﻿ix. d, 2 Cain: History of the Spanish Normal School 163 



Vocal and instrumental music. 

 Drawing of every kind. 

 Hygienic gymnastics. 

 Meteorology and seismology. 

 General principles of fine arts. 



In sending out the above-mentioned prospectus, Father Torra 

 inclosed the following circular letter: 



The change that is taking place in the social and religious life of the 

 Philippines makes every day more necessary the maintenance and multipli- 

 cation of Catholic teaching centers of all kinds and grades, which may 

 deserve particular confidence. On the other hand, the attitude of the Gov- 

 ernment of the United States on the subject of education in this country is 

 unknown. We cannot tell how they will regard institutions that have not 

 been established by the Government, and are therefore unofficial, or what" 

 value they will attach to the degrees won in these institutions, and what 

 requirements they will exact in the future. 



The Jesuit fathers, who claim by the help of God to have done some little 

 good in the Islands, through the sound instruction and Christian education 

 which they have given for many years in the Superior Normal School, are 

 anxious to continue at work, if this is for the good of the country. They 

 hope that the Government will recognize the value of their work. Up to 

 the present, the great majority of those who have obtained the degree of 

 schoolmaster in the normal school have used their education both to teach 

 and to obtain dignified positions. 



This being so, I am sending you the inclosed prospectus, in order that, 

 if you think fit, you may show it to all parents of your acquaintance, whom 

 you think may be interested, because the more pupils the normal school 

 obtains, the more consideration it will secure: it will be able to interest the 

 Government and the general public of these Islands, and more thoroughly 

 diffuse the Catholic faith. 



A STATEMENT TO THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION 



In September, 1900, the director of the Superior Normal 

 School addressed to the Philippine Commission the following 

 exposition : 



The object of this establishment is the creating of suitable teachers to 

 fill the position of schoolmaster in the public schools throughout the Phil- 

 ippine Archipelago. It was founded by the Spanish Government and in- 

 augurated on the 23d of January, 1865. 



The course covered three years, and included all those subjects usually 

 taught in the primary schools. In 1893, an extra course was added to 

 amplify the knowledge of the teachers and equip them for giving superior 

 primary instruction. By virtue of this improvement, the school was raised 

 to the category of a superior normal school. Since the last course was> 

 completed, the study of the English language has been added in all classes, 

 including those in the school of practice. This school of youth is associated 

 with the normal school, and in it the future masters are exercised in the 

 practice of teaching. 



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