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.

308 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

reporting new development in the field. In proportion as there developed an accompanying disposition on the part of field workers to try
out what is reported as being effectively used somewhere in the system,
this would serve a useful purpose. It would also tend to cause each to
be exceedingly critical of his own as well as of others' work.
In another section are outlined certain fundamental considerations
which must guide educational research. It is hoped that what is said
there and here may in no measure lessen the enthusiasm for scientific
investigation. The intention is only so to safeguard the use of it that
it will be effectively carried on. Recommendations are also made elsewhere for adequate provision within the Bureau of Education for helpful
guidance of this type of work.
JUDGMENT OF TEACHER EFFICIENCY.-Supervisors carry one very
heavy responsibility which, while it is administrative in its nature, is
so bound up with supervisory work that it may properly be discussed
here. This is the estimation of teacher efficiency for purposes of determining recommendation for reappointment.
Bureau regulations call for one report a year on Form VIII
(Character and Efficiency Report) on each teacher, except insular
teachers who have been in service for less than one year. For these
newer recruits a report is required at the end of each semester. These
forms are signed by principal, supervising teacher, and division superintendent. Division superintendents in many instances require that ratings be given, in one form or another, by each district supervisor in his
monthly report, to all teachers in his district.
Form 178 would form a valuable cumulative record of teacher efficiency if the reports made on this form were filed by teachers instead
of by dates, as seems to be the common practice, and if the entries on
the form were more concerned with the essential work of teachers.
Upon the basis of what is now being done in the Philippines and of
what has been worked out in the United States in the matter of permanent records and rating cards for teacher efficiency, it should be comparatively easy for the Bureau, or for superintendents and supervisors by a
cooperative effort, to prepare an effective and easily workable record
system. On these cards the elements that enter into teaching excellence
would be listed in some detail. After each visit to the teacher's classroom, provision should be made for adding to the record the ratings
on points of teaching skill and of general efficiency observed. On the
card should appear the items called to the teachers' attention on each
occasion. Such a record would give a firm basis for making up a
summary card, such as Form VIII, at the end of the year. Since the
supervisor would be guided in his work with each teacher by the accumulated record of that teacher's weak and strong points as observed