St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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ARE THE FILIPINOS EDUCATED? 15 in contact with thousands of people, said: The Filipinos are not an ignorant people. Their intelligence and educa- tional progress are apt to be underestimated because of failure to understand them. Nearly every adult can read and write in the Tagalog or Viziyan dialect, while the natives of the cities and villages, in addition, can read and write the Spanish language. Moreover, most adults know something of arith- metic, geography, and history. I was surprised one day, on questioning the driver of my quily, an ordinary poor boy of eighteen, to find that he had studied geometry and had made very material progress. They are not so much different from other people. Their customs, habits, hopes, and aspirations are deep-seated. Their leaders are shrewd, bright men of much abilityg the masses are earnest in their loyalty. When the Americans first arrived in the Islands in 1898, the schools were practically closed everywhere because of the revolution. However, the work of the Spanish schools which had existed for two and a half centuries before, made pos- sible the immediate introduction and rapid development of the present English schoolsg for, the Spanish system, incom- plete as it may have been when measured by the present- day standards, was more efficient than that of any other colony in the Orient. English has been the language of instruction in the public schools since 1899, and is the ollicial language today. Except the Spanish descendants, and those who speak Spanish only when they are in formal gatherings Where the Spanish language is required as a matter of form and custom, or when they are engaged either in private or oflicial business where Spanish is used as a matter of neces- sity, the Filipinos speak, as their mother tongue, several separate and distinct dialects of Malay origin.

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14 THE IGNATIAN national hero, Fathers Burgos, Gomez, and Zamora, the three most intellectual Filipino priests, and many other Filipino reformers, tried to better the conditions of their countrymen, the Spanish authorities in the Islands put them to death as traitors. But before Dr. Rizal died he said, What is life to me? I have sown the seeds and others are left to reap. Summing up the educational accomplishments of the Fili- pinos under the Spanish soveregnty, the Philippine census of 1903 states that notwithstanding the adverse circumstances surrounding the ambitious youths of the Philippines during the regime, many of them have given proof of their ability and sincerity, and have become renowned in the fields of moral and political science, the arts, and, in a word, in all branches of human knowledge, and have been and will con- tinue to be-until the rising generation comes-the hope of their nation to the legitimate glory of their country. Admiral Dewey, after studying Philippine conditions dur- ing the Spanish-American War, spoke of the Filipinos as follows: In my opinion, these people are far superior in intelligence and more capable of self-government than the natives of Cuba. I am familiar with both races. General Merritt, on his arrival in Paris, in October 1898, was reported as saying: The Filipinos impressed me very favorably. I think great injustice has been done to the native population ...... They are more capable of self- government than, I think, the Cubans are. They are con- sidered to be good Catholics. They have lawyers, doctors, the men of kindred professions, who stand well in the com- munity, and bear favorable comparison to those of other countries. They are dignified, courteous, and reserved. fofarlsltlll Eggtlchg of the Eighteenth Infantry, after serving year in the Islands and being brought

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16 THE IGNATIAN The following tabulation by the Bureau of Education sets forth the unit system of education, in which each unit completes the school training for a definite station in life: No. The Units of CCourses years What is this person good What is he worth as a completedl in for? citizen? school F1533-gary, 1 A literate laborer A literate citizen Primary 4 Intelligent worker The boy is educationally well-qualified for franchise. The girl is trained in the care of the home Intermediate 7 A well schooled person, The boy is educationally trained for a good station qualified for local leadership. in life The girl is a good house- keeper and will make a real home Secondary 11 Educated and fitted for Qualified for leadership in an efficient, intelligent ca- political, social, economic, reer and domestic affairs Uniersity 13 Fitted for the highest po- Educationally quafiied for the to sition, professional, com- highest office the people have 17 mercial, or industrial to give for national leader- ship in political, social and economic affairs Some features of the public school system are: Grade courses-primary, intermediate, secondary, and universityg balanced curriculum-academic, vocational, physicalg dif- ferentiation of work for boys and girlsg specialization in the intermediate grades. To meet the needs of pupils who will probably receive no education beyond the four grades of the primary course, practical instruction in hygiene and sanitation, training for citizenship, moral education, education in home-making, in- dustrial and vocational education, and physical training are given. Upon the hypothesis that individual economic independence is the basis of citizenship, every pupil in the elementary grades