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.

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252 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

There is no doubt that untrained teachers must plan definitely the
major outline of the work they are going to do in each class exercise.
As they become more skilled in the spontaneous management of classes
their "plans" will more and more become skeletons-mere general
guides. This problem like the foregoing therefore, can be solved no
more rapidly than the proportion of trained teachers can increase.
THE TEACHING OF THE SUBJECTS OF THE PRIMARY
CURRICULUM
This analysis of the work of the primary school will now consist of a
study of the separate school subjects; reading, language and literature,
spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, good citizenship, industrial arts,
etc. Because the language problem is basic the teaching of reading
will be canvassed first.
READING
During the past thirty years a very important body of scientific
knowledge has been assembled concerning the process of reading.
Scores of laboratory studies have been made of the work of the eye
in reading, of the perception of words, methods of drill, of the reading
interests of children. Hundreds of investigations have been published,
giving results obtained by using standardized tests. Controlled class
experiments have been conducted of alternative methods of increasing
preception span, of reducing vocalization, rate of silent reading, etc.
The whole range of the reading problem has been attacked scientifically.
Already therefore the influence of the movement is being felt in progressive classrooms in America.
Observations of over one hundred and fifty complete recitations in
reading showed that the knowledge which has been made available by
scientific research and which has revolutionized the teaching of reading
in the United States is not being utilized in the Philippines. The use
of this knowledge is made the more necessary here because children are
reading a foreign language. Much controversy has arisen over the
language situation. It is not necessary to repeat here the arguments
for and against the teaching of English, particularly in the primary
grades. All factions will agree that if English continues to be the
medium of instruction, and the Survey Commission feels that any alternative would cause even greater difficulties, the teaching of English,
particularly reading, should be the major consideration of the primary
grades.
The results of the tests given by the Survey Commission show an
existing state of affairs which should be remedied at once. These
results cannot be attributed solely or mainly to the fact that instruction
is being given in a foreign language. Observations have shown that