The Ordway new era., 1912-11-29

the director OF education for
the Philippine islands. cover
ing the school year ending
April /. 1912. has Just been
received by the bureau OF irsular af-
fairs.
1t Is very comprehensive state
ment OF the educational program In
the Islands. shows that very encour-
aging results have been obtained dur
Ing the past year in all lines OF school
activities and that 1.-The achievement
OF civilization and high culture" Is
we'll entered upon.
Some Of the specific things accom-.
plished during the past year are euufn.
Grated by the director. Progress has
been very marked In the improve
ment In the quality of English taught
In all the schools whether OF primary.
intermediate or secondary grade.
Industrial instruction has been organ.
lied and developed to a greater extent
than in any previous year. A large
number OF permanent school build
ings have been completed. The
policy OF acquiring adequate school
sites has found general acceptance
and much attention has been given to
the improvement Of temporary build
ings. Through the vacation assem-.
bly, at Baguio. the bureau has come
into closer sympathy with the vast
majority OF Its teachers than ever be-
fore. A decided improvement is re-
ported In the personnel OF the teach.
Ing force. both American and Filipino,
Specialization In Elementary Schools.
In the Philippines specialization
must begin much lower down in the
course than is the usual practice in
the United States. although many edu-
Gators here are coming to recognize
that the earlier this specialization can
be introduced the better. In the is-
lands 1t begins with the first year of
the intermediate grades. five courses
being provided-the general course.
the course for teaching. the course
In farming, the trade course. the
course In housekeeping and household
arts. and the course in business. This
specialization is incorporated into
the course Of study in order that the
child may secure such training as
Will directly prepare him for q useful
life.
A careful study and comparison of
education In the Philippines with that
carried on In other tropical countries
enjoying practically the same condi.
tions as obtain there. shows that It
10 the aim Of nearly every one of these
countries to make education general.
but as rule the percentage of popu.
lation attending school is much lower
than In the Philippines. In very few
cases is special attention being given
TO industrial education. The elemen-
tary schools are seldom considered in
. the plan OF Industrial instruction. the
attention being confined to advanced
technical and agricultural subiects
Much more stress Is laid upon athlet.
les and physical training in the
Philippines than Is given in other
countries generally. The interest that
tne Filipino people take in public in
struction is much greater than is ap-
parently the case elsewhere. Reports
seem to indicate that in number of
the countries. at least. not only a lack
OF interest. but actual opposition ia
manifested.
For number of years the bureau
has been committed to the policy Of
providing adequate permanent build.
ings for the housing of the public
schools as rapidly as money might be
made available.
In the furtherance Of this policy
standard plans based upon the unit
system Of construction, which allows
additions to be made as necessity NAV
demand without detracting from the
appearance or utility of the original
structure. have been prepared.
In the standard schoolhouse plans
each unit is a class room Of standard
size, seven by nine meters. Plans
have been adopted for buildings of