Alejandro Ramos's Examination Paper from the Binondo Boys School, Manila, Philippines circa 1900

Ramos, Alejandro · ca 1898

This school examination, with it's elaborate display of cursive penmanship, was created in March 1900 as an example of how politics influences school curriculums. The Binondo Boy's School in Manila was one of many established by the Catholic Church and the Spanish government, which first opened missionary school in 1565. By 1865, the Spanish government decreed there should be at least one primary school for girls and one for boys with each municipal government. The classes were taught in Spanish frequently by Jesuits priests, but the schools were state sponsored, and officially not religious or faith-based educational institutions. While enrollment was technically open to all, in reality there were not enough schools or teachers, so attendance was limited to the privileged.