Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-07-25

believes that civilized man cannot
live without cooks" and is putting
AN~tM belief into demonstration in handling
YSS%N the educational problems of the Phil
SEAA~ ippines.
@ The Filipino to be sure, had a civil
t 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 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 build.
To begin with, the home and it's has
been accepted by educators as the best process
of ENGRAVING occidental civilization, education
and culture on the stunted half-wf1d growth
which centuries of Spanish rule left behind. 1t
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 the
advantages of the way.
The domestic science of the Filipino was not
science at all; 1t 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 such thing as the
art of cookery had occurred to him
His clothing little-or nothing.
With the coming Of the American his
higher standard Of civilization the Filipino. espe
cially he of. the younger generation saw life
from a new angle He to the realization
that there is 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
cation of his country 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 which swung sim
gle pot tripod. Gone is the ancient habit of
an entire family. including the pups and the rest
of the fourfooted animals. eating from
dish. Gone also are the primitive sleeping
rangements
To be the change was by evolution rather
than by revolution, but its progress sufficient
ly rapid and marked to compel the attention of
American educators la
seas to teach these primitive folk things.
They had gone with a notion that the Filipino
could be taught the 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 our made of him separate edu-
catonal problem.
The Filipino was 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-
cation 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 sud-
denly he had come to desire-these tangible and
outward signs of higher civilization
So it was that domestic science and vocational
training became integral part of the educa-
tional system of the Philippines. A halfmillion
Filipino young people voluntarily in school
there is 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 as happy the more sophis-
ticated souls imagine we 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 good, patriotic and useful citizen
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 Fflipfnos instruct
ed In domestic science and economy. Besides,
these young women taught the more impor-
tant If less remuneratfve 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 In 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
of infants
A short course in nursing is given, and full