The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-10

the several provinces. The city OF
Manila ranks as one of these.
Instruction In the provinces was at
arst largely confined to primary sub
jects. and Americans did the actual
work OF teaching. BY degrees. however,
Filipino teachers have been trained.
and primary instruction is now almost
entirely given by them, the Americans
being used to supervise the work.
There are now 279s American super
vising teachers, each having under !,
his guidance a district containing two
or more primary schools, and being
directly responsible 10 the division SUI
More than 1000 primary teachers are
now employed in the islands. OF
these approximately 500 are in the
civil service and receive their salaries
from the central government; the
others are employed and paid by the
municipalities in which their schools
are located.
1t is at once evident that the suc-
cess OF our primary schools-and in
passing 1t may be said that this is
recognized as by far the most impor-
tant branch Of the school work-de-
pends largely upon our ability to OBJ
tain capable Filipino teachers. When
the system was first inaugurated pro-
vision was made for Abnormal school
wherein Filipinos could be trained for
teaching This institution. which Is
located in Manila, has already grad
uated number Of the best men and
women in the service; and when the
new buildings which are projected for
1t have been completed, moro pupils
will be provided for. and our Filipino
personnel even more largely recruited
from that school.
Supported by Government.
Many students in the normal school
are supported by the government, I'M
der an arrangement whereby after
graduation they teach for a period at
least equa! to that spent In the school.
Others are municipal teachers who, un-
der like arrangement, are furnished a
year or more Of special training by
their municipalities.
A very excellent normal course is
also given girls In the convent OF the
Assumptions private Roman Catholic
institution in Manila. Students COM
pleting this course take the regular
government examination before grad
uation. and are eligible for appoint
ment in the teaching service without
further examinations
a further effort better to train our
primary teachers Is made by conduct
ing in each school division what is
known as q vacation institute. These
institutes are held during vacations,
and teachers are urged to attend them,
Glasses In English are given and the
teachers drilled In the hest methods Of
instruction.
The primary course extends over a
period Of four years. The children are
first set before chart, and the teach-
| err begins to practice them in the use
OF simple English words. This is
followed by reading and writing, pri-
mary arithmetic. geography, singing,
| drawing, and such Industrial work as
| the making Of native hats or baskets.
In the final year the Keeping Of simple
accounts Is taught, the elements OF
physiology and hygiene, and moro ad
vanced practical work, such as farm
| ing, the culture OF flowers and the
gen eral use OF tools for boys. and
housekeeping, sowing and weaving for
girls.
1 Training Girls.
In training girls much emphasis Is
now being placed on housekeeping,
the care of children and Very simple
ers have been sent to the schools. and
large number of model Filipino cot
tages erected wherein the children
learn how their daily lives may be
improved and made more sanitary.
In developing our primary course
IT is our endeavor constantly to keep
IN mind the fact that the great mass
OF the people will never receive fur
Their school instruction. IT cannot be
too comprehensive, for it is better to
4 have pupils know a few things we'll
than many imperfectly, and 1t should
as far as possible have a real intlu-
y ences on the everyday life of the peo-
!. PIE g a II u Il Va rs