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because of cholera. After the reopening of the institute, there was a steady growth in attendance and popularity. In March, 1903, the attendance was 57 boys and 38 girls, total 95.

The new year has opened very encouragingly, as those seeking admission have come from all parts of the province. The attendance on July 15, 1903, was 103 boys and 63 girls, a total of 166, and an increase of over 100 per cent since last August. The present indications are that this number will continue to increase throughout the coming year. Demand for admission into the dormitories is such that it will soon be necessary to move the girls' dormitory from the school building into a house of its own.

At the outset, June, 1902, the provincial treasurer was the only one of the provincial board in favor of the high school. The governor was indifferent and the supervisor avowedly hostile. The success and popularity of the school have been so marked that now all are friendly and willing to assist in many ways.

NEEDS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

A teacher of manual training and nature study.

A teacher of science.

A new institute building constructed especially for school use.

SUMMER NORMAL SCHOOL.

The summer normal school for the year 1903 was held in Bacolod between the dates April 13 and May 8. For this purpose the Rizal Institute building and the Bacolod public school building were used.

Mr. W. K. Bachelder was appointed principal, and Mr. Eduardo Servando acted as secretary. Before the opening it had been planned to have 6 sections, 20 pupils in a section, but aspirantes came in such numbers that it was necessary to have 8 sections, 30 in a section. It had also been planned to require each of the American teachers to teach three periods daily. It became necessary to require each of the American male teachers to teach four periods a day, and to ask three of the better Filipino teachers to teach one period each.

While the average daily attendance in the normal of 1902 was only 56, this year it was 228, an increase of over 300 per cent. Below is a report of attendance:

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Average daily attendance, 228; percentage of attendance, 94; number days of school, 20.

Throughout the term special attention was given to school organization, methods, and arithmetic in the advanced classes, and to English in all classes. Music, led by Mr. E. C. Knight, and calisthenics, by Mr. W. K. Bachelder, were enjoyed by all. Thirteen insular teachers taught in this normal. Each and every teacher worked conscientiously, though the work was hard; yet it was enjoyed by all as it was an agreeable change from the lonely work in the pueblos.

The Filipino teachers were enthusiastic. They showed their appreciation of the school and of the efforts of the American teachers, by their cheerful, earnest work and by giving a reception to the American teachers at the end of the term. To the end of making the native teachers realize the dignity, importance, and responsibility of the position of teacher, addresses were given by the provincial governor, Judge Yusay, Señor Luzuriago, and the division superintendent.

That the school was a success in other ways than numbers is seen by the way that many native teachers are taking hold of the work this July. They seem to have a broader view of the educational situation. They are more enthusiastic, and show a real desire to help the pupils. Nearly every normal student upon returning to his pueblo has advocated the present educational system. To the success of this normal school I attribute, in part, the marked increase in the attendance at the Rizal Institute.

RESULTS OF YEAR'S WORK.

(a) A greater and more widespread interest in the public schools. This is seen in the increased and more regular attendance and in the more friendly attitude of the parents toward the American teacher.

(b) A better spirit among the native teachers and pupils. They are becoming more interested, and the older ones are getting a better idea of the necessity for and the true meaning of an education. Many older pupils are coming to the day schools. (c) In nearly every pueblo at least one class can read understandingly in the second reader and can use in conversation many of the words found therein.

(d) A generally growing belief that we desire to educate the people as a whole. (e) A large increase in the attendance of the Rizal Institute. Pupils are now attending from all parts of the province, and many parents have come to look upon the institution with favor.

(f) A great increase in the popularity of the summer normal school and a growing desire to improve the opportunities afforded by it.

OUTLOOK.

The outlook for the pueblo schools is very encouraging. Decided progress has been made in the general organization and condition of the schools, and they are doing more advanced work than a year ago. A more active interest is shown in the schools on all sides, and in many of the pueblos the present schoolhouses and furniture are altogether inadequate for the number of pupils who attend. In several of these pueblos local authorities are either building new schoolhouses or are contemplating building as soon as the land tax is collected.

