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.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

309

by the supervisor and by others on previous visits, this system would
make for more helpful supervision.
INSPECTORIAL SUPERVISION.-As was mentioned in the first sentences
of this section, the fact that there is in use a very detailed course of
study tends to reduce supervision to a matter of inspection. The examination of Form 178 has shown how frequently the supervisors' suggestions to teachers take the form of reference to chapter and verse of the
course of study. It was not possible to check the degree in which this
represented a rigid requirement that the course of study be followed to
the letter. Such a requirement would be quite out of harmony with the
general instructions given in the course of study, which insists repeatedly
that it is suggestive and not limiting-that work must be adapted to
needs.
Apparently there is some tendency to misuse the published course of
study. This is well illustrated by the following quotation from the
annual report of a division superintendent for 1923-4: "It is the opinion
of the undersigned that the present course of study does much more harm
than good. Once a class is behind, its work for the year is practically
ruined, as all teachers have a whole-hearted fear of being found teaching something not required by the course of study for the particular
day. One can imagine the result in a barrio school where, during a
flood or rice planting or harvesting, the attendance goes to 20 or 30
per cent for a few weeks or a month. When the pupils return to school,
they continue (or try to continue) work on the page designated for
that day by the course of study."
This indictment is a serious one. But, unless it be that the responsibility lies at the door of some authority above the supervisors, which
has imposed a rigidity of application of the course of study not suggested in its printed pages, it would seem that the accused should be the
supervisors rather than the course of study. There is, as has been
pointed out, a tendency for persons who were in the service when rigid
adherence to the course of study was enforced, to refuse to accept the
newly offered liberty or to allow others over whom they have authority
to enjoy it. This situation should be corrected. It will be corrected
only as supervisors turn their attention more and more to the essential
results of instruction in terms of pupil attainment.
HELPFUL SUPERVISION
Four general types of work involved in helpful supervision merit
some detailed mention.
1. MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS OF INSTRUCTION.-The supervisor
must discover in what particulars help is needed if he is to be truly helpful.
He must concern himself with measurement of pupil attainment in the