The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-12-06
Magic Touch of Americanism Is
Beginning to Tell In Island Pos
sessions - Remarkable Prog
ress In Educational Work.
Worst Forms of Savagery
Gradually Disappearing.
twelfth annual report Of the
director Of education for the
Philippine Islands contains in

philippine Islands contains in
formation sufficient to kindle
anew the. keen interest of the Ameri-
can people in their island possessions
between Australia and eastern Asia.
The Philippines have belonged to the
United States for Il dozen years, and
the contrast between the Filipino pop
y1..on as . whole at that time and
the present affords a striking parallel,
the achievements of our civilizing in
fuerces and efforts offering a com
pensation for whatever trouble these
bands have been. And 1T was reason
abe o expect that Uncle Sam would
have his troubles. for the archipelago
rps overrun with wild savages. Even
row the savage element is strong in
number. as shown by the United
States census giving the population as
1.635.426, 8 per cent Of whom were
savage. There are something like a
million semicivilized Inhabitants. But
for all that, marvellous progress has
been made.
When this country acquired the
Philippines, head hunters swarmed
throughout the islands, but the Ameri-
car governors of the tribes state that
the grewsome custom has almost en-
tirely disappeared. Another encourag-
ing statement recently was made by
Major Henry Gilsheuser. governor Of
the Davao district. He said that the
Bagobas of Mindanao had quit killing
their fellows and taken to farming.
It formerly was a rule that a man Of
the Bagobas could not marry until he
had killed a human being. Major Oils
heuser's news Is particularly cheering,
A. some of the dozen or more tribes OF
the Mindanao are so savage as to be
almost hopeless.
a BETTER GENERATION
While they are improving, the Bago-
bas cling to some of their savage Gus
toms, such as filing and b%lackening
their teeth. They are polygamists.
Their human sacrifices, which Major
Gilsheuser says have been abandoned,
were attended with praying to the
mountains. The Bagobas have always
raised hemp, but now that they are
becoming better farmers they are
growing 1t In larger quantities. Large
numbers Of the Bagobas have been as
eembled in villages which have
schools. and scouts and the police
teach the savage children in other sec
lions. Boys Of the surrounding tribes
are now coming in to attend the agri-
| cultural and Industrial school in their
town Of Dayao.
The report Of the director Of educa-
ton for the islands. covering the school
year ending April 1, 1912. shows very
! encouraging results were obtained in
all lines of school activities. indus
| trial instruction has been organized
land developed to a greater extent than
Fin any previous year. and a large mum
/ her Of permanent school buildings
have been completed. A decided i'm
~provement is reported in the teach
Ting force. both American and Filipino.
LIN the past year 1G1 Iilipinos have
fheen assigned to positions as supervis-
ling and assistant supervising teachers
Sl.pcinlization begins with the first
fyear of the intermediate grades. five
ICDnrses being proyided-th general
teOurse. the course for teaching. the
icOurse In farming. the trade course.
1.-The curse in housekeeping and house
Inknld arts and the course i'm business.
1Thfs specialization Is incorporated into
Ithe course of study in order that the
Ichfld may secure such training as will
Idfrectiy prepare him for IA useful life.
OF EDUCATION
| m %furtherance Of the policy of pro-
Iv3dinc adequate school accommodations
lafandard plans based upon the unit
avstem Of construction. which allows
lsdditions to lie made as necessity may
demand without detracting from the
appearance OF utility OF the original
.8ufructure. have been prepared. Each
nm Il a class room Of standard size.
~ b meters, Plans have been adopt
3 buildings Of from one to twenty