The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-03

The physical inferiorlty Is largely the
result Of foods eaten in past genera
tions, foods which possessed little
more than life sustaining value.
when the United States began its
work in the islands one of the hardest
problems was to impress on the people
the fact that with true civilization
material progress went hand in hand
with intellectual ty and culture in
other directions. In the beginning the
instructors selected "a few individuals
from the natives who had shown
superior intellectual development.
These were taught along lines which
led to intellectual and professional
pursuits rather than those which make
for manual .abor. This was unfor-
tunate, as the people howed a ten
dency to undervalue an education
which savored of the trades or indus
trial callings. Another plan was later
adopted and such subjects were taught
a. would benefit the vast majority OF
the Filipino people rather than the
Snall minority.
at Is a peculiar circumstance that
in the teaching of the Filipino peo-
ple the eye must first receive the m
p~ression-and in nearly every instance
this will bring the results sought, for
they are naturally imitators. This IL,
perhaps, the reason for the deXterity
shown in carrying on their primitive
arts, which in the past seems - have
been the limit Of their capacity. INTEL
iectual pursuits being unknown. except
in a few instances. AS a people. how
ever, they are ambitious. Once a Fill
pino becomes impressed with the fact
that manual deXterity Is not the only
requisite necessary to successfully
pursue a calling or avocation he il I'M
firing in his persistence and perse-
verance.
"As an illustration of the importance
Of ocular demonstration in teaching
these people, let me cite an instance
which occurred in one Of the training
schools for womeh No matter how
hard she labored the teacher had been
unable TO make any progress in i'm
pressing on the women the importance
Of physical health. Finally she hit
upon the plan Of bringing her own
pAby " NV Stuook dto potiibB hAht
during the lesson on hygiene. The
uniqueness OF such a proceeding
created quite a Juror at the time.
Soon, however, tho baby's nurse wal
being privately i~mportuned, by old and
young alike, for specific information n
u proper care. Baby's mother learned
that social calls were made solely for
the privilege Of catching a sight Of
baby. Once the native mothers real
lied, through ocular demonstration.
tho difference a daily bath made In q
baby's health a Course OF bathing was
introduced into many households not
only for baby but for the adult mem-
hers Of the family. A healthy. rosy.
kicking, cooling youngster f%rolicking In
his bath, exhibiting s%turdiness of limb
and general good health. proved a
much more effective instruction than
. thousand lessons in theory.
The Filipino people are taking ad-
vantage of and benefiting by the edu-
cational system which this country
has introduced in ahe islands. Over
eight hundred thousand native chill
dren are enrolled in the schools, and
IL ID on dne proper HictHOu Oh lHstT uC-
ton used in teaching these children
that the future OF this race depends.
1t Is well known that the methods of
every generation are the result of
work done by preceding generations;
that to-day only mobiles or builds
upon the accomplishments Of yester-
day. 1t Is upon the formation of
characteristics-mOral, mental and
p~hysical--in these eight hundred thou
0nd school children that the future
independence OF this race must hang
These future parents arc being taught
all that is best for transmission. and
they will pave the way to the indie
pendcnce VI the Philippines"
'-The introduction into tho public
schools Of Industrial training was
most important move. As a result
the growing generation Of Elipinos h