schools has never been made without great consideration of the parents on the part of the teachers making or working the change. It is better. A stimulus is given to activity and ambition for better work, better lessons, and better behavior on the part of the pupils.

The course of study outlined by the school law has been rigidly enforced, and every successful English teacher uses the subject-matter for conversational topics to increase the child's vocabulary.

Daily lessons in the various day schools have been regulated according to local conditions. In some towns the church school interferes with the attendance in the public schools. There is a strong sentiment in this province among the parents that children should not be allowed to attend the public school till they had learned the catechism of the church. As a general rule, all children who do not know the catechism do not attend. To get these children into the public schools, where deemed advisable, morning sessions are held for four hours, as this is the time required by law. In the afternoons the American teachers have a teachers' class of two hours. This policy was put into effect in Tanay and Morong, and found very satisfactory both in attendance and work. Children will come longer distances for one long session than they will for two short sessions per day. There is less exposure of the child to the hot sun or to storms. The enrollment is doubled, and we get a hold on the child that has its after influence. The experience of the last year teaches that this matter is one to be governed wholly by local conditions.

Seven towns of this division have been practically without schools because the material that would accept positions in them as teachers were wholly without either ability or influence to build up a school. These towns are too small to send Ameri

can teachers to.

The results obtained in the day schools during the past year, considering all influences under which the schools have existed, have been in general very successful. For further development money is absolutely necessary, and that we must wait for till the land taxes are paid in September, and later.

TEACHERS' CLASSES.

The teachers' normal class has been a strong feature of the work of the American teacher. The class has been the only means of giving the native help the required training for his daily work. Schools kept by native teachers where no normal class is possible gradually shift back to old ways without method, and in some cases it has been necessary to close such schools. They give a bad impression of the public school and do more damage than good. We need good insular paid native help for such towns. Of course, an American teacher would be serviceable, but they are towns to which it is not good policy to send them. As arrangements for normal classes in these towns are impossible for some time to come, the only other means is to station some native material there who has had normal training, and who is to be paid from an outside source.

On the whole, good work has been done in the normal classes wherever held. There is a great clamor on the part of aspirantes to join the class, but the number of such is limited to a few to render it possible for the American teacher to give his attention to the native teachers in preparing the work for the next day.

NIGHT SCHOOLS.

During the school year just past the night schools have been successful in keeping an average attendance, or more, as required by law. There is a feature of the attendance upon these night schools that is, in my opinion, a perversion of the purpose intended by the Commission. In many of the towns the attendance is kept above an average of fifteen nightly by the enrollment of day-school pupils.

On and after August 1, no day-school pupils will be permitted to become members of the night school. Their time can be spent to better advantage in preparing lessons for the next day. Again, the night school is for the benefit of those over 14 years of age who are unable to attend day school.

Town officials and others who can not attend day school do not care to attend a night school in which day-school pupils are permitted to enroll. It is evident that such are outwitted by the ability in English of regular day-school pupils, and are eventually driven out of the class. Permit me to call your attention to the fact that more good would result to the public schools if the sum paid for night schools in this division were paid to efficient native teachers for day-school work in poor towns. In reviewing the work accomplished in the night school of this division during the

past year the fact is pertinent that their use is gradually becoming an unnecessary expenditure of insular funds.

It is the common opinion among American teachers that those for whom these schools are intended gain little benefit from three recitations per week, for they forget from night to night what they have learned.

The general results of night-school work is good only when inspection is based upon work of the day-school pupils in the class.

PASIG SECONDARY SCHOOL.

This school was established October 1, 1902, by the aid of the provincial board, on payment of $15, local currency, monthly for rent of 1 room in a private house, 30 by 30, for a schoolroom.

The attendance consisted of pupils from 5 towns other than Pasig and numbered about 28. Later, more towns were represented and the attendance increased monthly as follows: October, 28; November, 45; December, 66; January, 1903, 88; February, 88.

The provincial board did not favor the establishment of this school on the ground that it was too near Manila to be a success, so agreed to the expenditure of a small sum for rent till it was fully shown that pupils would come to Pasig from other towns to school instead of going to Manila for that purpose.

In November, 1902, the military abandoned Pasig as a post, when the provincial board took charge of an old building, dilapidated, and poorly roofed, which was turned over for the use of the secondary school for its home.

