The Industrial Teachers' Conferences, , Baguio, May, 1912

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Part of Philippine Craftsman

Title: The Industrial Teachers' Conferences, , Baguio, May, 1912
Language: English
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Fulltext: THE INDUSTRIAL TEACHERS' CONFERENCES, BAGUIO, MAY, 1912. T ilE importance of conference;; in improving existing technical and artistic standards and in extending them o\·er the broadest possible area needs hardly be accentuated in the opening sentence of this brief review of the industrial meetings recently held at Baguio. They were successful, to an extent never reached before. A wider 1·ange of topics came up for discussion, a more comprehensive insight and grasp of the present industrial policy was manifest, and the sympathy and support of workers in the field was more effectively assm·ecl. The con (erences extended over a period of six days and were presided over by the Second Assistant Director, who is in charge of the general industrial program of the Bureau. 'l'o mention all the matters discussed at the various sessions would be but to repeat the pertinent parts of the course of study treating of the industrial branches given in the different grades; to s<w that the content, meaning, and purpose of the industrial part of the course became thereby more real, intelligible, and homogeneous would also be but to state a fact apparent to all present. At the opening session the general improvement noticeable in the quality of our industrial output over that of p1·eceding years was dwelt on by the Director, and encouragement was extended to the field to work with unabated strength and ardor in its further development and perfection. Particularly, the work in basketry and fine needlework c.ame in for a warm personal tribute that will be much appreciated by those who have made this a major efrort in the industrial propaganda of the Bureau. The Second Assistant Director, but recently returned from the Cnited States after a considerable absence, commented also on the wonderful strides that had been made in all lines of industrial work given in the schools. In this respect his opinion coincides with that of many other intelligent observers and workers who absent themselves for a while and retum to find imperfect, primitive, and crude school products and JH"OCf'sses of work replaced by beautiful, finished, well-designed pieces and up-to-date methods of fabrication. At this same session :Mrs. Pearl F. Spencer, of Albay, who has made such a marked success of lrish crochet in her pro\'ince, " Tiff: 1'1//UI'I'/NE: CNAf:.'TSM.-IN explained in detail how she had introduced this line of work in the schools under her supervision. Her story was modestly told, but back of it all is to be pe1·ceived the resolution and energy of one whose mind and heart are deeply concerned in the problems that confront her in he1· vocation. Others of us who wish to succeed as she has done have but to follow her example of steudfast devotion und perseverance and see that our ideals are as practically adapted to om· SUIToundings as hers htwe been. On the second day a variety of matters were passed in rapid review. Those meriting particular mention in this connection are the subjects of corn culture and domestic science in the primary grades. The necessity for disseminating a wider knowledge of the best methods of com cullivation and the desirability of its more general use as a food have been long apparent to t ho.<~e conversant with the agricultural conditions of these Islands and the dietary of its inhabitants. By means of a bulletin, where the subject will be treated in full, and simple, intelligible directions given for its planting, care and preparation for food purposes, it is proposed to train the younger generation especially to a wider appreciation of the value and utility of corn, economically as well as dietetically. Pertinent extracts from the paper of ;\1rs. Alice M. Fuller, on primary domestic-science work, follow towa1·d the close of this review; the gist of some of the othe1· formal reports will be briefly touched on in the same manner. The session of the thi1·d day was taken up by a talk on grasses, sedges, palms, roots, etc., of industrial value, by 1\'Ir. Hugo H. :\1 iller, of the General Office. It was probably the first time that teachers in the field had ever been brought to realize the wealth of information and specimens of an industrial nature that the General Office has been gmdually collecting and classifying in its policy of being in the forefront in all lines of industr ial promotion. A report on accounting was also read and accepled; it is believed that the svstem offered will be of considerable sen·ice in introducing greater order and uniformity in the handling and sale of industrial matel"ia\s, supplies, and products. The Director of Agriculture, l\lr. F. \V. Taylor, addressed the members of the conference at the fourth session, rapidly reviewing some of the fundamental problems which his Bureau purposes'· to solve in the improvement of existing agricultural conditions, and inviting the members of the Bureau of Education to cooperate with him to this end. Those which he deemed