Educational System of the Philippines under Spain

According to President Quezon: Que el sistema de instruccion publica establecido por el gobierno espanol era mucho menos eficiente que el establecido por los Estados Unidos, es, por supuesto, totalmente verdad; pero que tal sistema so1o figuraba en "el pa pel," y que los maestros y las escuelas y los alumnos tenian poca existencia real fuera de la "imagination" de los hombres que escri-bieron ese papel, esta muy lejos de ser verdad. Translation:

That the system of public instruction established by the Spanish government was much less efficient than that established by the United States, is, of course, totally true; but that such a system only appeared in "the country," and that teachers and schools and students had little real existence outside the "imagination" of the men who wrote that paper, is far from being true. 

Porque, Sr. Presidente, en epoca tan lejana como el año 1866 cuando la poblacion total de las Islas Filipinas era solamente de 4,411,261 almas y cuando el total de munieipios en el Archipielago era de 900, el total de las escuelas piiblicas era de 841 para niños y 833 para niñas y el total de niños que asistian a esas escuelas era de 135,098 y el de niñas 95,260. Y estas escuelas eran verdaderos edificios y tos almunos eran seres humanos vivos, inteligentes, despiertos. En 1892 el numero de escuelas habia aumentado a 2,137, de las cuales 1,087 eran para niños y 1,050 para niñas. He visto con mis propios ojos muchas de estas escuelas y miles de esos alumnos. No eran "escuelas parroquiales," sino escuelas creadas, sostenidas y mantenidas por el Gobierno.

Because, Mr. President, at a time as distant as 1866 when the total population of the Philippine Islands was only 4,411,261 souls and when the total number of munieipios in the Archipelago was 900, the total number of public schools was 841 for boys and 833 for girls and the total number of boys attending these schools was 135,098 and girls 95,260. And these schools were true buildings and all the coughs were alive, intelligent, awake human beings. In 1892 the number of schools had increased to 2,137, of which 1,087 were for boys and 1,050 for girls. I have seen with my own eyes many of these schools and thousands of those students. They were not "parochial schools," but schools created, sustained and maintained by the Government.

Cuan verdaderas eran estas escuelas se puede saber por el parrafo que leere directamente del Censo de Filipinas--documento de confeccion americana. Es de notar que hasta cierto punto el Censo participa del pesimismo del caballero de Minnesota respecto a dichas escuelas, sin embargo admite que las escuelas eran algo mas sustancial que las creaciones de una imagination prolifica. Despues de dar el numero de escuelas y alumnos, como dije, y de pintar las deficiencias de aquel sistema de educacioin, el Censo hace esta notable admision:

La instruccion popular alcanzo mas que un regular adelanto, evidentemente debido al talento natural, a la virtud de la raza y su precocidad y deseo de educarse, todas las cuales son cualidades caracteristicas y comunes de los jovenes filipinos.

How true these schools were, you can tell by the paragraph that I will read directly from the Philippines Census - American confession document. It is noteworthy that to a certain extent the Census participates in the pessimism of the Minnesota gentleman regarding such schools, however he admits that the schools were somewhat more substantial than the creations of a prolific imagination. After giving the number of schools and students, as I said, and painting the deficiencies of that education system, the Census makes this remarkable admission:

Popular instruction reached more than a regular advance, obviously due to natural talent, the virtue of race and its precocity and desire to educate, all of which are characteristic and common qualities of young Filipinos.

Source: Title: Discursos del Hon. Manuel L. Quezon, comissionado residente de Filipinas, pronunciados en la Camara de representantes de los Estados Unidos, con motivo de la discusión del Bill Jones, 26, septiembre-14, octubre. 1914. [Speeches by Hon. Manuel L. Quezon, resident commissioner of the Philippines, delivered to the House of Representatives of the United States, on the occasion of the discussion of Jones Bill, 26, September-14, October. 1914]

Author: Quezon, Manuel Luis, 1878-1944.

Collection: The United States and its Territories, 1870 - 1925: The Age of Imperialism https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;idno=anu3845.0001.001;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=43;size=100;page=root

March 1930 Advetisement: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/aaj0523.1930.001/99?page=root;rgn=full+text;size=100;view=image