A survey of the educational system of the Philippine islands by the Board of educational survey, created under acts 3162 and 3196 of the Philippine Legislature.

86 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

support will continually exceed the resources of the general government.
Also because of the extraordinary expense involved the central govern
ment will always be tempted to curtail the educational program.
If they can see the results of taxation going directly into their own
schools, the local communities will be far more willing to raise such
funds.
(2) Not only because of financial obligations'but also because of
a highly centralized form of administration the present system puts an
abnormal burden upon the central government. If this responsibility
is gradually shifted to the municipality, ability to handle school funds
will be developed. If such a large system is carried on in all of its
details by a central office, the alternative is a bureaucratic organization
which depends almost wholly upon the maintenance of rigid routine.
This condition is gradually developing today. In so large a system
and in one which is so devoted to uniformity of detail no variation can
be allowed. Such variation throws the entire machinery out of gear.
Yet without some liberty of variation there is no initiative and independent thinking on educational problems; without initiative there is
no progress.
(3) The present system puts too much power in the distribution of
funds for capital investments in buildings into the hands of the political representatives of the local communities in Manila. The close
connection between the governmental machinery and the educational
machinery is considered elsewhere. But this relationship presents the
possibility of serious evils which may easily be illustrated by reference
to conditions in several American countries.
(4) Only by granting some such responsibility can popular faith
and interest in education be maintained. One striking and commendable feature of the present situation is the great faith which the Filipino
people have in education; the pride which they have in their own
schools; and the willingness with which they sacrifice in order to provide
instruction for their children. According to the last Annual Report
of the Director of the Bureau of Education the voluntary contributions
to education amounted to P1,191,059. But this does not tell the whole
story. The entire extent of these contributions is not revealed in his
report. Lands and buildings are often given for educational purposes
and, in order to keep schools open, voluntary tuition fees are frequently
collected. Among those with whom the Commission has conferred the
opinion is quite general that, if given the opportunity, the municipalities
would very generally and very willingly shoulder a larger percentage of
the cost of the support of schools. The Commission does not advocate
any diminution of the amount which the central government now
appropriates; rather it favors substantial increase. But the people