Clean-up week in Oriental Negros

Title

Creator

Willis, L. P.

Language

English

Year

1916

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

CLEAN-UP WEEK IN ORIENTAL NEGROS. As the work accomplished during clean-up week in 1914 re ceived much favorable comment from the people, few difficulties were encountered in securing the hearty cooperation of officials and townspeople of Oriental Negros for its proper observance in 1915. Every town, and practically every barrio, in the province joined eagerly in making the week a success. In promoting interest in the event, Honorable Felipe Tayko, provincial governor, took an active lead. Early in November, a meeting was called in which the heads of the various departments and Bureaus of the Government, Insula’r and provincial, partici pated. A provincial committee was organized for conducting the campaign for the whole province. Plans were formed, and instructions were sent out to all municipal officials for the organ ization of municipal and barrio committees. The same general plan was adopted by all municipalities. The municipal president took the lead, committees were organized, and the municipality was divided into districts, each district being under the super vision of a committee member. He in turn parceled out the district, and appointed an inspector for each subdistrict. These inspectors visited the houses in their respective districts every day, reporting on a blank form the comparative condition of the premises each day. These inspection reports were submitted at the end of the week. Model of blank form. A spirit of emulation was aroused in the various towns and barrios. Not only individuals, but communities vied with one another in getting the most “clean-up” work done during the week. 289 290 THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN THE SCHOOLS’ PART IN CLEAN-UP WEEK. As in every other social feature, the schools played a prominent part in this. Not only were schoolhouses and grounds cleaned and put in good condition, but streets surrounding the schools, and in some towns the municipal plazas, were cleaned by the school children. In addition to this, supervising teachers and principals served on the local committees and acted as inspectors. Prior to clean-up week, teachers explained to the pupils what was to be done during the week, and how and why it should be done. Pupils were urged to clean their own houses and surround ings. A great deal was accomplished in this respect, even small children taking up the work of cleaning around the houses. The people cleared away rubbish heaps, dug ditches, and drained pools. In many instances, flowers and shrubs were planted, and fences and buildings were repaired. Teachers and larger boys were detailed as inspectors of pupils’ homes. The week was observed in one of the towns as described below: The town was divided into 14 districts, and for each district two schoolboys from either the fourth or third grade were ap pointed as inspectors; all male teachers were appointed as general inspectors. Before the clean-up week, the boys cleaned half of the road and dug ditches around the school grounds. The girls cleaned the inside of the schoolhouse and the domestic-science cottage. On the last day of the week, the teachers and municipal officials made a general inspection of the town. THE PROVINCIAL SCHOOL. The provincial school played an active part in clean-up week in the town of Dumaguete. In addition to being required to care for his own premises, each student of the secondary and inter mediate courses, was assigned the duty of instructing five heads of families of Dumaguete with reference to the meaning of the week, and of requesting their cooperation. The names of these five families were reported to the principal. In most cases, these instructions and requests were received favorably. At the request of the municipal officials, a large number of boys of the provincial school were detailed as inspectors of dis tricts throughout the town. The provincial school grounds, and the surrounding streets were cleaned and put in good condition. As a result of clean-up week, schools, streets, and plazas were made more sightly; homes were put in a more sanitary condi tion ; and parents as well as children received valuable instruction in civics and in sanitation.

Media