Academic Year 1967-1968, Unit 11: Other Island Dependencies and Trusteeships Page: 8
This pamphlet is part of the collection entitled: National WASP WWII Museum and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the National WASP WWII Museum.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SOME SELECTED COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIFS IN THE PACIFIC
other hand, after World War II, after they had
become accustomed to a cash economy, many of
the people had become dissatisfied . . . and be-
gan clamoring formore education and more eco-
nomic opportunities. . . . A good share of the
population, as they got out of grade school, went
on to the United States to live with relatives or
friends to try to better themselves. Unfortunately,
we had not done too good a job in education. Our
elementary system had room for everyone, but we
did not have a single certified teacher in the
whole system. These were mostly native teachers,
poorly trained. They were teaching in English and
many could barely speak English themselves. The
result was not very encouraging. . . . Our first
job was to try to improve the system of education.
. . . Congress and the executive branch have
been very good to Samoa since I have been there.
Every request [for assistance] has been granted.
We have been able to start a development pro-
gram that has completely changed the educational
system. . . . Within a year after I arrived, we
had enough high school seats to seat every child
that graduated from the elementary school system.
We have been working since that time on im-
proving the elementary system.'e have installed
an educational TV system and we are doing
our direct teaching by educational television.
It has been in operation since October of
this year and it has been highly successfulWe
are just starting to extend it to the high school
system. We think when this is completed and
when our school plant system is completed, which
it will be by this fall, we will have one of the
most up-to-date systems of education anywhere in
the world. We . . . and the Samoan people are
very pleased with it.
In the same report, Governor Lee told of other
advances that have been made during the first 45
months of the development program:
A jet airport had been completed. Its modern
terminal was an attractive example of Samoan
architecture.
Highways had been improved. A good paved
road running the full length of Tutuila was being
completed, and work on feeder roads was al-
ready under way.
The island had been electrified. This was be-
ginning to correct the former feast-or-famine
way of life which had brought abundance when
the weather and fishing were good, but famine
when fishing was poor. Malnutrition was already
less of a problem than it had been only a few
years earlier.
The harbor had been improved. In the Pago
ago Bay area, a sanitation system to take care
wastes and a substantial program of water de-
Alopment, needed because of industrialization,
had been started.
In the field of health, the greatest remaining
problem was filariasis, which causes the dreaded
elephantiasis. But a program to eradicate this
disease was being completed. The solution forthe only other major health problem-intestinal
parasites-was expected to lie in the new sanita-
tion systems in the Pago Pago Bay area. Plans
for a modern hospital building were already be-
ing drawn.
Some economic development had also been
achieved. Between 1954 and 1961, the only
source of outside employment was one privately
owned fish cannery. By 1965, a second private
cannery had been opened and had greatly in-
creased the private payroll. Under construction
was a coconut processing plant to dry and pack-
a . fresh coconut grown in Western Samoa.
Y Recognizing tourism as their brightest hope for
attracting moneys from outsiders, the islanders
had begun a beautification program and had
formed a corporation, fully Samoan owned, to
build a large luxury hotel.
Governor Lee reported that other islands in
the Pacific are watching these developments in
Samoa with great interest to see whether the
rewards go to the Samoans or to someone else.
This interest on the part of peoples from other
islands created a problem for American Samoa
by turning it into a mecca for other Pacific is-
land people. So many people from Western Sa-
moa and the Tokelao Islands wanted to move in
that American Samoa had to establish some
severe immigration restrictions.
American Samoa has truly become a showcase
in the South Pacific, a window in which the
United States can display the remarkable strides
being made by a formerly isolated people who
are now moving toward self-government and a
stronger economy.
On President Johnson's trip to the Far East
in October 1966, one stop was in American
Samoa. While there he commended the islanders
on their efforts and achievements. Among his re-
marks were the following:
. . . the people of the United States share my
pride in what American Samoa had done to
prove that destiny is really what we make it. . . .
American Samoa has taken the term of 'self-help'
out of the bureaucrats' dictionary and made it a
living language for their people. You have doubled
the per-acre yield of your crops. You have sharply
reduced the diseases that once plagued your island.
And this month you will begin construction of
the American Samoan Tropical Medical Center
which will provide the finest hospital care in this
part of the world. You have almost eliminated
childhood malnutrition. . . . You have recognized
that education is the tidal force of our century
. . . . the pilot program of education which you
have started may point the way to learning break-
throughs throughout the Pacific islands and South-
east Asia. Samoan children are learning twice as
fast as they once did, and retaining what they
learn. . . . One requirement for good and universal
8
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This pamphlet can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Pamphlet.
Air University (U.S.). Academic Year 1967-1968, Unit 11: Other Island Dependencies and Trusteeships, pamphlet, January 1967; Georgia. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1009962/m1/12/?q=%22~1~1%22~1&rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting National WASP WWII Museum.