﻿160 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



nated the contest; the Pedagogical Academy; and all the teachers who 

 contributed to this intellectual competition. 



We cannot close this short description of the pedagogical contest without 

 quoting the words of El Comercio, which show the quality of our modest 

 celebration: We consider this contest of such importance, that we thought 

 to devote a special edition to it, thinking that the celebration of yesterday, 

 by its influence upon the culture and advancement of the Filipinos, in all 

 spheres of moral development, and the stimulus it gives to public education, 

 deserves more attention than the limited applause of a mere local and 

 passing comment. 



******* 



And although the contest of yesterday has yet to show the public the 

 practical application of the varied activities discussed in the various essays, 

 yet the knowledge that there exist energy and talent among those most con- 

 cerned in primary education in these Islands, as shown in the recent contest, 

 namely, among bright young pedagogues, merits the decided help and protec- 

 tion of the government and of the public in general; and these circumstances 

 are sufficient to make us dedicate our pen to the contest. It was indeed a 

 great lesson that was taught yesterday at the Superior Normal School for 

 teachers, which was not perhaps realized by all. As the sound that it pro- 

 duced in the atmosphere echoes and reechoes to unknown limits, as a stone 

 that falls on the surface of a lake causes the waters to move in concentric 

 circles away from it, until they reach the very shore of the lake itself, so 

 will the celebration of yesterday extend its undying influence over every 

 locality in the Archipelago. It will encourage the unpretentious teacher 

 in some dark corner of these Islands to carry on with greater efforts his 

 educational work and to live up to the heights of his noble profession; and 

 as his extraordinary talents and activities are placed before the eyes of the 

 public and receive its applause, his individual efforts will be more and more 

 encouraged, and will thus contribute greatly to the welfare of his country. 

 May God, in His infinite kindness, make this first pedagogical contest in the 

 Philippine Islands the beginning of a new era of progress for the education 

 of the Filipino youth. 



THE NORMAL SCHOOL UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG 



A STATEMENT TO THE PATRONS OF THE SCHOOL 



Soon after Spanish sovereignty came to an end in the Phil- 

 ippine Islands, the following circular letter was issued by the 

 authorities of the normal school : 



This center of education, well known to the Filipino people as it now is 

 in the thirty-third year of its existence, has trained thousands of young 

 men for every province in the Archipelago, and still remains open to all 

 those who desire to avail themselves of its advantages. 



The few fathers of the society, who conduct the school, will be obliged in 

 the future, as in the past, to give its pupils a sound, moral, and religious 

 education, so that they may fulfill the desires of the Filipino people, who are 

 Catholic and intend to remain so; and second the aims of the United S 

 Government in bringing about the welfare of the country. 



Teaching will be given in Spanish, the only language in general use in 