needful of immediate attention were the following: (1) An improved Tl-/t,' JNIJL'STR/Af. T/;'ACHt,'RS' ('ONFHRENG't.'S 55 dietary for the Filipino people, to be attained Oy a wider distribution and use of seeds, pLants, and foodstuffs common to these Islands; (2) the introduction of other classes of fruit trees and better methods of cultivation of those indigenous to the Philippines; (3) more experiment stations where the best methods of plant and fruit propagntion and cultivation may be seen and studied; (4) a more widespread and intelligent comprehension of the great agricultural possibilities these Islands offer; (5) the dignification of all kinds of agricultural labor in general; (6) the establishment of school nurseries where the various proce~ses connected with planting, budding, and fruit raising shall be canied on, with assistance from employees of his Bureau. Perhaps no point of 1\• Jr. Taylor's talk was more effectively made or better !'eceived than his appeal for support and encouragement of his policy among teachers and pupi ls. Th1·ough the columns of the CRAFTSMAN we are happy to assure him that he did not add1·ess himself in vain to his listeners nor to those who may read this brief allusion to his talk. The closest sympathy and support of school workers is certain to follow all steps which the Bureau of Agriculture may initiate in its scheme of improving agricultural conditions in the Philippines. The session was brought to a close by a report on the work of the Batac school farm, by Mr. W. A. V. Wiren, who has attained marked success in its management and direction. F'l'iday was given over to the reading of committee reports, of which there were a number. That on g<lrden~ and farms was delivered by l\'11'. \V. A. V. \\'iren and was adopted as read . . \lr. J. L. Stewart presented one on imported industrial supplies which met with the general acceptance of all present. The session was brought to a close by an inte1·esting talk on Philippine designs by :\1rs. Alice T. Brezina. The subject is a com· paratively undeveloped one. and the etl"orts of the General Office to create high standards of taste and artistic appreciation in all industrial work are sure to gradually transform and improve much of OUI' work that to-day lacks certain distinctive elements, particularly those indicative of the place of origin and requisite local color. The closing session also was mainly taken up with the reading of committee reports. That on primary and intermediate industrial work was first presented and accepted, after consid· erable discussion of some points embodied in the teport. The urangement of the daily program for intermediate grades, so as to allow pupils the freest oppmiunity for commercial work, 56 THE: !'111/.J/'l'INE CRAFTS.lU.V provoked no little talk for and against, though the consen,.;u,.; of opinion appeared to favor such a plan. Information of the many insUmces in which the arrangement had worked succe.-:.;fullv was otrered and no se1·ious criticism of the plan was made. Foliowing came the report of the committee on industrial supervision and normal instruction, which was accepted without dissent. Afterwards there was some discussion on the character of the sen·ices rendered b.\' returned pensionados, which in the main was quite Ja\·orable to their training and ability as teacher,.;. A dual report was presented b~· the committee on housekeepingand household arts. one part of the committee laying great stre.-:s upon the matter of equipment and modem appliances for the best teaching of the course, whereas the other viewpoint, as voiced by its ad\'Ocale, ~Irs. Alice :\l. Fuller, favored the plan of building up and sygtematizing the work upon the basis of actual lh·ing conditions of the average Pilipino family. with such modifications and improvements as can be graduall~· effected through the improYed economic status of the parents of girl.s taking the course. A majorit~· of the persons present favored the position taken by :\Irs. Fuller. and her report was approved as presented. Another report was that on home industries, one of the most important matters with which we as teachers are concerned; for next to the successful teaching of the different industriul branches as a part of the school program is their etrective implantation in the homes of the Filipino people. Something has been done along this line, but the mission of the school in promoting industrial efficiency among the home dwellers becomes more and more apparent every day. T he question of marketing school products originated some discu,.;sion, and though n few localities where these nascent industries are well ad\·anced experience some difficulty in disposing of their products, the Director voiced the opinion that this would be taken care of through the new Sales Agency and the growing interest of ;\lanila merchants, \\'hen they shall ha\·e become more familiar with the standHrds and character of our school indm;tl"ial output. The final act of the session was the reading of the report of the committee on resolutions, thus terminating the most :;uccessful series of industrial conferences ever held under the auspices of the Bureau of Education. Teachers present \\·ere"' unanimous in expressing their appreciation of the ,·alue and importance of the conferences to themselves, and their sati,.;faction in having been able to assist in defining the industl"ial program and policy of the Bureau. Tflf: INDl"STRf..ll. TJ.:.t('!