Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-29

la seven-piece dining room suite o
polished hardwoods, built in th'
most durable, yet artistic style O.
workmanship which was sold at th'
exposition for $3.50.
Pottery Is also a developing industry
among the trade school boys. Odd bit:
and practical, durable household pot
terry are turned out by the schools
Tht manufacture Of hats Is also
taught, and the effect Of the instruc'
ton Of hat making. in the trade
schools is already reflected in the in
sular export statistics. The number
of hats exported from the Philip
pines in 1910 was 621,475. Last
years figures were 1,025,596. The
insular bureau Of education will not
claim that the increase in the gen.
ercl trade of the islands-is due en-
tirciy to the school activities, but must
be considered as a contributing factor
Basketmaking Of the finest charac-
ter is also taught in the Philippine
schools. On a months notice the pri-
mary schools Of the province Of Al
bany can furnish 1000 salable baskets
of all kinds, sizes and designs.
Build Their Own Desks
Returning to the subject Of furni-
ture, the most recent report Of the d.
rector of education shows that more
than half the desks and tables of the
Philippine schools are manufactured by
the trade schools, in many instances by
the pupils now occupying them.
Combining the exhibits Of all the
schools of the islands at the carnival
in Manila this year, the school require
nent was $4,000 square meters OF
space in the grounds. The exhibition
building was erected, from foundation
to Flagstaff, wholly by the students in
the Philippine school system. That
they had reason to be proud Of their
work was later evidenced in a practi-
cal way by the receipts Of the school
section Of the exhibition, as $4,000 pc
sos, or $4,000, were received for the
various articles sold during the show.
There were more than 100000 visitors
to the exhibit.
In the girls schools instruction In
lace making and embroidery, in both
of which trades the Filipinos naturally
excel, has resulted in the production Of
many exquisite bits Of workmanship.
A dress Of Irish crochet" produced by
the girls of the Tabago school at AL
bay, sold for $500 at the exhibition.
Coupled with the practical instruc-
tion in physiology the bureau Of edu-
cation is developing in the-Nipinos a
taste for a diversified diet. Rice and
fish, good enough staples in their way
for a semi-civilized nation, are not the
food necessary for the development Of
a sturdier and more Independent race.
To that end the introduction Of new
eatables and other farm products,
through the medium of the agricultural
branch of the educational institutions
work, is interesting, first the curiosity,
and latterly the taste Of the inhabi-
tants in a diversified diet.
From the point of view Of the hous-
ing of the school children Of the Phil
ippines there has been a tremendous
advance during the last four or five
years. The new schols are models Of
tropical architecture. They are open
to every breeze, the windows being
sashless and equipped only with sun or
rain shades. The style Of the school
buildings represent the latest develop
ment in matters Of sanitation. The bu-
reau's standards call for schools Of
one, two and three classrooms. In more
concentrated communities there are a
few two-story structures, but in gen.
eral the bungalow style prevails. Con-
crete and steel are used wherever prac-
ticable, but in the outlying districts
wood is materially cheaper and is used.
In design the schools are architectural
ly attractive and Of dignified decora-
tive appearance.
Former System on Paper.
in the brief period since America took
up the task of putting the Filipino on a
disappearing basis is regarded as
more remarkable in fact than in theory
for theoretically the Philippine school
system under the Spaniards was ex-
cellent. 1t was a paper system, how
ever, and as a practical working or
ganization it had virtually no exist
ence. Established in 1863, the Spanish
school system had made a fine paper
progress from that date up to the first
Filipino revolution. Thomas G. del Ro-
sario, himself a Filipino, speaking Of
the conditions precedent to the Ameri-
can invasion and assumption of gov
ernment, says:
From all the data given no one can
doubt that primary instruction in the
Philippines was advancing along a
prosperous and fiourishing course. Two
thousand, one hundred and fifty-three
public schools scattered throughout the
archipelago and 173 sets Of provisions
regulating them or tending to the in
telectual development of the people
are, without doubt matters which lead
one at first sight to believe that popu-
lar education in the Philippines had
attained the state which it usually
reaches in progressive and civilized
countries. However, this was super
fetal only; at bottom everything was
contradictory to those laws and provi-
sions which were nothing but We
neer, a veil which covered the greatest
of governmental fictions. The purpose
was to show other colonizing nations
that in this country (the Philippines)
the government was paternal and that
education was fully developed, while
at the same time measures of all kinds
were adopted to keep the people sub
merged in ignorance. Consequently, the
efforts made were of no avail notwith-
standing the desire to attain that pur-
pose.
Spanish Language Not General.
Despite the efforts and the desire
of the Spanish government that the
Spanish language become universal
throughout the archipelago it did not