Hide Article Text (OCR)
MISS PAUL IN ADDRESSES DF HEIM TYPEMiss Matilda Paul, of Iowa City, newly-returned from the Philippines, where she has been teaching successfully in recent years, was graduated from S. U. I. in 1920.Before she returned to her alma mater, she made it a point to visit Egypt, India, the Holy land, and other foreign countries, to add to her store of general knowledge, through personal Investigation.Appreciating this fact, numerous Iowa City organizations have asked the talented alumna to lecture before them on diversified themes.Sunday morning, November 11th, she will address the Junior church of the Christian church, speaking on Jerusalem.This afternoon she spoke to the Missionary society of that church, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jerrie L. Plum. Her subject was missionary activities overseas, especially in India.Yesterday, she addressed the Normal club of the Iowa City high school. Naturally, education was her principal theme, and she treated T^e Public Schools of the Philippines/'In the course, of her Instructive talk, she revealed the following interesting facts, among many others:School Changes In Islands. iDuring the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, there were al- ! most no public schools, and such 1 as there were charged tuition. Most of the schools of that time were Catholic Mission schools, in monasteries and convents. Most of the instruction was religions.Natives Afraid of Whites .With the American occupation, as soon as war tacivities ceased, the army took over the problem of education. Capable soldiers ( were selected and assigned a* | teachers. Most natives could 1 speak neither English nor Spanish and were very much afraid of the white people Consequently they , did not flock to those first sehobts j as they do now to the public , schools. In fact, the soldiers had to go out Into the country, capture ] them, bring them back to camp as prisoners, guard them constantly . to prevent their escape, and then . try to instruct them.Problems to Solve. ,After a few months of training . the Filipinos became teachers. As . a result of this hasty schooling, a- ‘, correct pronunciation and ineor- . rect phrases remain today in the , Philippine-English tongue. They 1 don't speak English, they speak . Philippine English. I couldn’t understand my H. S students at , first, and they couldn’t understand . me. But after a ocuple of months 1 of association, we learned to understand each other. It is almost impossible to change their pronunciation in high schol, after they -have been so thoroughly drilled ■ by their Filipino teachers, in the . grades.Modeled After America.The present school system is modeled after ours* as it was 20 years ago, with a few omissions. The grades are divided into three divisions— primary, intermediate, and high schools. If a pupil passes a grade each year, he can complete the lower grades in seven years. However, 15 to 20 per cent of each grade fail to pass every year. The Mgh school takes four years.At the present time most pupils enter the first grade at the age of five, six, or seven, hut some up to the age of ten can still be found When they enter school they be-?gin to learn English. At home most Filipino speak the tribal dialects, and very few have parents that can speak English. A few have ^fathers who know English but the mothers do not - Patriotism is Taught.The exercises at tne opening of . school, daily, include the raising , of the flags of the United States and the Philippine Islands—the ■ children marching to their class- , rooms, singing “The Star Spangled J Banner.Men teachers are in the majority , throughout tne schools. The Fill- , pino teachers have plan books pre- ; pared by the department of education.Annual official examinations test passing ability—and each pup’i : must average 75 for all subjects with no subject below 60. lt;The examination is a time of nervous anxiety, stress and worry, ( the pupils trying to cram by memorizing the text books aloud.Many Branches Taugh.The schools study English, the ; Three R’s”, composition, history (United States and Philippines), • baskutry, manual work, gardening, ; sewing, embroidery, and cooking. ,
Newspaper Details
Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Iowa, US
Wed, Nov 07, 1923
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WI, USA 12 Feb 2024
Other Publications Near Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa Citizen
Daily Iowa State Press
Iowa City Daily Citizen
Iowa City Citizen
