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.

CHAPTER IV

TEACHER TRAINING
THE URGENT NEED FOR MORE ADEQUATE TEACHER
TRAINING
PUPIL ATTAINMENT AN INDEX OF TEACHING EFFICIENCY.-Had
the tests given to pupils in the schools of the Philippines shown that the
schools as now operated are producing the desired results in pupil
attainment, an inquiry into the preparation of teachers would have had
no great significance. In view of the results of the tests as reported in
the section on that subject, it is of utmost importance to discover the
reasons for the facts brought out. The most reasonable cause to which
the low pupil attainment can be attributed is the quality of the teaching.
THE TEACHING PERSONNEL OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.-Examination of the facts as to training and experience of teachers shows that
the larger number of the pupils in the public elementary schools are being
taught by persons who entered the teaching service without previous
technical preparation for the work they are doing. Table 39 gives a
summary of the facts in this respect. Tables 40 and 41 give a detailed
report of the relevant data in regard to the teaching personnel. The
low attainments of the larger number of the elementary-school teachers
and the notable lack of technical training are apparent from these tables.
Figure 22 shows the situation in this respect over a period of years.
In reading this table the fact must be kept in mind that "first year
attainment" as that expression is used in the Philippines, means that
the individual would be enrolled in the first year if he were in school,
not that he has completed the first year.
From the data given in Tables 40 and 41 and from the results of
the tests given to teachers, a description of the median teacher for each
of the seven grades and for the teachers of groups made up of first and
second grades and of third and fourth grades may be obtained. Table
42 gives this description. The figures of the table should be read as
follows: The median teacher in charge of first-grade pupils in the
Philippines is a person twenty-three years of age, who would be enrolled
in the first year of the high school if he were in school; this person shows
by performance in the tests used, an educational age 1 of thirteen years,
1Educational age must not be confused with intellectual age. It refers to attainment,
not to ability.
211488-26 401