The American-devised curriculum was implemented in the Philippines from 1901-1935 with the goals of spreading American cultural values and English language through the education system. It established public schools led by American teachers to train Filipinos in the American way of life. The curriculum was modeled on the U.S. system, with English as the primary language and subjects like history and civics added. It aimed to widely spread education across classes and introduce concepts like democracy, press freedom, and separation of church and state. However, it also perpetuated elitism and dependency on the U.S. government.

1. The American-devised Curriculum
(1901-1935)
Gil E. Contreras
Lutucan NHS, Sariaya, Quezon

2. Activity
• On a bond paper, write a
word or phrase that
corresponds to the
American influences in our
daily life such as culture,
tradition, food and others
by using each letter of the
word A.M.E.R.I.C.A

3. Introduction
• Education became a very important concern
for the United States colonial government.
• It allowed them to spread their cultural
values, particularly the English language, to
the Filipino people.
• Thus, instruction in English language and
American history led to forming the national
identity and Filipino nationalism.

4. American-devised Curriculum
• The American devised curriculum was also
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.

5. American-devised Curriculum
• 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.

6. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• The curricular structure and programs were
adopted and patterned from the United States
wherein 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.

7. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• There were three levels of education during
the American period, namely,
• (1) elementary level, with four primary years
and 3 intermediate years;
• (2) secondary / high school level for four
years; and
• (3) college / tertiary level.

8. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• There is secularization of education through
their motto, “love of country and God.”
• English was adopted as the medium of
instruction and as primary language.
• The curriculum was based on the ideals and
traditions of America and hierarchy of values.

9. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• Religion was not included in the curriculum of
the schools unlike during the Spanish Era.
• 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 (the non-fully conquered areas by
the Spaniards).

10. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• Filipino students who excelled academically
were sent to the United States to continue
their studies and to become experts in their
desired fields or professions.
• They were called "scholars" and
"pensionados" because the government
covered all their expenses.

11. Characteristics of the American-
devised Curriculum
• 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.

12. Two aspects of Training
• Body Training – focused on singing,
drawing, handwork, and physical
education
• Mental Training - reading, writing,
conversation, phonetics, and
spelling

13. Featured Content of the Curriculum
• Grade 3 Curriculum - Geography and Civic
were added to the list of the subjects.
• Intermediate Curriculum - Consisted of
subjects such as Arithmetic, Geography,
Science (included plant life, physiology and
sanitation) and English.

14. Featured Content of the Curriculum
• Tertiary Level - Normal schools were opened
with a teacher’s training curriculum
appropriate for elementary mentors. Its aim
was to replace the soldiers and the
“Thomasites.”

15. Education Act of 1901
• This laid the foundation
of the Philippine Public
school system.
Volunteer American
soldiers became the
first teachers of the
Filipinos. Part of their
mission was to build
classrooms in every
place where they were
assigned.

16. Education Act of 1901
• The American soldiers stopped teaching only
when a group of teachers from the United
States came to the Philippines in June 1901.
They 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.

17. Education Act of 1901
• The original batch of Thomasites was
composed by 365 males and 165 females, who
sailed from United States on July 23, 1901.
The United States government spent about
$105,000 for the expedition. More American
teachers followed the
Thomasites in 1902,
making a total of about
1,074 stationed in the
Philippines.

18. Education Act of 1901
• The Thomasites taught the following subjects:
English, agriculture, reading, grammar,
geography, mathematics, general courses,
trade courses, housekeeping and household
arts (sewing, crocheting and cooking), manual
trading, mechanical drawing, freehand
drawing and athletics (baseball, track and
field, tennis, indoor baseball and basketball)

19. Contributions and Influences
• Substantial change helped Philippine education
to be more idealistic and think liberal.
• Separation of church and state was their primary
aims during that period including democracy and
equality. They opened up the gateways for some
other religions to be extensively introduced to
the Philippines, most particularly the many
brands of Protestantism.
• The teaching pedagogy introduced class
recitation, participation, debate, role playing and
active class involvement.

20. Contributions and Influences
• The spread of providing public education. The
education was widely spread across class
which is a major move by the American
educators.
• The introduction of the concept of press
freedom.
• The continuation on putting too much value
on elitism among its leaders plus their
influential relatives.

21. Contributions and Influences
• The collaborative and dependent tendencies
of the national Philippine government with
the United States government.
• Most American cultural effects continue to be
felt and followed in practically the whole
Philippines.

23. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS