﻿124 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



INTRODUCTION 



This study was undertaken for the purpose of determining 

 the extent to which the Spanish Government in the Philippine 

 Islands provided for the professional training of its public-school 

 teachers. It will be noted that prior to the promulgation of 

 the royal decrees of 1863 there was nothing in the Philippines 

 that could be termed public education. Previous royal orders 

 regarding education had been issued from time to time, but as no 

 provisions were made for putting these orders into effect they 

 all came to naught. 



When educational reform was finally inaugurated in 1863, and 

 thereafter, the work was carried on largely through the Jesuits. 

 The Jesuits have a well-established reputation as a teaching 

 order. After an exile of nearly a century, they were permitted 

 to return to the Philippines in 1852 upon the conditions that their 

 missionary fields be limited and that they devote a part of their 

 time to the spread of education. The Jesuits gave Spain that 

 assistance which made possible the founding of a system of public 

 education in the Philippines. The normal school was to be 

 at the head of this proposed system of instruction. When 

 the plan for the establishment of the normal school was finally 

 completed, the school was given over to the Jesuits to be adminis- 

 tered as they thought proper. The part of the Government in the 

 undertaking was merely to pay the expenses. 



This article is based largely upon original documents which 

 heretofore have not been published or translated into English. 

 Lack of space forbids my mentioning the names of many to 

 whom I am under obligations for assistance. Especial thanks 

 are due Father Marcial Sola, prefect of studies in the Ateneo 

 de Manila, for placing at my disposal the archives of the Ateneo ; 

 Father Miguel Marti, secretary of the Central Seminary of 

 St. Xavier, for courtesies extended in allowing me to examine the 

 registers and libraries of that institution; and finally to Mr. 

 Alexander E. W. Salt, instructor in history in the University of 

 the Philippines, for advice, helpful suggestions, and assistance 

 rendered throughout the preparation of this paper. 



PRELIMINARY PLANS 



On February 7, 1855, Don Manuel Crespo y Cebrian, governor- 

 general of the Philippine Islands (1854-1856), appointed a 

 commission to draft a set of resolutions for the schools of the 

 Philippines, in compliance with the royal order of November 



