Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-16

GopNokibtt III tnS
The last annual report of the direct
or of education for the Philippines is
gratifying in the extreme. IT serves to
Justify not only the American course
in taking up the cause of millions of
down trodden in the islands. but
proves that the system adopted by
American statesmen was all that has
been claimed for it y noted educator
on his return from an Investigation Of
the Philippine school problem said:
1T will be enough to record the
achievements of the Bureau of Educa-
ton III the Philippines makes as bright
and inspiring a chapter of history as
was ever written. II for no other rea-
son, the United States Government has
just ground for satisfaction and pride
in what has been accomplished edn-
cationally in the islands i'll dozen
years"
This opinion seems To be sabstanti-
ated by the annual report for the
school year 1910-f1 which has just been
received by the Bureau of Ipsular At
fairs at Washington. This is the eleH-
enth annual report since the organiza
ton of the public school system in the
Philippines under American control
and shows substantial results along
nearly every line of endeasor.
The annual enrolment for the school
year 19i0-11 reached 6l0,i9S as against
5S7, ST. for the preceding year.
The total number of schools in oper
alton was 4,404, and the total number
OF American and Filipino teachers on
duty at the close of the school year
was 9,0Ss.
The Philippine Government spent for
public education the sum of 50, 223, SS3.27
during the last fiscal year
The Director says that this new spir-
it of athletic interest has swept in
upon the boys and girls With force
that is actually revolutionary and
with it have come new standards, new
ideals of conduct, and what is more
important, new ideals of character.
The boy who has even fer a season or
two experienced tie stirring discipline
of public censure and public applause
in hard athletic battles has learned
lessons which will remain longer than
any maxim learned from books.
Some of the results of the industrial
instruction as carried on in the schools
of the Islands are mentioned by the
Director; school boys in hundred
towns of the Philippines are wearing
hats made by themselves. the last ex
ports from the Islands increased from
621 .475 in 1910 to 1,625,596 in 1911; many
girls weave the cloth and make the
clothing which they wear in school;
more than half of the desks and tables
in the primary schools of the Philip
pines have been made by the pupils.
the primary schools of one province
were able to deliver 1000 salable bas-
kets on months notice; in one town
the baskets used to contain the Gram
gees for export We're purchased from
other towns, now they are made al
home as a result of the trade having
been taught in the schools; one school
has introduced and developed the slip
making industry and last year sold
$4,000 worth; in one province over a
thousand gardens were cultivated.
1t is not far to go to expect the day
when We may almost feel jealous of
the progress Of these little brown peo
pie, our Philippine wards. Like the
japanese they are ambitious and ear
nest, filled with a desire 10 learn and
rejoice in accomplishment. And il is
true that more careful selection has
been made in the efficiency of teachers
for the Philippine service than exists
another big problem which we are APP
preaching.