Public instruction is sufficiently far advanced in Filipinas, especially in what refers to primary instruction. It is strange to see that in the most remote villages, the majority of the Indians know how to read and even to write, having learned without teachers, and solely through the strength of their inclination and extraordinary patience. The public schools are better organized today, and have in charge of them teachers who have graduated from the normal school of Manila. It cannot fail to be worthy of striking the attention that almost all the boys and girls who attend the schools read Spanish without understanding it, and write our language by drawing the letters materially. Secondary education is studied in the college of San Juan de LetrÁn, created into an institute in 1820, in that of Santo TomÁs, in charge of the Dominican fathers; in the Ateneo Municipal, under the direction of the Jesuits; in the college of San JosÉ, directed by the secular clergy; and in various private schools. Superior branches are studied in the royal and pontifical university of Santo TomÁs, of Manila, founded at the beginning of the seventeenth century. It is pontifical, for the degrees which are conferred in it have canonical effect and supply ecclesiastics for determined charges, according to the bulls of Innocent X and Clement XII. It is in charge of the illustrious Dominican fathers, its founders, who fill the greater number of its chairs. With reference to the reform introduced by royal order of October 29, 1875, the studies necessary for the professions or jurisprudence and of the Church, and of medicine, pharmacy, and notary, are given in this institution. Manila has a seminary, called San Carlos, and the same is true of CebÚ and IloÍlo. The seminary in Camarines Sur is called Nuestra SeÑora del Rosario, and that of Ilocos Sur is entitled Nuestra SeÑora de la ConcepciÓn. Furthermore, there is a naval academy in Manila, another of drawing and painting, a normal school for men teachers, chairs of bookkeeping, languages, and history, and a meteorological observatory. The naval school was established in 1862, at the instance of the consulado of commerce. In it are taught arithmetic, elementary geometry, plane and spherical trigonometry, cosmography, pilotage, practical geometry applied to the construction of hydrographic maps and plans, and methods of drawing them, etc., etc. The academy of drawing and painting was instituted by the Hoard of Trade, March 1, 1849. Its classes consist of figure drawing, ornamentation, and modeling, both in nature and in colors. The normal school for the training of men teachers of primary instruction was created by royal decree of December 20, 1863, and was inaugurated January 23, 1865, under the direction of the fathers of the Society of Jesus. For young women, Manila has the beaterio of STATISTICS CONCERNING PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAccording to the Manual del viajero,
According to data sent to the Statistics Board of Filipinas, and compiled by SeÑor Cavada, PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONIsland of LuzÓn Boys.—Schools, 657; attendance, 118,652; read, 34,119; write, 25,374; talk Castilian, 2,165; ignorant, 56,994. Girls.—Schools, 439; attendance, 76,773; read, 19,447; write, 7,924; talk Castilian, 1,940; ignorant, 47,462. Visayas Islands Boys.—Schools, 325; attendance, 98,687; read, 28,003; write, 23,518; talk Castilian, 3,062; ignorant, 44,104. Girls.—Schools, 317; attendance, 84,357; read, 25,978; write, 12,817; talk Castilian, 979; can sew, 22,380. Island of Mindanao Boys.—Schools, 22; attendance, 4,769; read, 1,547; write, 1,064; talk Castilian, 114; ignorant, 2,044. Girls.—Schools, 19; attendance, 2,669; read, 763; write, 130; talk Castilian, 58; ignorant, 1,718. INSTRUCTIONIsland of LuzÓn Males.—Read, 183,394; read and write, 194,628; ignorant, 1,051,823; talk Castilian, 48,206; ignorant of Castilian, 1,381,639. Females.—Read, 174,516; read and write, 50,082; ignorant, 1,119,994; talk Castilian, 26,844; ignorant of Castilian, 1,314,748. Visayan Islands Males.—Read, 109,373; read and write, 125,187; ignorant, 628,960; talk Castilian, 21,466; ignorant of Castilian, 842,054. Females.—Read, 89,558; read and write, 49,681; ignorant, 731,240; talk Castilian, 9,019; ignorant of Castilian, 861,460. Island of Mindanao Males.—Read, 8,169; read and write, 5,733; ignorant, 62,534; talk Castilian, 76,436; ignorant of Castilian, 4,994. Females.—Read, 6,160; read and write, 1,510; ignorant, 60,721; talk Castilian, 68,391; ignorant of Castilian, 3,934. SECONDARY EDUCATIONAcademic course, 1883–84
SUPERIOR EDUCATIONAcademical course for 1883–84
By means of the incomplete data which precede, and it is a fact that they do not exist in more exact form or of more recent date in the Ministry of the Colonies, it is easy to recognize the great results which can be obtained in regard to making reading and writing general among the Indians, and in seeing that they learn the Castilian language, for only a very small fraction of them know it very superficially. Some advance has been made since the establishment of the normal school. But there is still much to do, and it is necessary that so crying a need be considered with the haste and decision that this important matter demands. The establishment of schools of arts and crafts will also be very convenient and useful, and truly they will be productive of great results. Everything which contributes to the propagation of the teaching of industries, to the creation of superintendents and assistants of public works, master-masons, and |