American -devised

curriculum1899 – 1935

– Education during the American Occupation

Laguna State Polytechnic UniversityLos Baños Campus

Reported by:– Fraulo Fer D. Marcelo, LPT

MAED- EnglishTo:

Dr. August V. TuizaAssociate Professor III

American Curriculum

The American – devised curriculum was dominated with the motive of conquering the Filipinos not only physically but also intellectually.

The public school system established and headed by the American until 1935, was to train the Filipinos after the American culture and way of life.

Silliman University, in Dumaguete City is the first American institution of higher learning to be founded in Asia.

Every child from age 7 was required to register in schools located in their own town or province.

The students were given free school materials.

There were three levels of education during the American period. The "elementary" level consisted of four primary years and 3 intermediate years. The "secondary" or high school level consisted of four years; and the third was the "college" or tertiary level.

Religion was not part of the curriculum of the schools, as it had been during the Spanish period.

The curriculum was based on the ideals and traditions of America and hierarchy of values.

IndividualityEqualityTimeInformalityAchievement & Hard Work/Play

Looking to the Future and to Change

"scholars", and "pensionados“

- government covered all their expenses. In return, they were to teach or work in government offices after they finished their studies.

Some examples of these successful Filipino scholars were: Judge José Abad Santos,

Francisco Benitez, Dr. Honoria Sison and Francisco Delgado.

The reading materials were about Tom, Dick and Harry, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Filipino children were taught to draw houses with chimneys and to play the role of Indians and cowboys.

They sang the Star – Sprangled Banner and Philippines, My Philippines to the tune of Maryland, My Maryland.

Joshua\Maryland, my Maryland.mp4

English was the medium of instruction.

1. B

ody

train

ing

- singing, drawing, handwork, and physical education

2 Aspects of Training

2. M

enta

l tra

inin

g

- English (reading, writing, conversation, phonetics, and spelling)

Prim

ary

Educ

atio

nGMRCCivicsHygiene and SanitationGeography

Grade III curriculum

Geography and Civic were added to the list of the subjects.

Intermediate Curriculum

Consisted of subjects such as Arithmetic, Geography, Science and English.

***Science included plant life, physiology and sanitation.

Collegiate level curriculumNormal schools were opened with a teacher’s training curriculum appropriate for elementary mentors.

Its aim was to replace the soldiers and the “Thomasites”.

Philippine Normal School in 1901 ( Philippine Normal University)

Silliman University (1901), Central Philippine University (1905), Negros Oriental High School (1902),St. Paul

University Cebu Normal School (1915) Zamboanga Normal School in 1904 (now

Western Mindanao State University) National University (1901)University of Manila (1914) Philippine Women's University (1919)and Far Eastern University (founded in 1908.

Vocational schoolsPhilippine Nautical School,

Philippine School of Arts and Trades (1901, now Technological University of the Philippines)

Central Luzon Agriculture School.

The University of the Philippines

ThomasitesThey came aboard the ship

"Sheridan." In August 1901, 600 teachers called Thomasites arrived.

Their name derived from the ship they traveled on, the USS Thomas.

The original batch of Thomasites was composed by 365 males and 165 females, who sailed from United States on July 23, 1901.

The U.S. government spent about $105,000 for the expedition.

The American soldiers stopped teaching only when a group of teachers from the U.S. came to the Philippines in June 1901.

More American teachers followed the Thomasites in 1902, making a total of about 1,074 stationed in the Philippines.

Group method of teaching was adopted.

The significant aspect of the American – devised curriculum was the prohibition of compulsory religious instruction in the public schools.

Based on Educational Act of 1901 – Separation of Church and State in Education

Benefits and Anticipated Outcomes

1. The spread of providing public education

2. The introduction of the concept of “press freedom

Take

Not

e!

Education should be universal and free to all regardless of sex,

age, religion, and socio-economic status of the individual

Take

Not

e!

It is not surprising that the democratic values espoused by the Americans , whether SINCERE or NOT, touched are ceptive nerve on the Filipino psyche.

That

’s al

l!Thank you for listening

Fraulo Fer D. Marcelo, LPTMAED - English