DID YOU KNOW (centralized public school system)

A highly centralized public school system was installed in 1901 by the Philippine Commission by virtue of Act No. 74. The implementation of this act, however, created a heavy shortage of teachers so the Philippine Commission authorized the Secretary of Public Instruction to bring to the Philippines teachers from the United States. On Aug. 23, 1901, US transport “Thomas,” with 600 trained teachers on board, arrived in Manila. The teachers were called Thomasites. —Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research