-/t;RS' CONFF:RENCI':S 57 Some of the more interesting and pertinent portions of the reports are here given . .. Girls have a distinct part in the world's work, and the u·aining: that i~ given them in the public schools should lead as surely to their life work as the tt·aining- the boys receive leads to theirs. Girls are bound to be home maket·s and mothers, and the aim of our work with them should l.e to make them complete mothers and efficient home makers. ··1 know the home life of the masses as well as any of you and I under.«tand that the bettedng of the home life is a l!"emendous undenaking. 1 know it is slow wot·k and work that will make but little showing fot· many rears. Applause ~eems to he the barometer of values and no on" does much clapping fot· the scenes of the domestic drama. Nevertheless, we who have given ~edou~ thought and stud~· to this work know that it remains for the public ~chool to supplr educators that will raise the standard of everyday right living in Filipino homes, and it is up to us to impress the thinking people of these Islands with the importance of this work and to teach them to value trul~· the work that women have to do and enlist their sympathy and help in making Filipino girls want to do this work. ''The object of the school cooking lessons is to teach the girls to prepare properly such food as they eat; to cook rice and corn and pot·k thoroughlr; to wash greens so that no insect clings to them; to boil wate1· when it's necessarr; and thing:s of this sorl. The point in cookin;r is to make the food as good as it can be made. but I would as soon have grasshoppers as shrimp cooked in the school kitchen. Untrained native women can be found to teach the ){iris cleanliness of body, house, and premises, and much of courtesy and l"ig-ht conduct; also wholesome native cookery and the makin11: of theit· own clothes. They can teach them to sweep und dust. to care for lamps, to wash dishes, to mnke stat·ch, to wash and to iron, to make pillows and comforters. And they can g:ive lessons in marketing: and economy that would astonish nn American housewife. "! would like to have the girls do some work in kitchen gardenin!(, especially g:irls who have not been broug-ht up to do the fine needlewot·k and to be confined to the hou~e. It would be no hardship and would save eyes and lung:s and be more remunerative than either lace makin)t ot· embroidery. I know there ~1re very few places where this could be done, but I think we could overcome prejudice in time . .. Another thing I should like to see estahli~hed in every pt·imary school is the school lunch; not bread and cake and pudding, but boiled corn, roasted ears and parched corn, boiled camotes and boiled bananas, hulled corn with sh1·edded coconut, rice cakes of val'ious sorts such as suman. fruit~ in season, and bananas evet·y day, mong:os and l'ice, sincama~, radishes, stewed vegetables from the school garden, with rice, fried corn mush, etc." (From paper on Domestic Science in the Primary Schools, b~· l\lrs. Alice i\1. Fuller.) "In view of the universal satisfaction that has resulted f1·om the introduction of primat·y woodworking shops wherever trained teacher~ and propet· equipment have hecn available, the committee believes that the establishment of the~e shops should be encouraged in all places where conditions are favorable. Some of the main reasons for this follow: "(a) It is conceded by educators the world over that the ~imultaneou~ Tift.' /'HIUN>JNF: CRAFTSMAN training of the hand and eye which oecurs in manual training- is of g-reat educational value. "(b) The foundation of the t rade t'Our~e should 00 laid in the primary woodworking shops. ·'(c) Boys who do not continue their course in the intermediate grades but leave school and J!O out to work find that this tra ining is of great value to them at home and on the farms and also enables them to secure positions as partially trained apprentices with carpenters, artisans and contractors." ( ~·t·om report of Committee on Pt·imary and Intermediate Industrial Work.) "Schools may well attempt in t·egular classes to tz·y out articles wh ich merchants wish to introduce so as to determine whether these articles can be made in the Philippines, whether Philippine materials can be used in them, and the wages which the workers can earn. "It is the belief of this committee that at the present time the school,.; in all localities po~sible should make articles for high-class trade. ''It is believed that the prices given to pupils for articles made by them should be fixed as closely to the market price as possible, else discouragement will ultimately result when a lower price is obtained. "It is the opinion of this committee that the commercial extension of household industries ~hould be carried on through local brokers by much the same system as now obtains in the hat and embroidery trades. It is realized that this system has its shortcomings in that it may result in the stifling of competition and the control