Tarlac National High School (TNHS; Filipino: Pambansang Mataas na Paaralan ng Tarlac), formerly Tarlac High School, is a public secondary school located in Tarlac City, Philippines. Founded on September 1, 1902 by American Thomasites, it is considered as the seat of the oldest public high school system in the country.[2] TNHS is one of the largest secondary schools in Central Luzon region with over 7,000 student population.[1]
The first principal of the school was Frank Russell White, a Thomasite teacher assigned as the deputy division superintendent for Tarlac Province in 1900.[3] At present, Dr. Yolanda Gonzales is in charge of the school.
As the old location of TNHS is now occupied by Tarlac State University’s main campus, the school presently stands between two roads named in honor of Tarlac’s prominent sons—Carlos Romulo and Francisco Macabulos. The school’s main campus is located along Macabulos Drive, San Roque behind Diwa ng Tarlac Convention Hall. It now has an extension, the annex campus, located along MacArthur Highway, San Miguel right beside the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) headquarters, which caters to high school students in southern villages of the city.[4]
History
Tarlac High School, formerly the Tarlac Provincial High School, and now the Tarlac National High School was the first public high school that was established in the Philippines after the Philippine–American War. The Tarlac Province once belonged to the Pangasinan, Tarlac-Zambales schools division superintended by S.C. Newson. In October 1900, Frank R. White was named deputy division superintendent for Tarlac Province and during his incumbency, the Tarlac Provincial High School was opened on September 1, 1902, with White as the first principal and was succeeded by Sydney A. Campbell. Classes then were held in rented buildings and the students were classified according to their mental abilities. However, this system of classifying students was abolished in 1905 in favor of another. The subjects taught were grammar, language physiology and music. A history book was used as a reader, and all other books and writing materials were given free.
An old photo showing the façade of Tarlac High School's FSM Building in 1995 which was recently burnt down by fire in October 2015.
Through the initiative and resourcefulness of White and Campbell, they were able to secure a permanent building and to them go the credit of having Tarlac build the first high school building in the Philippines. The site, a short distance south of the town plaza, contained 7,860 square meters. The upper story contained two classrooms and an assembly hall, while the lower portion has four classrooms and the principal’s office. White started the construction of the building and O.S. Rimold saw it completed. James Francis, secretary of public instruction, opened it in January 1904 with George Egan assigned as the principal. A large flag of the United States, a gift of the Martha Washington Society of New York, was unfurled at the time in honor of the first public high school in the Philippines. The building was used until 1915 when it was condemned as unsafe by the district engineer and was demolished. For a time, the province had no high school building.[5]
In 1905, the enrollment was 40 which increased to 382 in 1918. The intermediate department which was also housed in the same building as the secondary had 85. In 1918, there were 368 pupils enrolled. The first year of the school was permanently introduced in 1905; the second year in 1906; the third year in 1910; and the fourth year in1917.
Woodworking and drawing were early introduced into the course and were done in the basement of the old government building facing the provincial high school. In 1906, this building was gutted down by fire and the equipment used in the course was lost. Woodworking and drawing were not again properly treated until three years later when a school shop was constructed on the site of the provincial capitol. It was well preserved so that in 1918, it was housing 91 boys of the trade course.
Since June 1915, the provincial high school and the intermediate school have used rent-free rooms, the primary school building of Tarlac and until October of 1917, a temporary building for the domestic science department. A new high school site has been acquired after two years of persistent effort on the part of then superintendent of schools, Adam Deikum. These were acquired between April 20, 1917 and June 27, 1917. Sufficient ground was in the site to hold all the departments of a high school together with a track, a baseball field, and a school garden. Based on the estimates of enrollment increases, the Tarlac Provincial High School should be a building capable of serving five hundred secondary students.
Athletics held a prominent place in the school life of Tarlac ever since Frank White, school principal, started his students of the municipal school to play among themselves and against American soldiers. In 1906, the high school-based baseball team played against teams outside the province for the first time when Barton took it to Manila.
The first annual commencement exercises of the school was held at the Tarlac Central School campus on March 27, 1918. Of Class 1918, there were only 30 members and only three of whom were women, most of them came from Tarlac and Pangasinan.[5]
Symbol
The logo of Tarlac National High School attests the identity of the school in upholding academic integrity and culture of excellence among the students and stakeholders. The logo emphasizes three significant definitions that are foremost in the full development of a person. It is the symbol of educational service to the community and considered as the great producer of great leaders and fully developed individuals and citizens who will be the asset in our community and our country as well in the different fields of endeavor.
The school logo consists of octagonal shape around it, which symbolizes the different students from all walks of life who are enrolled at TNHS. The circular figure of the logo represents book as tool of learning. While the lamp represents the principal and teachers as instrument in the transfer of learning, wisdom and knowledge. While the light that comes out from the lamp represents the learning, knowledge and wisdom imparted to students. The rays symbolize the students who are academically, socially, morally and physically reinforced, enriched, improved and developed. The pen, which is considered as mightier than the sword, symbolizes the application of learning acquired by students.
Moreover, the logo's color are maroon, which means determination to serve, yellow for brighter future of students and red for strength to face challenges.[6]
Notable alumni
With one hundred years of service, Tarlac National High School has become the learning ground of many Filipino leaders, from prominent statesmen to business pioneers, to academic chancellors and international diplomats.[7]
References
External links
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