The outlook for the provincial high school is even better than for the pueblo schools. The provincial officials are very much interested in it and are willing to assist in all reasonable ways. Although they have rented and placed at our disposal two commodious buildings, these are already insufficient for our needs. The young people, desiring the best that we can give, are coming from all parts of the province as fast as they can meet the entrance requirements.

DIVISION OF ORIENTAL NEGROS.

[Report of Division Superintendent SAMUEL T. LEE.]

In writing this report it becomes necessary for me to say that my work here as division superintendent began December 7, 1902. Since that date only can I give a detailed report of the progress made. I have a fair knowledge, however, of the difficulties experienced from the very beginning, because prior to the date of my assignment as division superintendent of Oriental Negros I was a coordinate worker in the sister province, Occidental Negros. I served there as secretary of the former division, which then comprised the province of Occidental Negros and the province of Oriental Negros as well; and later I served in the double capacity of secretary of the old division and deputy superintendent of the province of Occidental Negros.

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In beginning the first subject of my report it will be well to first take a view of the field of work as it appeared at the time of our arrival in Negros.

Practically there was no real Filipino teaching force, and it at once became necessary for the division superintendent to direct his American teachers in the work of more completely organizing this neceesary corps.

Fully as great a problem for the superintendent was the development of the American teachers placed under his supervision. It was necessary not only to develop them as workers in the Philippines, but as workers in any schoolroom, because nearly all were beginners. All of the reserve force possessed both by superintendent and teacher was called forth at once. There was also great difficulty in securing suitable schoolhouses in the several municipalities.

As to school furniture, there was none, with the exception of a few old Spanish benches, entirely unfit for the use of small children.

From time to time the attendance was hampered by cholera and other epidemic diseases.

School funds there were none until May 1, 1902, and the payment of Filipino teachers' salaries was a very uncertain thing indeed. Even now we are short of having enough money for school support. Such was the condition of things when the work of public instruction began in Negros.

We have now with us in the division of Oriental Negros an eager, ready corps of 127 Filipino teachers, who daily receive instruction from their several American

instructors. One index to what has been accomplished with this corps may be found in the fact that an English-speaking person traveling through Oriental Negros could find in nearly every town 5 or 10 efficient interpreters among the Filipino teachers working in the public schools. This can be said of the smaller, more distant towns, and in the larger municipalities the number would be increased ten-fold. Not only has progress been made in the study of English, but the common branches have been advanced as well. Modern methods of teaching have been instilled through daily contact with American instructors, and the general social well-being has been improved. A force of 127 Filipino teachers well scattered throughout the province is sure to bring about good results, especially when their daily efforts are well directed by our American teachers. It is in this way that we are reaching the masses, and in this way are the masses becoming enlightened.

At present the teaching force consists of 127 Filipino teachers, 18 American elementary teachers, and 3 secondary teachers. Since the coming of the American teachers, 1 has resigned, 2 have been transferred, 1 has died from cholera, and 1, the former deputy superintendent, was murdered in the performance of his duty, thus giving a total loss of 5 to the American teaching force since beginning the work.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

There has been marked progress in the securing of proper buildings for public schools. Since beginning the work here, 10 schoolhouses have been built outright, 7 have been reconstructed, and 8 have been repaired, while there are 3 houses in process of reconstruction. In addition to these there has been chosen the site for a large, modern, tropical-climate schoolhouse, and $1,300 appropriated for commencing work on the same in the municipality of Bais. Plans for this building are now being drafted. This school when completed will cost $3,500 and will hold 500 children. The provincial board is now about to begin plans for a schoolhouse which will hold 250 pupils. When the new revenues from this year's tax assessment are available, we shall be able to accomplish much more.

Results obtained in the way of the construction of school buildings are very gratifying indeed, especially when it is considered that in many of the municipalities the work has been performed free of cost to the school fund. In the town of La Libertad a large school, capable of seating 300 children, was constructed by the voluntary contribution of the interested people of the municipality. Several barrio schools have been built in this manner, and a good share of the repairing has been done without expenditure of school funds.

