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.

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UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

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their fifth year in increasing their knowledge of mechanical and electrical-engineering subjects, in broadening their knowledge rather than
deepening it in one line. Whether this be accomplished in the fifth year
or, through reorganization of the curriculum, it be introduced earlier, the
Commission heartily approves the practice. In any country the forms
of technical training which can best be utilized either in public works or
leading industries should receive first consideration. The Philippines
have only comparatively recently started upon a career of industrial expansion and of Government construction enterprises. The Islands
need, above all, at the present time the all-around technical expert of
sound practical judgment. These remarks are inserted here because
the Commission understands that the University Committee on Graduate
Study views with disfavor the granting of the master's degree for the
kind of work hitherto done in the fifth year of the College of Engineering.
It requires that in the future there be specialization in some particular
branch of the course taken by the student. If to conform to such a
regulation more men and money are needed, it would seem that they
could better be used to ease the congestion that already exists. The
Commission is primarily interested in discovering how the divisions of the
University can serve to advance the interests of the Filipino people. It
does not think the question of advanced degrees of very great importance,
and hopes that the practice described above may be maintained
wherever it be placed in the curriculum.
THE COLLEGE OF LAW.-The Board of Regents provided for the
establishment of the College of Law in 1911 and the standards of admission have been steadily raised until today the college is based upon
two years of prelegal training. The course in the College is four years
and leads to the degree of bachelor of laws. This is, in effect, one
year more than the time given in the average law school of the United
States. But practically all the students in the University Law College
are engaged in some occupation during the day and have less time
than the American student for study. Most of the courses are given
after five o'clock in the evening. The college is admirably administered.
The question-and-answer method of instruction is carried out in no
formal manner. The practice courts are calculated to qualify the student, as far as possible, for actual practice in the profession. The
Legal Clinic, whereby members of the senior class are required to
assist attorneys in the conduct of cases to which they are detailed, is an
excellent addition to the instruction in the college. Moreover, as far as
the Commission could discover, high standards are maintained by a
rigid enforcement of scholarship rules. The number of students has
been kept within the resources necessary for efficient administration.