of the workers by one man or family for the purpose of reducing the wages of the workers. It is betie\•ed, however, that this condition will be met by the education of these workers in the public schools. The effect of academic instruction is very important in this connection, but varied industrial instruction is as import-ant. Pupils and workers should be taught every step in the production of a given article and should know how to make as man~· different articles of a certain kind as 110ssible. Extt·eme division of labor will undoubtedly result in the workers' becoming mere machines at the merty of brokers, commercial a).,o-ents and exporter~. lf, however, workers are able to make seveml articles, or at least one complete article, they are less liable to control in this manner." (F1·om repoz·t of Committee on ~:;xlension of Home Industries.) "We believe that the most satisfactory method of instruction in housekeeping- is actuallr doin!!,' the work of the home in such a house as the average pupil comes from. The girls should be shown how to get the best out of what they have, and better ways of doing: what they have to do. The aim of the housekcepinj! course is to improve conditions in the house, and when we fit up a kitchen with the appliances of modern civilization we a1·e not faiz· to the ~tirls, "In all these lessons we should build as much as possible upon what the pupils already know, and let the ~iris think for themselves. Let them do the exercises first and talk about them afterwards. Give them a name when they know what they want a name for, and an explanation, only when it really means something to them; let us not cram them with a multitude of facts. In judging the work, the teacher should consider neatne~s, rapidity, and the beauty or the finished product, but most of all the educational value of the ll'oz·k to the j!i!'! and ju~t what u~e she can make of the lesson. ''The ideal way of teaching the git·ls would be to work in the individual homes; but as this does not seem practicable in connection with our schools, the teacher of housekeeping: will find that she comes into much closer contact with vital matters if she meets her pupil~ in a house a.o; much as possible like those in which they actually live. "The house in which the work prescribed should be done should be an ordinat·y dwelling house. Three rooms are nece,;sat·y and four are better: one for the kitchen or laboratory where all the kitchen work except individual cooking is done, a small cookroom, a sala, and a bedroom and dressin~ room combined. The cookroom is almost a necessity, where individual cooking lessons are given; numerous charcoal tires burnin~ in a room make it so hot, smoky, and uncomfortable that the doinJ,!; of .~atisfactory work there is out of the question . .. The school kitchen ~hould be an ordinary Filipino kitchen like the others in the town; but it must be clcnned and whitewashed, and must have plent,v of chloride of lime sprinkled under it. The attention of the g-irl~ should be called to the necessity of maintainin){ such conditions. The~· should be made to understand the adv;mtages thus Kained; and if those conditions do not already exist in their own homes, they should be encouraged to ~Jstablish them there. The blue-flame oil stove and tho, fireless cooker may bt• introduced and their use encoura){ed, if the teacher ~o desires. "The principal kitchen furniture should be zinc-covet·ed wot·k table~. a tight!~' rovct·ed garbaKe can, the necessar~· cookin~ utensils, and the Filipino stove with chimney and hood and da~· oven. As to the cookinl! utensils, let the 1.drl~ tell what is•neces~ary; that is, what the avemge family uses at home. !l ave enouJ,!h of these utensils fot· the class to work with; and aftet· they have been tau){ht how to use in the best way the thi n ~s to which tlwy are <H'cu,;tomed, add to these thing-s as the girl" feel the need " If colt\enient, there ma~· be a separate bedroom. Every possible effort should be put fol'th to arouse in each girl <I desire fot· privacy ant! for a bedroom of her own. Such desires may live in her heart and he\]J het· granddaughter to make many chanbreS in her home life. However, ,;ince families of this country will probably not adopt this custom fot· some time to come and ~ince most of the people are bound to sleep on the floor, out· immediate dutr is to help the girls to find the most healthful way of doing so . .. Every step in the work should be toward inc reasin)!' the nece~sitie» of the people; but action must be based upon what they already have, and increase in their necessitie~ must come gradually as they feel the need of something different." (From the minority report of the Committee on Housekeeping and Household Art~.) "Since it is believed that great efforts should be made to inct·ea,;e the production of corn in the Islands in order to increase the food supply of the people, the committee recommends that corn growin~ contests b• instituted during the coming year in every locality where possible. These contests should be catTied on in a systematic manner, every boy should be encouraged to take part and suitable awards should be given to the winner~.' (From repurt of Committee on Gardt>ns and Farm~.)