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.

28 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

dialects. As a matter of fact, no such language now exists, nor does
there seem to be a tendency towards its formation. If such a language
were created, it would be an artificial product. Its use in the schools
would be a far more artificial procedure than is the present use of the
English, for English is a living language and the one in most general
use throughout the world. Some have argued that such a language
should now be deliberately constructed and that the schools should
introduce it and thus supplant the dialects with this artificially produced
language. A sufficient answer is that no language has ever been created
by such process. A new common language can only grow up slowly
as a product of the social, economic, and political life of the people.
With the fusion of these forces, a common language may develop which
the schools then could and should use. That such a language could
be produced through the schools seems impossible. At least, since no
such language exists, the discussion of this phase of the question is a
purely academic one.
At one point in the school curriculum some use of the dialect seems
desirable. That aspect of conduct designated good manners depends
to a large extent upon the mastery of special and approved forms of
speech. Even so important a factor in life as good morals and right
conduct depends largely upon a familiarity with language forms. Consequently, attention might well be given to the possible use of the dialects
in giving instruction to children in manners and morals. Wherever the
teacher speaks freely the dialect of the school community, freedom should
be given to train the children in forms of address and other phases
of manners and morals. To the extent that this can best be done
through the use of the local forms of speech, the dialect should be used.
Since in Oriental culture more importance is attached to proper forms
of speech and of social procedure than is usually the case in Western
societies, it is highly desirable that ancient virtues should not be lost in
the acquisition of new forms.
TEACHERS TRAINING AND THE NORMAL SCHOOLS
Fundamental to the solution of the language problem in the schools
as well as to the solution of most other problems of school work is the
adequate professional training of the teaching staff. Children cannot
be taught in the English language by teachers who do not know the
language and have seldom heard it spoken by those who do. But the
same necessity for teacher training exists in all other subjects and for
the accomplishment of any part of the educational program. In the judgment of the Board there is required a very definite and rigid improvement of the standards of the teaching profession.
The school system of the Philippines has developed without adequate
provision for the professional training of teachers. The result is that