Education in the Philippines during the American Period (1898-1942)

 

Educational goals

• to promote democratic ideals and way of life;
• formation of good citizens, including the rights and responsibilities of people.

Education during the American Time

                Education Act of 1901 laid the foundation of the Philippine Public school system. In August 1901, 600 teachers are called “Thomasites” arrived.

English was made medium of instruction.

Curricular structure and programs were patterned from the U.S. There were 3 levels of education:

•  Elementary level
• Secondary or High school level
• College or Tertiary level

                New subject areas were introduced. Religion was not included in the curriculum of the schools. Normal, vocational, agricultural, and business schools were also opened. Schools were also built in non- catholic areas like Sulu in Mindanao, and in Mountain Province.

                Education under American colonization led to a widespread Americanization of the Philippines. Through education, Americans had influenced many Filipinos in terms of what they like, eat, culture, and demand on westernized products and lifestyle.

Benefits and Anticipated Outcomes

1. The spread of providing public education: it’s known that US spearheaded more aggressively the provision and delivery of schooling paid by public coffers to unheard-of-areas of the archipelago. During the US occupation, it became fashionable to go to elementary and high school, and for the same to go to college. This generally introduced the hazy idea behind spreading enlightenment to majority of the populace which up to now continues.

2. The introduction of the concept of “press freedom,” which still continues in the country, though not a few journalists and media practitioners have died in the course of duty lately. Consequently, and up to now, there’s particularly no other country, at least Asia that maybe described as having a “freer” media,

i.e. nosy and rambunctious, than what can be seen in the Philippines (and it’s guaranteed in the constitution)

 3. The continuation on putting too much value on elitism among its leaders plus their influential relatives, although not spoken loudly in most sectors of society.

4. The collaborative and dependent tendencies of the national Philippine government with the US government in certain areas of governance have always been noted and observed, especially if viewed by outsider. The Philippines continues to be a solid ally of the US in Asia, in many years, even up to these days, which gives some people strong ideas that it’s still “colony” up to now.

5. Most American cultural effects continue to be felt and followed in practically the whole Philippines. This goes on practically in all field, from the use of English (which an official language, as mandated in its constitution), the distribution of US-made movies and TV shows in all media circuits, the tunes of music played, latest fashion styles etc, 6. And up to certain extent, the US occupation had opened up the gateways for some other religions to be extensively introduced to the Philippines, most particularly the many brands of Protestantism. The impact of the said occupation may soon dissipate, even before most of us interested viewers may have the luxury of time to notice it.