The building is sufficiently spacious, but it is so poorly roofed that there is not much shelter from rains. The present members of the provincial board will do all possible to properly house the school at its first opportunity when the capital of this province is permanently located and there is any money to be used for secondary school purposes.

Three American teachers formed the teaching force of the school from the time of its establishment to its close on March 6, 1903. They worked diligently and well to make the school a success, to satisfy the provincial board of the need of the school, to invite a larger attendance for the coming year, and to give satisfaction to all parties concerned. Mr. Scruton, Mr. Glick, and Mr. Laughlin are to be complimented for their untiring efforts in fully establishing the needs of the school through the attendance acquired and the standard of work done.

The course of study was somewhat limited in consequence of the unclassified knowledge of the pupils attending and the number of American teachers in proportion to the number of pupils. It was thought best to defer the detailing of another American teacher to this work till the opening of the present session. The present force of teachers consists of 3 American teachers and 1 Filipino. We hope soon to be enforced by the appointment and assignment of Miss Vitan to give a drawing course for girls. Her ability is very efficient.

The course of study at present is limited to the number of teachers. Instruction is given in English, arithmetic, geography, grammar, history of the United States and the Philippines, music, drawing, elementary manual work, and Spanish for any who are good in English. A class in conversation is a strong feature of the programme, intended to facilitate the use of new words learned. Incidentally, reading, writing, and expression are emphasized. All subjects are taught for the English expression of facts learned, in complete sentences. Composition and hygiene are inserted into the programme as half studies. Methods will be given a place, also, during the last half of the session. Each normal pupil is required to teach model lessons in the municipal school, which is held in the basement of the same building. We expect to prepare about 20 aspirantes for real work in the schoolroom next year. Excellent work was done by the American teachers during the last year, and it still continues.

SUMMER NORMAL SCHOOL.

The summer normal school of the past year was held at Pasig during the month of May. Eleven American teachers were detailed for work in the school and so reported. The attendance consisted of good material from nearly every town in the province. Four hundred and fifty applicants offered themselves for enrollment. It was soon evident that all of this number would be detrimental to the good of the Philippine teachers. After due examination, and consideration of local conditions from which they came, 300 were allowed to matriculate. There was nearly an equal representation of men and women. All paid native teachers were ordered to attend on penalty of the forfeiture of vacation salary.

Every pupil admitted did good work and profited by the privilege of attendance. Normal schools already held in this division have done more to effectively present the public school as an insular institution than any other agency. The clash of the different representations is noteworthy. The teachers return to their different towns with new ideas, with renewed energy, and an ever increasing desire to improve themselves and the school under their charge.

PROBLEMS.

The greatest drawback to the smooth running of the schools is the payment of native teachers. So much has been said on this subject that it is unnecessary to argue it further here. Unless some means is provided to make the native teacher independent of the presidentes and town officials the work done by the native teachers will always be seriously hampered by the requests (practically orders) from the town officials for changes in the control of the school, in the course of study, and in the payment of the salary fixed by the division superintendents, though such sum is within the limits of the school fund. Councils and presidentes tell the teachers that where their salaries are paid there lies the source of authority for the native teacher's guidance. And it works, too, and is blocked only on the prompt action of the division superintendent calling the teacher's attention to the source of appointment of teachers. Still the presidentes are loth to give in, and do so many times long after the school is seriously damaged or closed for want of attendance. The presidentes have many undercurrents of influence in their towns which outsiders can not sufficiently appreciate to direct or even influence. Teachers should not be subjected to this influence. They should be in a position to follow one directing influence in school affairs. The best means evident to all provincial officials of the province is that all school funds accruing from land taxes and 25 per cent of all other revenues of the town be deposited with the provincial treasurer for the payment of the school expenses of the town from which the money is collected and payable on the approval of the division superintendents. Payments can be made either on warrants issued by the division superintendent or on pay rolls issued likewise.

The second problem, that when put into effect by any town, is their present right to borrow school money for their general fund without the approval of the division superintendent or the consideration of the welfare of the public school of their town. The division superintendent of this division has been informed by the provincial treasurer of this right of the town councils. If this is true, the schools must close whenever the town council wishes a loan, for when money is needed and there is any school fund, away goes the present support of the school, to be repaid when the august council sees fit. I personally feel there is some mistake about this right of town councils. If there is not, there ought to be.

