The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-07-17

ization and cooks prior to the Amer
lean occupation, but the civilization was not OF
high standard. And after several years OF close
study of the needs and possibilities OF our rest
less little brown foster brothers OF the far east
ern islands domestic science has been deemed
the surest foundation upon which to huild
To begin with, the home and its women has
been accepted by educators as the best process
OF engrafting occidental civilization, education
and culture on the stunted. halfwild growth
which centuries of Spanish rule left behind II
the Filipino himself who pointed out the
way for the solving of his own personal equation
Primitive as his home life had been he had been
living up to the bsst he knew When something
better was before him he was prompt to see the
advantages of the newer way.
The domestic science of the Filipino was not
science at all; IL only a crude makeshift
handed down to him from his ancestors His
home was little better than shack, very small
and destitute OF furnishings. His diet was so
restricted that the idea OF such thing as the
art OF cookery had never occurred to him
His clothing litte-or nothing
With. the coming of the American and his
higher standard Of civilization the Filipino espe
cially he Of the younger generation saw life
from a angle He came to the realization
that there is more In life than the mere bus
OF living He found that there is work TO
do that he must do his share toward raising
the standards of succeeding generations that he
had his allotted task in the bringing OF the civi
cation or his country TO a higher level
The first evidence OF this awakening in the
Filipino was the change in his method OF llfe
Gone the open fires which swung a sim
gle pot a tripod. Gone is the ancient habit OF
an entire family, including the pups and the rest
of the four-footed animals, eating from a common
dish. Gone also are the primitive sleeping
rangements
To be sure the change was by evolution rather
than by revolution, but its progress was sufficient
ly rapid and marked to compel the attention OF
the American educators who had gone across
seas to teach these primitive folk new things.
They had gone with a notion that the Filipino
could be taught the same things and by the same
methods that form the educational system in
California and New York Texas and the Dakotas.
They found, however. that physical environ
ment and previous social experience had bred in
the Filipino racial characteristics vastly diferer.
from our and made OF him separate edu'
cational problem.
The Filipino was not especially interested in
whether or not he received mental training but
he was ambitious, cleverly initiative and keenly
alert TO the greater creature comforts OF civili-
zation which he glimpsed for the first time when
the American came and conquered. And for all
his reputation for sothfulness he willing and
anxious 20 work for these things which sud
denly he had come TO desire-these tangible and
outward signs OF higher civilization.
So II was that domestic science and vocational
| training became integral part OF the educa-
| Filipino young people voluntarily in school
! there is no compulsory education In the Islands
! Primary English education is open to all and is
Incidental TO the domestic science and vocational
| courses.
The Filipino knew what he wanted and he got
| It. and he Is quite happy as the more sophis
ticated souls imagine would be II ever we
| did get what want.
One OF the most potent factors In making the
! Filipino not into an imitation good American
but into good patriotic and useful citizen OF
his own native archipelago, has been the School
| OF Household Industries in Manila. Here an
| nualy from all the islands of the group. In ever
increasing numbers. young Filipinos are instruct
ed in domestic science and economy Besides.
| these young women. are taught the more impor-
| tant II less remuneratve vocation OF successful
| housewife and mother
The course i'm housekeeping and household
arts one OF the most important and most widely
studied OF the several offered by the school, gives
| the young women basic education In the three
RS. three full years study being devoted to
reading writing. arithmetic and grammar In
the homemakcrs course they study hygiene.
home sanitation, physiology. cooking and the
| care OF infants
| A short course In nursing is given. and a full