Rizal�s Thoughts on Education

by Mona Lisa H. Quizon

National Historical Commission of the Philippines

The writings and various events on the life of Jose Rizal are filled of ideas
concerning education. He recognized the importance of education in the development
of a nation and its people. Crisostomo Ibarra, the principal character of his novel
Noli Me Tangere possesses a desire to establish a suitable school. Ibarra mentioned
in the novel what he considered a modern school. According to him the building
should be spacious and hygienic, the site should be large and provided with
playground and garden. Rizal himself dreamed of founding a school in accordance
with the demands of modern times and circumstances.

According to Austin Craig, Rizal ambitioned to make education accessible to all,

�the teaching instinct that led him to act as mentor to the Filipino students in
Spain and made him the inspiration of a mutual improvement club of his young
countrymen in London, suggested the foundation of a school in Paris. Later a
Pampangan youth offered him $40,000 with which to found a Filipino college in Hong
Kong, where many young men from the Philippines had obtained an education better
than their own land could afford but not entirely adapted to their needs. The
scheme attracted Rizal and a prospectus for such an institution which was later
found among his papers not only proves how deeply he was interested, but reveals
the fact that his idea of education were essentially like those carried out in the
present public school course of instruction in the Philippines�.

Rizal also showed his support to the group of women in Malolos when their petition
of establishing a school was denied by Gen. Weyler. He wrote a letter to the ladies
in support to their courageous action. Rizal preaches the need of education and
said that �ignorance is slavery�. Rizal always reminded his sisters the value and
importance of education thus when Josefa and Trinidad visited Rizal in Hong Kong he
encourage the two to learn the English language. Perhaps Rizal�s appreciation of
education was influenced by his mother, Do�a Teodora Alonzo. His mother was
considered his first teacher. At the age of three he learned the alphabet and also
taught him to appreciate Spanish poetry.

He even recognized the importance of industrial education as well. Rizal included

this concept in the five purposes of the La Liga Filipina which he founded, the
development of instruction, agriculture and commerce.

When Jose Rizal was deported in Dapitan on 1893, he devoted his time in teaching
young children. Rizal applied the learning he acquired in the different school
that he visited during his travels. It was in Dapitan particularly Talisay where
Rizal used his talents and limited resources to serve his countrymen during the
four years of his exile. He practiced his profession as a doctor, farmer, teacher,
community developer, engineer and scientist. Rizal opened a school for young boys
in the community. They were given subjects in reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, geometry, languages, history and good conduct. Rizal even gave practical
lessons on the use of their hands, for he believed that education should be
inculcated or integrated with the development of the community. He also taught his
students different kinds of sport activities such as boxing, swinging on parallel
bars and rings, swimming and arnis on account of his belief that a sound body makes
a sound mind.

Rizal�s method of teaching is different compared from other schools of his time. He
saw to it that learning should be adaptable to the needs or actual life of the
people. Rizal is not just a conventional type of teacher; his visions were not just
for himself but for the benefits of his countrymen. The effort of our present
Department of Education and other learning institutions in curriculum development
is in harmony with the ideas and visions of Rizal. The government is also giving
its full support and prioritizes the education of Filipinos. But we should also
remember that the time and needs of the learners during Rizal�s time is different
to the learners of today. There might be ideas or methods which are no longer
needed in the present. But still we owe him for pioneering a technique in teaching.
Our educators should also follow and be motivated by the exemplar deeds of Rizal.
If he were living today, he would definitely continue his undertakings in molding
the minds of our youth. Just as what he had told �Ang mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng
bayan�.