Comparative table of nationalities of pupils attending school in the Territory,

Ages of all pupils in all schools of the Territory of Hawaii, December 31, 1908.

Hawaiian.

Part Hawaiian.

American..

British.

German..

Portuguese.

Scandinavian

Japanese..

Chinese.

Porto Rican.

Koreans.

Other foreigners..

Total..

Hawaiian.

Part Hawaiian.

American.

British.

German..

Portuguese.

Number of teachers in public and private schools, 1908.

Scandinavian.

Chinese..

Other foreigners..

Total..

CHAPTER V.

EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The following extracts have been selected from the reports of the secretary and director of public instruction of the Philippines on account of the information they convey of the social conditions in the islands as affected by American customs and ideas, and especially by the introduction of the American school system. The documents relate to the year 1908.

The attitude of the Filipinos toward the new education is shown in several acts of the Philippine assembly, a newly formed body, whose representatives are elected by the direct vote of the people. These acts are therefore significant of the real feeling of the people in the matter. The secretary writes as follows:

The first act of the Philippine assembly and of the Philippine legislature, No. 1801-known as the "Gabaldon Act"-appropriated the sum of $1,000,000 ($500,000) for the construction of public-school buildings in the barrios, or outlying hamlets, of the islands. One-fourth of this amount was made available on January 1, 1908, and one-fourth on the first day of each of the three next suc ceeding calendar years.

*

The passage of this law by the newly formed Philippine assembly has proved of great moral support to the public-school system, and has done much to put at rest statements and arguments to the effect that public education was not really desired by the Filipino people.

Throughout the entire session of the Philippine legislature the public-school system has received the warmest support from the assembly, both as a body and individually, and the effect of this attitude on the part of men of prominence and influence throughout the islands can not but make for the improvement of the schools and the spread of popular education in the English language.

*

SCHOOL DIVISIONS.

Public educational work in the islands is now performed under the bureau of education, with a central office located in Manila, having 36 divisions, each in charge of a division superintendent, embracing in all 460 school districts, each in charge of a supervising teacher. The union of the provinces of Benguet and Bontoc in the "mountain (school) division," and of the province of Romblon with that of Capiz, reduces the number of school divisions to 36-not counting

the Moro Province. The total number of schools in operation during the past year was as follows:

Since the creation of the present bureau of education there have been constructed in these islands a total of 2,696 schoolhouses of all kinds. In the year 1903 the number constructed was 479; in 1904, 754; in 1905, 464; in 1906, 298; in 1907, 269; in 1908, 432. According to the best information obtainable there were 726 public schools in existence at the time of the American occupation of these islands. The school-construction work carried on during the years 1907 and 1908 and that at present going on is of the most permanent and substantial character, with the exception of certain municipal primary schools, which are built by the municipalities, and are, in many instances, constructed of light materials. During the last two years there were either built or purchased by the government 2 provincial high, 22 domestic science, 10 agricultural, 18 of arts and trades, 101 intermediate, and 548 primary schools, a total of 701.

On June 30, 1908, the following school buildings were either contemplated or in course of construction throughout the islands:

The teaching force maintained directly by the insular government is approximately 1,572, of whom 877 are American and 695 Filipino insular teachers. This is an increase of 51 American and 240 Filipino insular teachers over the force so provided on June 30, 1907. *

During the past school year 266 additional primary, 2 secondary, 31 intermediate, 3 arts and trades, 7 agricultural, and 13 domestic-science schools were opened.