Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-07-21


wellknown Mr.. Meredith, Uncle Szzz
believes that civilized man cannot
live without cooks and is putting that
Mef~1M belief into demonstration In handling
TNSNR the educational problems of the Phil
~SkaN> ippines.
I The Filipino, to be sure had civr
ization and cooks prior to the Anne
lean occupation, but the civilization was not
nigh standard. And after several years of clos
study of the needs and possibilities of our res
less little brown foster brothers of the far cas-
ern islands domestic science has been deeme
the surest foundation upon which to build
To begin with, the home and its women has
been accepted by educators as the best process
of ENGRAVING. occidental civilization, education
and culture on the stunted, half-wild growth
which centuries of Spanish rule left behind. It
was 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 best he knew. When something
better was before him he was prompt to see the
advantages of the newer way.
The domestic science CT the Filipino was not
science at all; 1t was only a crude makeshift
handed down to him from his ancestors. His
home was little better than a shack, very small
and destitute of furnishings His diet was so
restricted that the idea of such a thing as the
art of cookery had never occurred to him.
His clothing was little-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 new angle. He came to the realization
that there is more in life than the mere bust
ness 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 civil
cation of his country to a higher level.
The first evidence of this awakening in the
Filipino was the change in his method of life.
Gone are the open fires over which swung sim
-
entire family, including the pups and the rest
of the four-footed animals, eating from common
dish Gone also are the primitive sleeping ar
rangements.
To be 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 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 different
from and made of him a separate edu-
cational problem
The Filipino was not especially interested In
whether or not he received mental training but
he 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 slothfulness he willing and
anxious to work for these things which so 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 an integral part of the educa-
tional system of the Philippines half-million
Filipino young people are voluntarily in school
there is no compulsory education in the islands
Primary English education is open TO all and is
Incidental the domestic science and vocational
courses.
The Filipino knew what he wanted and he got
It. and he is quite as happy as the more sophis-
ticated souls imagine would be If ever we
did get what want.
One of the most potent factors in making the
Filipino, not into an imitation good American.
but into a good, patriotic and useful citizen Of
his own native archipelago. has been the School
of Household Industries In Manila Here an
nually 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 remunerative vocation OF successful
housewife and mother.
The course In housekeeping and household
arts one OF the most important and most widely
studied of the several offered by the school, gives
the young women a basic education IL the three
RS, three full years study being devoted to
reading writing arithmetic and grammar In
the homemaker's course they study hygiene
home sanitation, physiology. cooking and the
care of infants.
short course In nursing is given and full