Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-03-15
-Ex-REBEL Chief
NOW A FARMER
Experience of AguinaldO Is
Fine Example.
SHOWS CHANGE IN ISLANDS
Wonderful Industrial Advancement
Has Occurred In Philippines During
Past Few Years-Splsndid Schools
Have Trained People In Work Of Pro.
duction-Teaoher Tells of Work.

Have Trained People In Work Of Pro-
duction-Teacher Tells of Work.
Aguinaldo, erstwhile rebel leader,
engaged in farming and in the mann
facture of a special brand OF hemp
braid for hats, is the entlcing picture
of Philippine industrial conditions
drawn by ]. G. Muerman. formerly d.
vision school superintendent of Cebu,
'P. L.. now a rural school specialist in
the United States bureau of education.
Aguinaldo's peaceful pursuit is typi-
ca of the change that has taken place
in the Philippines during the past few
years.
Mr.. Muerman describes entertaining
ly the remarkable educational advance
in the islands since the day the first
American teaehers disembarked from
the United States transport Thomas q
dozen years ago. Unhampered by aca-
demic tradition and face to face with
problems of education that were as
big rs civilization itself. these edu-
Gators and those who followed them
have gradually developed a system Of
Filipino schools under Filipino teach
ers that is rapidly transforming the
social and Industrial life of the islands.
Industrial Training Good.
Compulsory industrial training. fit
ted for the needs of everyday Filipino
life, is the most distinctive feature OF
the island schools. The Americans
have carefully studied the possibilities
dainty at hand In the islands and are
able to show the Filipinos how to
rcke the most of them. Every Fill
pino schoolboy is required TO do a GER
tain amount of work with native
woods and hbers. Every one must
learn TO till the soil by actually doing
it in the school garden and in n plat
of his own, and every Filipino school
girl is taught ecrtain essentials OF sew
ing and other home making arts. All
the children in the schools are obliged
to pass through this period of eie-
mentary training in the everyday tasks
Of life.
Lacemakine School.
Most significant In the scheme of in
dustrial education is the recent estab-
lishment of the Philippine school Of
household industries. Two hundred
women from different parts of the is
land were brought together at Manila,
shown how TO adapt their native skin
IN embroidery and lacemaking to the
demands of foreign markets and then
sent back to their homes to form cen
tiers of Industrial progress in their
own communities. The government
has established a sales agency TO dis
pose of the commodities thus produced.
One Filipino woma who was train
ed in the new school has 500 women
working under her and Is receiving
from firms in the United States orders
for thousands Of embroidered shirt
waists and handkerchiefs. The beau
tiful pima cloth. made from pineapple.
Is one product to which special atten-
ton is paid. Before the Americans
came this cloth sold for from 10 to 80
cents n yard. The demand for it is
now such that it brings from $1.50 TO
So a yard.
Hustle and BustIe New In Islands.
The hardest thing American teach
ers in the Philippines have to contend
with" says Mr.. Muerman, lis the
American spirit of hustle and hustle.
The American is in too much haste.
He wants to get everything done at
once He tries to overturn in n few
weeks the traditions of centuries. And
yet, coming into a country where the
ideal tends TO be that of manana-
never do today what you can 10y any
possibility put of till t~omorrow-he
has really made astonishing Roadway
in transforming the Philippines into q
country of today. where things move
with something like American hurry.
The old folks shake their heads and
sigh for the good old times. but the
young people. boys and girls alike. are
glad TO take advantage Of the more
efficient methods They play American
games and accept the educational op-
sortunities offered them with equal
a%daptability. and it is through them
that the new Filipino civilization is
making its way irresiStibly.
"Aguinaldo. with his hemp weaving
and agriculture. may he n less heroic
figure than the willy general who for so
long eluded the American armies, Just
rs clean streets ana city high schools
somehow make less noise in the con-
cert OF the powers than the roar OK
vtav, Ia, NTaFfl, farr I.4t4 r.l.. sl, .naH
history Of humanity is written it can
scarcely leave untold the story of the
unselfSh efforts Of America to carry
the light Of education to the Philip
pines
Aro4bor p;o Efrs g., Ianan