A survey of the educational system of the Philippine islands by the Board of educational survey, created under acts 3162 and 3196 of the Philippine Legislature.

MEASUREMENT OF INSTRUCTION

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of the lessening handicap of the foreign language as the child matures.
It is indeed a measure of the educability of these Filipino children.
The spelling achievement provides further objective proof that the
pupils comprehended the dictation. It is proof, furthermore, that they
understood American English as well as Filipino English. About half
the time the dictation was given by Filipinos, and about half the time,
by Americans.
Finally, in the achievement of pupils on the other tests given by the
Commission, we have indirect measures of ability to understand spoken
English. Most of the Filipino children had never taken 'tests of
the form used in the survey. They were encountering a strange technique under conditions of emotional strain. All directions were given
orally in English; no writing was done on the blackboard. The pupils
could read directions of course but that they are grossly deficient in
reading ability has already been shown. Furthermore, they took the
test under the same conditions as do American children. The latter
have a greater advantage in reading directions than do Filipinos. Careful study of the eleven charts presses home the conclusion that, in
spite of language handicaps, Filipinos attain almost as much ability to
comprehend spoken English as do American children of the same
grades.
V. How WELL CAN FILIPINO CHILDREN SPELL?
This question was answered partially in the preceding section. In
resume it can be said that after the hampering effects of learning a
foreign language have worn off Filipino children spell as well as American children. Indeed, in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades, Manila
schools spell distinctly better than the mass of American schools.
VI. How MUCH ARITHMETICAL SKILL HAVE FILIPINO CHILDREN
ACQUIRED?
Throughout this report we have emphasized the importance of the
language problem. All school work is done in a foreign language.
Filipino scores on the tests so far discussed, are lower, therefore, than
they would be if the instruction had been in the native language, and
if the tests had been given in that language. How much lower they
are we do not know from the results so far discussed.
In dealing next with the results from the arithmetic computation tests
we turn to a skill in which no reading is involved; a skill furthermore
in which little oral language is needed. Direct and unqualified comparisons can be made therefore between the attainments of Filipino and
American pupils. The Philippine course of study is directly comparable to that of the United States. The allotments of time are
practically identical in the two countries. From Grade III to the high