The next problem of great importance is the ignorance on the part of the division superintendent of the school expenditures made during each month, and how to enlighten him and keep him informed of the balance of school money in the town. At present, the towns report all expenses to the provincial treasurer. Reports come very late sometimes, even months late. To simplify matters for the welfare of the schools, it would be well if the towns send reports also to the office of the division superintendent, of all school expenses, at the end of each month.

RESULTS GAINED.

The public school has been established in 28 of the towns of this division, with varying success, as before stated.

The schools have been maintained with an average attendance monthly of approximately 2,400, with an enrollment of nearly 3,000, all during hard times.

The use of the school fund (with the exception of loans) is very well understood. Two thousand children are able to speak English fairly well in conversation and read and write English of the primary grade. Many others are able to understand English, and speak it poorly. I am very conservative in this statement.

An impetus has been given to the growth of the public school, and may be increased in attendance during better times and the recovery of the people from the effects of cholera, smallpox, and ladronism.

The province has a small force of experienced American teachers and a force of nearly 100 fairly well qualified native teachers.

Good day schools are in operation and supported in one-half of the towns. Also teachers' classes are doing work of vital importance to the future development of the schools.

The provincial secondary school is fully established and receives the support of the provincial authorities.

A summer normal of the first class was held, and 80 well satisfied, better trained native teachers were returned to their towns ready for work.

DIVISION OF ROMBLON.

[Report of Mr. GEORGE E. WALK, division superintendent of schools.]

Because of its peculiarly detached nature the province of Romblon is dependent on the water as a means for transportation to a much greater extent than the majority of the provinces in the Archipelago. On the island of Romblon roads traversing the mountains are found, which, however, are generally impassable for wagons. On Tablas roads connect all pueblos and barrios, and for large distances are passable for horses and carabao sleds in both the dry and wet seasons. Most of the streams on this island are bridged. The road connecting Despujol and Odiongan is passable for carts, also the one connecting Odiongan and Look. On Sibuyan also the roads are, in general, passable. No roads are found on the other islands. The coast is, however, generally passable.

The harbor of Romblon is scarcely equaled by any other in the entire Archipelago. It is splendidly sheltered and has a good dock, to which steamers of the largest draft can safely moor. Dry docks for Romblon are contemplated by the insular government. Look also has an excellent harbor, and different places providing good shelter for boats can be found on all the islands.

The resources of the province of Romblon are almost entirely agricultural. The chief products are copra, hemp, rice, and tobacco. The exportation of copra is an industry of the greatest importance. The island of Romblon itself is a veritable network of cocoanut trees, and they are found also plentifully on the large islands of Tablas and Sibuyan and the adjacent smaller islands.

Great quantities of marble are found in the vicinity of the pueblo of Romblon, some of which has been declared by experts to be of a superior quality. It has been found valuable also for the manufacture of lime, and large quantities have been burned for that purpose.

Of the islands of the province, Tablas is the largest in size and ranks first in agricultural importance.

Large quantities of rice are raised in practically all parts of the province.

It may be said, in conclusion, that with the general development of the Archipelago the potential resources of the province of Romblon will assure it a leading rank.

THE PEOPLE.

The people are Visayas, quiet and well disposed. The interest in school work is, in general, commendable. There is evidenced no overwhelming enthusiasm, but, through a precise, well-ordered, system of administration on the part of the division superintendent, good, effectual work can be accomplished.

Presidentes are, in general, according reasonably good support to English instruction. The present superintendent has encountered nowhere on the part of Filipino officials manifestations of open hostility to educational work. It must be conceded, however, that because of the lethargic temperament of the people generally constant effort is demanded on the part of the superintendent and American teachers to maintain at least reasonably large public interest. Nevertheless, whatever antipathy exists is of a purely negative sort, and the loyalty of by far the greater part of the population to the American idea is not to be questioned. Still, their physical and mental indolence is an incubus, whose amelioration is a problem of grave difficulty. The people, without being unusually progressive, are ordinarily industrious. The school children are generally quick to learn, and at least tolerably responsive to the moral influence of the teacher. Results have already been accomplished through the two years of English instruction in this division, but it is only an augury for still larger advancement.

