The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-17

nurses course is included among the vocational
courses Dressmaking, lace making, embroidery
hat making and weaving are among the other
branches included in the vocational school and
optional in the homemakers course
Much as the Filipino needed education along
all lines, in nothing was his need so great as
In the first principles of sanitation. When the
American came the natives, even in the larger
cities, knew nothing Of sanitation, household or
otherwise. 1t had not been taught the Filipino
by his Spanish rulers, who practised the theory
that the more the native knew the more discon-
tented and hence the more difficult to manage he
would become. Also. the Spanish ruler himself
knew practically nothing of the higher domestic
arts, and his idea that his home was his castle
and what went on within of no concern to the
outsider he handed down to the Filipino
The Filipino, however, was far reader to as.
simulate the benefcent changes offered by the
Americans. He promptly learned that sanitation,
both at home and abroad, lessened the danger of
plaques, which since time immemorial had
moved down the native population like grain
before a scythe.
The Filipino is proud in his own way and has
a strong notion of what are his personal rights
Anything akin to tyrannical enforcement of IRON
clad rules would have defeated the whole scheme
Hosts Of domestic science teachers, equipped with
the best training, have gone to the Philippines
this last decade with high hopes and unbounded
enthusiasm for the work before them, only to re-
turn presently with blank failure the record of
their Philippine sojourn.
Those who have succeeded--and the success OF
these has been tremendous--have done so through
intimate sympathetic understanding of the FIJI.
pino, the code and traditions which give him his
own peculiar point Of view and his essentially
peculiar home life
Nothing In all the course Of study offered by
the school Of household industries has seemed
TO interest the young women so greatly as the
study OF sanitation. hygiene and the care of in
rants. While the Filipino himself may have def
mite reasons of HIS own for desiring cleaner and
more wholesome living conditions, the younger
women have learned that to a lack of knowledge
may be charged the terrific death rate among
infants, Out Of each three round-eyed, smiling
babies born one dies before it has lived a year
q victim of Ignorance and unsanitary environ.
mens. Innate. universal mother love was quick
to value and acquire knowledge Of anything
which results in saving the babies
But nothing in all the school is SO yariously
interesting as the changes wrought by the study
of cooking In times past the Filipino had the
seantiest variety Of food which was prepared in
the simplest fashion, meat being heavy item
OF his menu. The greatest delicacy Of the Igor
rote was, and In some portions of the islands
continues TO be, pot roast la Fido." Many of
them still eat dog stew but the majority are be-
ginning to learn that there are numerous other
foods vastly more paatable and satisfying
Even the Igorrote maiden knows that II she Is
10 get and keep husband she must know mod
ern methods OF conducting the modern home
which the men have acquired liking for.
So It happens that In the cooking classes are
the Youngest and prettiest and brightest of these
future wives and mothers. And even In their