Philippine Jesuit Schools of Education: Heroic Institutions of Learning and Leadership in Mission

Philippine Jesuit schools of education are important training sanctuaries for future teachers. These schools help build a nation by nurturing educators in their student years so that these said teacher-students may be equipped as they pursue their vocation of journeying with the Philippine youth towards meaningful and heroic learning. There is limited research on these Philippine Jesuit schools of education and how these have created an impact in Philippine nation-building. The qualitative research draws attention to the four pillars of Heroic Leadership in these schools of education. It will look for practices of Self-awareness, Ingenuity, Love, and Heroism in the Escuela Normal de Maestros in Manila established in the 1860’s and present-day schools of education found in four Jesuit universities of Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and Ateneo de Zamboanga. Archival work in gathering articles will be done to examine the narrative of the Escuela Normal. Interviews and focused group discussions will be conducted among the stakeholders of the four present-day Jesuit schools of education to listen to the narratives that these schools celebrate and re-tell. Weaving the story of the past to that of the present will give a better appreciation of how Jesuit pedagogy has contributed to the flourishing of a transformative and revolutionary spirit that transcends Philippine education – and how it in itself has given a significant impact to nation-building. Narrating this on-going story brings about a great significance in itself as reflecting on the actions of these schools of education helps bring about the Jesuit mission of sharing the faith that does justice – a culture of heroic living