On August 14, 1901, a requisition was made on the purchasing agent for the following text-books and supplies: 10,000 Baldwin's Third Readers. 1,000 ink tablets, Barbour's black, each to make 1 gallon ink. 200 gross Andrew's cotton felt blackboard erasers. 500 clocks, 12-inch dial, eight-day strike, C regulator Ansonia clocks. 4,400 combination school desks, as per specifications submitted. There was at that time an available appropriation of $2,400 to pay for the readers, $3,315 for supplies, and $20,000 for desks. In the estimate for the next quarterly appropriation for this department, now before the Philippine Commission, appropriations are asked for as follows: School books...... School supplies.. School furniture.. $26,650.00 19, 337.50 75,000.00 From these appropriations it is purposed to purchase the following articles: RECAPITULATION. Cost of school books received since January 1, 1901. NOTE.-Bills for the above partly paid and partly in process of adjustment. Cost of articles for which requisition has been made on insular purchasing agent: School books.. School supplies.. School desks (school furniture) NOTE. The amount for school desks is estimated first cost, to which transportation is to be added. Estimate has been made for the fourth quarter, 1901, in the following amounts: School books.. School supplies.. School furniture.. $133, 510.00 37, 271. 48 2,400.00 3, 315.00 17,600.00 26,650.00 19, 337.50 75,000.00 315, 083.98 The following instructions were sent out to division superintendents, supplementing verbal instructions previously given: To Division Superintendents: MANILA. P. I., August 1, 1901. Division superintendents should make themselves acquainted with the educational bill (No. 74) the Municipal Code (No. 82) and the amendments (No. 132) to the Municipal Code. Act 74 constitutes at present the laws and regulations in force relating to public schools and instruction in the Philippine Islands. Under section 3 (m) of this act, the general superintendent is empowered to "prepare and promulgate rules adopted to carry out this law and not inconsistent with its provisions." PRIMARY INSTRUCTION FREE. SECTION 1. It is forbidden any teachers to accept fees for instruction given in public schools during school hours. The system of fees is to be abolished, and there shall be no sales of school supplies furnished by this department. REGARDING MILITARY AUTHORITIES. SEC. 2. The supervision and control of the schools of your respective division are invested in you, subject to the direction of a general superintendent. As far as possible accept assistance and suggestions from the military authorities. Detail of soldiers may be requested from military officers who have an interest in school matters. THE NAUTICAL SCHOOL. The nautical school is directly under the control of this department. This school offers a free education to residents of the Philippine Islands in such professional studies as will equip the cadets to perform the duties of masters and officers of merchant vessels. For course of study apply to superintendent of Nautical School, No. 79 Calle Sants Elena, Manila, P. I. THE PRIMARY SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION. The subjects of study for the elementary schools may embrace reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, history, physiology, music, drawing, physical exercise, manual training, and nature studies. Instructions in the English language shall take first place. Teachers are forbidden to teach any study not authorized in public schools during the legal school hours. SCHOOL DIVISIONS AND HEADQUARTERS. SEC. 3. There shall be for the present the following divisions and headquarters: The school year shall be in session at least nine months, and during each year there shall be a month's normal training course for Filipino teachers in each division. Teachers of English shall be required during their first year of teaching to give instruction in a normal training course, and afterwards every other year. The school day shall be at least five hours in length, and shall be divided into two sessions. One hour a day, wherever there is an English teacher, shall be devoted to instructing Filipino teachers in English, the common branches and educational methods. The school month shall consist of twenty days of actual teaching, "accepted" holidays excepted, but no school shall be opened on any Saturday or Sunday. The division superintendents are asked to report upon the holidays that are being observed in the schools of their divisions. The American national holidays and ten church days are now being observed in Manila. THE PURPOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT IN BRINGING TEACHERS FROM THE UNITED STATES. It should be made perfectly plain to the Filipino that American teachers are being brought from the United States for the purpose of erecting and putting into operation a school system patterned after the American plan, of introducing the English language, and giving instructions in educational methods. No Filipino teacher is to be discharged from any position he may now hold, except for immorality or incompetency. The Filipino teachers are to be given every opportunity for improvement. Instead of being a menace to his livelihood, the department of public instruction holds out promises of better things to every native teacher who avails himself of every such opportunity and proves himself fully capable of giving skilfully all school instruction in English. No attempt will be made for the present to examine and reclassify the native teachers. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. As far as possible, the Filipino principals should attend to the enrollment and attendance of pupils and to all details of school management. Where practicable, rooms should be set aside for the sole use of the American teachers. In reorganizing the schools, the division superintendents should work out with the Filipino principals daily programmes showing the order of studies and the time to be devoted to each subject. Clocks will be supplied the schools and strict obedience to the daily programme is to be enforced. PATRIOTIC EXERCISES AND SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS. Flag Day, Independence Day, Washington's birthday should be observed. Exercises of a patriotic character should be arranged for and in every way parents should be encouraged to come to the school. Let there be frequent "exhibition days" with spelling matches, pupil speaking, physical drill, etc. The school should be an object of pride to the community. Every school will be supplied with a flag. School decorations should receive some attention. Perry's one-cent reproductions of the works of the masters are very suitable for decorations. SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Division superintendents are directed to require the safe-keeping, care, and preservation of books and other supplies furnished by this department. Teachers shall keep such supplies under lock and key. Division superintendents are asked to report to this office the number of strong boxes with locks that are needed in their divisions. They are