SCHOOL FURNITURE.

At first the school children were compelled to sit upon the floor, but now there is little need for this. One town for example-Siquijor. Here there was registered an average attendance of 518 last month. When work was begun in this town there were six or eight long benches, which held all the children then in attendance. Now all have seats, and benches to write on as well. At a meeting of the town council I addressed them on the subject of school support, and at the close of this talk each councilor and "barrio teniente" promised to bring in each month one bench for the public school. This promise has been kept almost faithfully, and we now have seats for all. At the end of the first month this plan secured 12 seats, and the good work has not stopped yet. The best feature of it all is that the work is being done willingly and without a cent's cost to the town's school fund. This scheme has been carried out in several other towns with like results.

SCHOOL FUNDS.

Under this heading the first thing to be written is, that Oriental Negros school funds are far below what is necessary for proper school work and development. However, we are thankful for what we have and we are trying to reap the best results possible. At present the school funds are nearly exhausted, because the time for new collections has arrived. In planning the expenditures of school money in this division last year it was expected that the 1903 collections would begin in the same month as they did in 1902. This work has been delayed somewhat on account of unavoidable causes; nevertheless, the school work will not suffer as a result, because the towns which are short of school funds are paying their teachers from other funds for the time being.

WAR 1903-VOL 7- -50

BARRIO SCHOOLS.

In this division there are now running 10 barrio schools. These are all under the supervision of American teachers, and in many of them classes are held which receive personal instruction from the several American teachers. In every case the barrio Filipino school teachers receive instruction regularly from the American teachers during the teachers' class. In some instances the barrio school buildings are very unpretentious, while in others the buildings are all that can be desired. In the establishment of barrio schools in this division it has always been borne in mind that the central schools must not suffer through lack of proper attention on the part of the American teacher, who might have too much barrio work to perform. As soon as more teachers are assigned to this division it will be possible to progress considerably along this line. Barrio schools are always supported by a large attendance, and in my opinion the barrio school system will very soon play a prominent part in giving public instruction to the people of this division.

SECONDARY SCHOOL.

The provincial secondary school of this division was established during a storm of opposition, but now this has all cleared away and good progress is being made. At the beginning the former provincial supervisor did not see the need for a secondary school, and he was not in favor of its being established. However, the school was begun with about 40 pupils, mostly from the town of Dumaguete, thus making the attendance not truly provincial in character. Miss R. E. Berry had charge during the first year.

The second year of work began with Mr. Fred J. Bailey as principal and Miss R. E. Berry and Mrs. E. G. Lee as teachers. Through the untiring efforts of Mr. Bailey a representative average attendance of over 100 has been secured. Even the most distant towns in the province are represented. The school building at present occupied by the secondary school is entirely too small to allow an increase in attendance.

The course of study is a secondary one, when it is considered that the work that is being done is far in advance of what is being accomplished in the primary schools. As yet, however, the course of study would be considered but primary work in the United States. The pupils are making excellent progress in English, reading, grammar, composition, arithmetic, geography, United States history, and spelling. In addition to this there is a well-attended sewing class for the girls, conducted by one of the American lady teachers.

On the 27th of July the provincial board passed an appropriation which provides the sum of $650 gold for the support of the secondary school, and also provides the sum of $450 gold for the beginning of a new building of light materials. It has been promised that the work of construction shall commence just as soon as the necessary plans are finished and approved by the proper authority.

NORMAL INSTITUTES.

The great need of a summer normal institute made itself deeply felt during the first year of work here, and to meet this need a very profitable normal was conducted at the end of the first year of school work. The results were at once apparent. The Filipino teaching force has by means of this instruction been greatly improved, both mentally and socially. I was not present at the time of the first normal school held in this division, but I had the pleasure of superintending the one held during the vacation just passed. Now that the several Filipino teachers have returned to their posts of duty, the progress made during the summer school is beginning to show most gratifying results. This division's normal of 1903 had 145 teachers and "aspirantes" in attendance. More could have been enrolled, but it was deemed wiser to enroll only those who were actually working as teachers and those who were in all probability about to become public school teachers.

