THE AMERICAN DEVISED
Dick and Harry, George Washington and
CURRICULUM
Education during the American
Occupation
(1899-1935)
Reporter: Rose May Hagna
Liecel Mae Padogdog
 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.
 The American-devised curriculum was
dominated with the motive of
conquering the Filipinos not only
physically but also intellectually.
 Every child from age 7 was required to
register in schools located in their own
town or province.
 The students were given free school
material.
 English was the medium of instruction
 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.
 Individuality
 Equality
 Time
 Informality
 Achievement and
hardwork/play
 Looking to the Future and to
change.
 Siliman University, in Dumaguete City is
the first American institution of higher
learning to be founded in Asia.
 “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 Jose Abad Santos. Francisco
Benitez, Dr. Honoria Sison and Francisco
Delgado.
 The reading materials were about Tom,
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.
 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.

Two Aspects of Training
1. Body Training – Singing, Drawing,
handwork, and physical education
2. Mental training- English (reading,
writing, conversation, phonetics, and
spelling)
PRIMARY EDUCATION
 GMRC
 Civics
 Hygiene and Sanitation
 Geography
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 CURRICULUM
 Normal schools were opened with a
teacher’s training curriculum
appropriate for elementary mentors.
 Its aim was to replace the soldiers and
the “Thomasites”.