to consider the advisability of providing covers of paper for the text books. Teachers are to receipt to this department for all school supplies sent them and the pupils to whom they are issued to be held responsible until they return the books. EVENING SCHOOLS. American teachers are to be paid an additional monthly salary of $15 for every instruction, provided the total salary received by any one English teacher shall not exceed $125, the maximum salary allowed by law. Evening instructions shall amount to at least one and one-half hours on three alternating evenings in the week and there must be at least twelve persons in regular attendance. TEACHERS' MONTHLY REPORTS. Filipino and American teachers shall, without exception, report monthly to the division superintendents under the various headings of enrollment, attendance, progress made, explanations, remarks, etc. Brief monthly summarizing reports of the teachers should be made by division superintendents to this office. Special blanks should be used in reporting school enrollment and attendance. LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS. Members of the local boards should be directed to make a close study of article 9, which prescribes the duties of the superintendent of the division; article 10, which regulates the manner of forming local school boards; article 13, which treats of religious instruction. It is left with each division superintendent to determine when he and the councilors shall proceed to elect members for a particular municipality and whether four or six members shall constitute the board. SUPPORT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Municipal officials and others should understand that the General Government pays the cost of supervision, English instruction, and school supplies, and that the municipal government must provide suitable buildings and furniture and pay salaries of Filipino teachers. It is difficult to secure financial aid for the poorer municipalities, but the General Government in a few instances contributed to the payment of native teachers. Many municipalities will lack sufficient funds to sustain schools until they are able to realize the taxes provided for. Their municipal councilors should be urged to collect the taxes on land and improvements and one-half of 1 per cent, the maximum rate allowed by law for schools. This will place the towns in a position to meet the expenses of their schools and attend to the construction of schoolhouses. The following circular has been sent to all teachers now in the field: CIRCULAR. MANILA, P. I., October 1, 1901. To all Teachers: Teachers are required to be at their respective schools fifteen minutes before time of opening sessions, and, except in cases of extreme necessity, must not leave their posts until close of school. Absence from station can be permitted only on express permission of the division superintendent, or the general superintendent, in his absence. In case of unavoidable absence on account of sickness or other cause, such absence must be immediately reported to the division superintendent, stating duration and cause. Reports are coming in that a few teachers are not attending their schools regularly, and it is earnestly requested that all teachers be careful of the regularity of their attendance as a protection to the reputation of the whole body. DIVISION SUPERINTENDENTS. Division superintendents of schools have been assigned as follows: Provinces included. City of Manila. Island of Cebu. Island of Bohol. Islands of Leyte and Samar. Mindanao, Jolo, and Calamianes. Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes. Pampanga, Bulacan, and Bataan. Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales. Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Principe, and Infanta. Ilocos Norte, Abra, and Bontoc. Cagayan and Isabela. Cavite, Tayabas, and Batangas. Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, and Mindoro. Each teacher must render monthly reports to the division superintendent in charge of his or her district, on blanks to be furnished by the division superintendents. These regular monthly reports will not be rendered to deputy division superintendents unless hereafter ordered. SPECIAL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER. Instructions have been sent to the division superintendents to make an especially complete report of school matters for November. It is urged that the various teachers give the division superintendents all the assistance possible in this matter, as these reports will form the basis of the annual report of this department, and it is desired to obtain reliable figures on school enrollment, attendance, number of teachers (native and American), number of days' school, number of school buildings, financial support by municipality in payment of salaries, rentals, or buildings. COMMISSARY. By Act 242 the Philippine Commission has made provision for furnishing food supplies and other necessaries of life at reasonable prices to the employees and servants of the various departments of the insular and provincial governments, including all teachers outside of the city of Manila. The chief of the Philippine constabulary is placed in charge of this supply, and has sent communication to the senior inspector of constabulary in each province, in substance as follows: "It is requested that you ascertain the wants of all the civil officials in your province, as far as practicable, and make requisition for the same to the commissary, Philippine constabulary. The sales will be cash and the prices will include transportation to the distributing point of each province, which for the present is your station. All stores purchased by officials will be specifically for use of said officials or their families, and any deviation from this will cause the culpable persons to forfeit their purchasing privileges. * The prices, with transportation, will for the present be 20 per cent above first cost price in Manila. * * "Officials from any part of your province may order direct, but their purchases will for the most part be shipped with bills for same through you. If these purchases are not prepaid here you will hold the officials responsible for cash payments at your station; if prepaid here, they will be shipped as far as practicable to the station of official making purchase. A copy of this communication has been sent by the chief of the constabulary to each division superintendent. Orders for supplies may be sent through the division superintendent to the senior inspector in each province, or may be sent direct, if the address of the inspector is known. All commissary purchases are strictly cash. Assurance has just been received that the first supplies will be ready for shipment in a few days. PAYMENT OF CHECKS. An act has been passed directing that provincial treasurers and postmasters cash checks of school-teachers and other officials upon presentation, without discount or charge, when same can be done without serious inconvenience. The ratio of exchange fixed by the Commission is $2 of local currency for $1 of United States currency. Exchange at any other rate is illegal. |