The records of the last normal held show that the greatest progress was made in reading and composition, the progress in arithmetic taking second place. At the end of the month of normal work examinations were conducted, and I now have a complete record of the work done by each student teacher.

The attendance record was especially gratifying. There was an enrollment of 145 students, and only 4 of these dropped out before the end of school. But 4 cases of tardiness were reported, and no one who continued throughout the month was absent more than eight periods. One of the 4 students who dropped out the first week returned and attended all of the last week.

A most encouraging feature was the complete cooperation of everyone, teachers, municipal officers, provincial officials, and all.

NEEDS OF THE DIVISION.

Under this heading much could be written, but I shall try to confine myself to only the most pressing needs.

Above everything else is the need for more American primary teachers. My previous correspondence with the general superintendent gives a detailed description of just how great is this need. At this writing I would request that teachers be assigned to this division who have had normal training. From my experience with primary teachers for Filipino children, it is my opinion that, while an academic degree is a valuable adjunct, normal training is the best equipment possible for the work that is to be performed. Normal teachers have a decided advantage over the academic teachers, and in the assignment of new teachers to this division, I shall be well satisfied to receive $900 teachers of this class.

The next great need is more school money. I will not say sufficient school money, because it would be hard to know where to stop needing, but I will say that there is great need for more funds than we now have. We are getting along very nicely with what we have, but there is so often the need for using a makeshift. We have been using the convents, cockpits, "tribunals," and divers places for holding the children, and the prospect for a change is rot near at hand. The school funds are barely enough to pay the Filipino teachers' salaries. In some towns they fall short of doing even this, and the matter of improving school buildings has to be left untouched. This is not true in every municipality, because we have accomplished much in bettering schoolhouses; however, there is great need for more school money throughout the division. Gradually the convents are being turned over to the church. This also adds to the need for more school money for the proper equipment of buildings.

THE OUTLOOK.

The outlook in general is very bright. School work is progressing satisfactorily throughout the province, and a large attendance is being maintained in spite of the cholera, locusts, and famine. The Filipino teachers are becoming more and more efficient, and their work is especially gratifying. The American teachers are quite contented and are now possessed of enough experience to go about their work in a profitable manner. The public school has won its way into the hearts of the people, who were formerly opposed or else indifferent to it. Another encouraging feature is that our efforts are beginning to hear fruit. Many bright classes are to be seen, and this in itself is a great impulse for the several teachers. In conclusion I will say that we are progressing steadily, and a spirit of contentment prevails, and while we have not all that we need for our work, we are doing just the best that we can with what we have.

DIVISION OF PAMPANGA AND BATAAN.

[Report of Division Superintendent WILLIAM A. PREUITT.]

In September, 1902, the public schools were just recovering from the effects of a cholera epidemic which extended from March to October of the same year and which affected in turn every pueblo in the division. Many of the schools were not permitted by the board of health to open doors until September. Dozens of the best pupils as well as several of the native teachers, and one American teacher, Robert R. Jamison, succumed to the ravages of the disease. Indeed, throughout the entire school year of 1902–3 the scourge continued in sporadic form, causing a temporary suspension of the schools and retarding the progress of the regular school work. Notwithstanding these discouraging features, the number of schools, central and barrio, increased from 41 to 67; the number of native teachers, with their assistants, from 82 to 120; and the attendance from 3,400 to nearly 7,000, exclusive of night schools. These conditions could have been bettered had not many of the pueblos been crippled for lack of funds, which prevented them from establishing new barrio schools with native

teachers.

NEW SCHOOLS.

During the past year 15 towns have added barrio schools to the list of regular schools, the same being under the supervision of American teachers, assisted by the best Filipino teachers that could be secured. All the new schools were begun in visitas or in rented houses, but many are now provided with good school buildings built with municipal funds, with occasional donations from the residents of the barrios. The teachers are all paid from the local school funds and average about $20 Mexican per month.

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