opened schools for NEGROES In
the west they have offered educa-
tionaI advantages to the Indians. and
upon this side Of the Pacific Ocean
they are now providing the benefits OF
education for Fiiipinos. At the be-
ginning OF this latest Snort 70 elimi-
nate iliiteraay the educators encount-
cred Q somewhat unlocked for factor
"a thirst for knowledge that did nor
hesitate at great sacrifices In Its pur-
suit. The question now az issue among
representatives. Of civil government In
the Philippines. and among American
residents of the Islands generally, Is
not whether the natives viii avail
themselves Of opportunities presented.
but whether the Filipino Of the fu-
ture. IL educational facilities are ex-
banded so rapidly as, the demand re-
qulres, will not be too highly educat-
ed to interest himself In any work
less ambitious than commercial ca
reer or a profession.
From the man In the street one fire.
quentiy hears the assertion that the
native rapidly acquires learning .up
TO b certain point" From school
teachers and supervisors of school
work comes the statement that the
Filipino In not only good student
and an apt pupil In primary work.
but that he 10 no more limited In ca
pacity than the youth Of other lands.
His tendency 10 TO Develop ~ good
school he attends, and to continue
his studies out OF school. Experience
ed Instructors assert that In this par
ttcuiar the islanders are more like
the Japanese Of the present period
than ths rising generation Of any 9TH
er country.
Among persons Of intelligence. who
are in touch with the situation as "a
result Of residence In the islands,
what policy should he followed by ths
United States IN the matter Of the
curriculum provided In schools for
natives. but all agree that the desire
to acquire education IN ssrhsst and
practically universal among the civ-
iiised peoples. Encouraging progress
Ii being made at schools where pupils
from the more remote provinces are
received. Roughly speaking the AM
erican interested In Industrial enter-
prise In the Philippines deprecates the
higher education for natives upon the
ground that there II at present n far
greater need for labor. skilled and un-
skilled, than for legions OF well edp'
Gated young men and women. ina
mand for broad education II 30 insist
ent, good must come 20 the people a.
q result Of this demand being met.
There have been many cases Of phys
Teal injury and innumerable Instances
Of pfivation as a result OF the zeal
Gus efforts Of the Students As
rule pupils in the grammar schools
come 20 the class room without break
fast, provided with two or three copper
centaves---coins worth haif-cent--
with which to buy the midday meal
This luncheon 10 usually bought freq
street vendors or small stores. Some
times 1t consists OF rice with chopped
meat, put up In banana leaves. or dried,
ish or q bowl of soup. oftener the
children buy "duice"-confections con-
tanning little nutrition. There were so
many little sufferers from mslnutrttion
among the children OF the poorer class
e. In Manila that luncheons are now
being served In the school buildings.
The average high school student
who is asked by q teacher to perform
an unusually arducus task often de-
prives himself Of the proper amount OF
time FOR sleep or meals to accomplish
II. This has been particularly notice.
able among students attending normal
AuHAftHtSN ft4tAEHA&r tA&S~~e1e-Ss
Young men and young women at the
vacation assemblies have been found
burning the midnight oil until two or
three In the morning and resuming
their studies at 6 o'clock.
while perfectly honest and entirely
altruistic Americans In the Philip
pines disagree as to what courses OF
study should be emphasized In the
schools, all are agreed that the import
ance ana dignity OF Agriculture should
be more strongly impre.se't u"'i
minds Of the children. Because VIZ"
tuai state OF psounar M
the laborers upon the haciendas dur
ing Spanish times, tiiiers pl Tue
were look cd upon as mere drsdgei
The spread OF English education
the upgrowth Of western ideals. may
eradicate the notion that the farmer
il at the bottom Of the social scale
and his occupation one to be despised.
lust now, with vast areas OF unten-
anted soil available for cultivation
there IT, proportionally, smaller need
Tor clerks, merchants. physicians. and
lawyers than there is for expert filters
OF the soil
Recently an American Judge Of
fyAsttr..tna onrrf had 0ncIRiOn to