Rizal, the Teacher

By Prof. Jet Castillo

Rizal always advocated education
• Noli Me Tangere
• Ibarra studied in Europe and went home as “The Great Hope” of our
country
• Ibarra inaugurated a school
• At the end of Noli, Ibarra’s riches was entrusted to Basilio; he was
instructed to use it for his education.
Rizal always advocated education
• El Filibusterismo
• Many characters and scenes are about student life in UST
• In the end, the revolution failed.
• It’s a way of saying, “education is the solution, not revolution”
Rizal always advocated education
• When Rizal was a student in UST, he won in a writing contest.
• His winning piece, To The Filipino Youth, says, “Ang kabataan ang pag-
asa ng bayan.”
• Educated the youth, and the next generation will no longer be dumb
and passive to the abusive Spanish colonial rule.
Rizal’s Dream School
• When Rizal was in Hong Kong practicing medicine, he thought of
putting up a school he would call “Colegio Moderno”
• The schedule of routine shall be…
Colegio Moderno
5:30-6:00 AM • Wake up, bathe, dress up
6:00-6:15 AM • Swedish gymnastics
6:15-6:30 AM • Study period
8:00-10:00 AM • Classes
10:00-10:30 AM • Light buffet lunch
10:30-11:00 AM • Recreation, swimming, fencing
11:00-12:00 PM • Study
12:00-12:45 PM • Luncheon
Colegio Moderno
12:45- 1:45 PM • Recreation, music, drawing
1:45-3:00 PM • Study
3:00-5:00 PM • Classes
5:00-5:15 PM • Tea
5:15-5:45 PM • Gymnastics and sports
5:45-6:45 PM • Recreation
6:45-8:00 PM • Study
8:00-8:30 PM • Dinner
8:30-9:30 PM • Recreation, dancing, music
Rizal’s Dream School
• But the Colegio Moderno project didn’t happen because Rizal was
arrested and sent to Dapitan.
Rizal had his chance to be a teacher
in Dapitan
• He established a school for boys in his residence in Dapitan
• He had at least 16 students
• Some of them were his nephews. They were sent by their mothers
from Calamba to be with their Uncle Pepe.
• Montessori-style education
• They help Rizal in the farm and in his clinic
• Rizal taught for free. No tuition fee. Just help in his daily tasks.
Rizal had his chance to be a teacher
in Dapitan
• He wrote to Blumentritt in January 1895:
• I have 14 boys whom I teach languages, mathematics, and how to
work.
• We are going to construct a water tank (a mini dam) in my land.
Rizal had his chance to be a teacher
in Dapitan
Rizal had his chance to be a teacher
in Dapitan
• The dam is still standing today.
• The boys wrote their names on the concrete when they built it.
• The names are: Tam, Lucas, Leo, Marcel, Anis, Edjawan, Dagpin, Joe,
Asiniero, Elum, Adolfo, Tom, Aniceto.
Rizal had his chance to be a teacher
in Dapitan
• They study Spanish and French, algebra, geometry, and arithmetic
• They had swimming and gymnastics lessons
• Rizal taught them to sing “Hymno al Trabajo” to the tune of
“Sampaguita” while they work.
• The boys lived with him. They have their own hut in the compound.
• Holistic education.
Rizal concluded his letter to
Blumentritt…
• “Ah what a lack there is of a good school with good teachers who
teach so that the children may learn and not that they may waste
their time as generally happens.”
Conclusions
• The youth is the future of the nation.
• Rizal observed that the youth are wasting their time. (is it still true
today?)
• Education must be holistic (intellectual, social, practical)
• Learning by doing
• Outcomes-Based Education (OBE)
• There is a need to establish good schools
• There is a need to develop good teachers