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.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

369

this report, there is no place in the social order for the great masses of
individuals pursuing this narrowly academic program. Although the
services rendered by those who fill the positions for which this form of
training is necessary are of great social value, the number of such positions in Philippine society is strictly limited. In the second place, if
pupils who have neither the requisite ability nor intellectual drive are
allowed to enroll in these courses, the quality of instruction is certain to
be greatly impaired. Unless those admitted are highly selected from
the standpoint of both ability and attainments, the entire work of the
school suffers and really superior achievement is not encouraged. Moreover, in the regular high school at the present time, there are not only
enrolled many individuals of inferior gifts, but pupils have been admitted in such numbers as to create a condition of hurry and congestion
that makes superior instruction practically impossible. Undoubtedly,
this situation is due in considerable measure to the very rapid growth
of the school during recent years. Nevertheless, it has tended to make
of the high school not an educational institution, but a factory for the
production of credits, diplomas, and academic insignia.
In selecting pupils for the academic high school all available methods
that have proved effective should be employed. Through intermediateschool record and through performance on attainment and intelligence
tests, pupils possessing superior intellectual gifts should be selected from
those seeking entrance. The exact weight to be given each of these
elements in determining admission is net to be set down in mathematical fashion, but they should all be recognized in reaching a decision.
In this way pupils should be selected who are able to do the work of
the school and who are likely to remain until the end of the course.
Attendance at the academic high school should be further restricted
through the use of tuition charges. Although this departure from present practice is recommended chiefly on the grounds that the limited
public funds available for educational purposes should be employed in
supporting other forms of education, it would undoubtedly serve as a
selective influence in controlling admission to the school. As we shall
suggest later, the extent of these charges should be determined by the
provincial authorities. It would seem wise, however, to make them
sufficiently high to cover the larger part of the cost of instruction.
Plant and equipment should be provided from other sources of revenue.
Under the present administration of secondary education with its overcrowded classes this would mean from P30 to P50 per pupil per
year. Under a form of administration that has more regard for
efficient instruction the charges would necessarily be somewhat higher.
There are, of course, serious objections to attaching tuition charges
to this form of secondary education. And the Commission would not
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