The religious characteristics of the people are here, as elsewhere, strongly marked. The Roman ecclesiasticism has, however, probably lost considerable prestige, because of the fact that there is found not one resident padre within the province.

INDUSTRIES.

The province has few manufactures of any particular importance. In the pueblo of Romblon and vicinity are made the beautiful mats, which, for fineness of material and excellency of construction, are scarcely equaled in the Archipelago.

These mats are made from the leaves of the plant "buri," which belongs to the family of cocoa palms. It grows to the height of 8 or 9 feet and attains a diameter of 5 or 6 feet. When 4 or 5 years old the "buri" bears cocoanuts.

Good water power is found on all the islands. The opportunity for manufacturing development is very favorable, although all industries are still in embryo. If dry docks are built by the government at Romblon they will be an element of great importance in the industrial, commercial, and manufacturing development of the entire province.

In addition to the mats above described may be mentioned the great quantities of dress fabrics-some fine pina, in particular-made from the banana, hemp, and other plants.

Some valuable timber is found within the province, particularly on the islands of Tablas and Sibuyan. Ipil, narra, ebony, molave, palma-brava, camagon, and tiga are the most important species. There was, until a short time since, a steam sawmill on Sibuyan near San Fernando. Hand sawmills are found in certain pueblos. The timber is difficult to obtain, some of the most important classes being found on the mountains in places practically inaccessible.

Many valuable cattle and fine grazing lands are found on nearly all the islands of the province. Tablas and Sibuyan are particularly favorable to the raising of cattle and carabaos, because of the total absence of rinderpest, which is practically unknown in the province. The insurrections against the Spanish Government effected, of course, severe losses for the owners of these animals. The carabao is entirely domesticated, and is, of course, an essential part of the farmer's equipment. Large numbers of horses are found, particularly on Tablas and Sibuyan. They are generally of very good size and quality. The best range in price between $60 and $100, Mexican.

The methods employed in husbandry are, of course, very crude. The old-fashioned plow, with its crooked beam and iron share, and the bamboo harrow, are familiar sights.

The rice, as everywhere, is transplanted by hand. An especially valuable kind— white rice is raised on the hillsides during the wet season. Great improvement in rice cultivation could be effected by judicious systems of irrigation.

The provincial buildings in Romblon are well built and commodious. Convents and churches are found in most pueblos. The municipal buildings are generally fair structures.

SCHOOL CONDITIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES.

Romblon.-Romblon has a good, large, stone school building, equipped with American desks. The educational sentiment is reasonably strong. Two American teachers are here-Misses Bousquet and Brown. They have done very commendable work, both in the way of creating a wholesome general influence in the community and in efficient class-room instruction. Romblon is the only municipality on Romblon island, hence all educational work and effort are concentrated in Romblon itself, and all barrio children are compelled to attend there. The presidente cooperates excellently. Total enrollment, 320.

Badajoz.-Two American teachers, Messrs. Franks and Jenkins, are here. Mr. Jenkins has excelled particularly in organization and administration. Mr. Franks also has done very good teaching. Under their combined management the schools have been very well disciplined and very prosperous. The school building is well arranged and commodious, and is equipped with a considerable number of American desks. The general school sentiment is strong. Badajoz ranks high as a school town. English schools are cooperating in the barrios: Guimpucan, Cagbagacay, and Calatrava. The teachers have the moral support of the community and the hearty cooperation of the presidente. The total enrollment for Badojos and barrios is 444. Odiongan.-There is a new schoolhouse here, well equipped with American desks. Mr. O'Brian is the only American teacher. He has rendered most excellent service, and, against heavy obstacles, has built up a good school sentiment. He has the hearty support of the presidente and community. The presidente takes unusual interest in English, and can speak it quite well. Special mention should be made of the fact that, during a recent epidemic of cholera in Odiongan, Mr. O'Brian remained faithfully at his post, to render whatever assistance lay within his power. Ferol, the leading barrio, has an English school. Total enrollment for Odiongan, 374.

Look.-School here is held in the convento, which the municipality claims as its property. It is equipped with American desks. There is good general interest in educational work, the presidente cooperating fairly well. Messrs. Adamson and Meyers are the American teachers, and have done very good work in organization and administration. They have created a good school spirit against heavy odds. At the