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.

BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL SURVEY REPORT

37

If they remain without congenial employment, they go to swell the
rapidly-growing class of the socially parasitic and the discontented.
The Province of Occidental Negros, with opportunities for hundreds of
trained youth in responsible positions in sugar centrals, on plantations
and in transportation, is a good example. In the past this province had
successful agricultural, trade, and normal schools. But these have long
since been closed. At the same time there has existed in Bacolod such
community disorder and even criminality among the youth who are
or have been school pupils, that the closing of the high school has been
suggested as the only solution. This is an example to be carefully
studied. It should also be noted that with a rapidly-growing use of
automobiles and tractors a course in automobile mechanics and repairs
established by a division superintendent was ordered closed because not
provided for in the course of study.
The recent labor situation in Nueva Ecija is another case in point.
This and similar disturbances cannot be attributed alone to labor unrest
or to secret societies. There are deeper causes. One is that the masses
are sufficiently educated to resent exploitation by a small favored class.
This class is now being so increased by the prevalent type of secondary
education, that in some cases its members are driven to practice extortion upon the masses. Such causes of unrest are symptomatic and may
be expected to become more rather than less frequent. One remedy
lies in education but only in an education whose aim takes account of
these problems.
Both the Board and the Commission are in sympathy with the policy
of extending the privileges and opportunities of the public-school system,
elementary and high school, as widely and as rapidly as possible. But
to believe that the presence of children in school going through the
forms of education is satisfying these demands is self-deception. The
dim realization of this fact is causing dissatisfaction with and criticisms
of the system as it is now operated.
The suggested remedy is simple: First, the proper training of teachers
before schools are opened; and second, a practical type of instruction
that will connect closely with the actual life activities and needs of the
people.
THE MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS OF INSTRUCTION
One of the first questions for the Commission to answer was: Does
the work of the past quarter-century promise a generation of young
people skilled in using English as their common language? To answer
the question, the Commission tested the ability of 32,000 boys and girls
to read, speak, write, and understand English. Other important questions were also answered by the testing program. Measurements were