Globalizing the minimum learning competence of the

(Part 2 of a series on Half a century of perpetual replanning of Philippine education and never catching up)

The new mystical mural on the front facade of the OB Montessori building complex in Greenhills is the Philippine Eagle. His head lifted high, he’s proud and strong while his widespread golden wings cover a span of one square meter. Against a green background of long mountain ranges and flowing river, he gazes fiercely as if to say to the public, "Don’t chicken! Soar high! Be an eagle – the Philippine eagle!" In other words, its message says: You have two choices in life – you can choose to be just a chicken, pa-okey-okey lang (a life of mediocrity) or be a mighty eagle capable of conquering heights.

The ideal curriculum and the ideal teacher

An e-mail message I received from Malou Gallos commented on the very tragic situation of our Philippine education. She puts more blame on the teachers than on the curriculum which she perceives to be regularly updated.

Dear Ms. Gallos, I used to think like you until I trained as a Montessori teacher in Italy and realized that the real truth is that teacher training to be ideal must be accompanied by a culture-loaded curriculum. On the other hand, an enriching curriculum is not necessarily book-oriented or computer-based. The Cosmic Curriculum of the Montessori system satisfies the enormous reasoning power and moral sensitivity of the seven- to 12-year old children.

From the outset, elementary and high school teachers cannot be classified as professional like a doctor, accountant or a lawyer unless they have a profound understanding of the true nature of child development and its special professional vocabulary. Thus, this would require a lengthy in-service training which anyway can match the three-year status of non-permanent teachers in the Philippines since this would allow them to progress from being a novice, to a junior, and ultimately a senior teacher. Teachers then must pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers under the Professional Regulation Commission. In the USA, there are several examinations to rank a professional through higher position and corresponding compensation. It is like the professional army where the largest number of ranking examinations is regularly given to give a chance for soldiers to become sergeant, captain, major, colonel, etc. likewise with corresponding compensations.

What is mediocre in the Philippine Basic Education Curriculum

There are six spring-bound curriculum books of the Bureau of Elementary Education, Curriculum Development Division funded by the Third Elementary Education Project (97-98) called TEEP that I tried to study. Reviewing Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, Sibika at Kultura (HEKASI) gave me such a headache since Geography, History, Civic and Culture were all bundled in one book – in Tagalog.

All subjects, except Science and Health, Elementary Math and English, are in Tagalog like Edukasyon Pangtahanan at Pangkabuhayan (Home Economics and Technology), Edukasyon sa Kagandahang Asal at Wastong Pag-uugali (Good Manners and Right Conduct), and Musika at Sining (Music and Arts) and Pagpapahalaga (Values Education).

The children’s effort of understanding difficult concepts is further blocked by trying to comprehend Tagalog since their dialects are either Cebuano, Waray, Ilocano, Zambal, Chabacano, etc. Isn’t it easier to learn "hemisphere" instead of hating-globo, "universe" instead of sanlibutan,, "channel" instead of lagusan, "strait" (Strait of Magellan) instead of kipot?

I also have reviewed Science and Health (TEEP) for Grades 1 to VI, the subject on Human Body is fragmented into Grade I – the Body Parts, Grade II and III – the Senses, Grade IV – the Skeletal System, Grade V – the Reproductive and Respiratory Systems, Grade VI – the Circulatory and Nervous Systems. These are all extended to a "How to be Healthy" section.

From the subconscious mind of a preschooler to the conscious mind of a grade school student

In great contrast, the exciting lesson of "The Great River" symbolizing the Human Body and all its systems is contained within Grade VI by Montessori students who follow the Cosmic Curriculum. It includes an anatomy lesson whereby children dissect a mammal (guinea pig), bird (chicken), and fish to compare their hearts, lungs, intestines, etc. To prepare for it, the system exposes the Zoology nomenclature cards in preschool citing the parts of a bird, a fish, an amphibian, a reptile, and a mammal. In Grade I, when the student learns more consciously the lesson becomes a picture taxonomy of the Vertebrate Kingdom. This is parallel to using definitions and picture cards of the external parts of each vertebrate animal. Example: While the preschooler stored in his subconscious mind the fish parts, "head, body, fins, and tail" the Grade I fish nomenclature cards indicate the various fins of the fish "pelvic (side), dorsal (back), and fins (bottom end), plus the lateral lines of the body".

Now, I can see why the findings of the United Nations Development Report 2000 cites statistics pointing to the sudden drop to 50 percent of the achievement rate of Grade V and VI on to the whole four years of high school. The DECS Curriculum is watered down. In the height of the Information Technology Generation, it is empty and confusing for our children. The saddest thing is that it is the poor students who are set back by it.

Space child Anakin Skywalker spots Planet Earth

As the Philippine UNESCO Social Science and Human Sciences Committee (with the collaboration of PSSC) suggested a story-telling format in the revision of the existing Social Studies textbooks, I am using instead space child little Anakin Skywalker for he would certainly ignite the imagination of any child, even a barrio child who usually watches television or movies, more than the typical Pepe and Pilar book characters.

As he zooms over the planet closely, he notes, "I see Planet Earth has three blankets: the atmosphere (atmospera according to Hekasi, as DECS Science is taught in Tagalog), lithosphere (bahaging lupa), and hydrosphere (bahaging tubig). Each layer has life, their biosphere. The Earthlings live on the land using houses and buildings. Their clothes are made of cotton or silk from the Plant Kingdom, as well as synthetic rayon and nylon from the Mineral Kingdom. Their food comes from animals on the land, fishes in the water as well as birds and insects from the air."

The Totem Pole of Humanity – The History of Man and how he filled his basic needs from the primitive to modern times

Since spacemen have supra intelligence more than human beings, the space child Anakin flashes in his mind how each man’s needs evolved. "During the Primitive Era, man caught the animals with primitive spears and ate them raw. He moved from place to place hunting for food. Then, he discovered fire. I can see recipes developed during the ancient civilization of Greece and Rome."

"During the Monarchy Era, the king financed explorations. I see the expansion of several empires – England, France, Spain, etc. I see men learning from each other about cuisine, fabrics, theater and religion. They shared as well the discoveries of transportation, medicine, and the printing machines. I see the progress of civilization as a ‘totem pole’ of humanity."

"Many wars have interrupted man’s progress. The major wars are called World Wars. Some have practically lost almost everything but countries help each other through and they banded together. This association is called the United Nations which deals with the politics of mankind. To solve directly the general problems of Planet Earth, the United nations system branched to other agencies. UNESCO seeks to solve man’s problem through non-political means such as Education, Science, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, and Communication. Its headquarters is in Paris. Another agency is the Food and Agriculture Organization with headquarters in Rome. The World Health Organization (WHO) is in Vienna while UNICEF is in the UN International Children’s Education Fund in New York.

The golden eagle should rouse our higher nature

Man has been preoccupied with his Material needs seven DECS curriculum does not refer to his Spiritual need. The 2000 United Nations Millennium Report emphasized that "Human development is much more than the rise and fall of national income."

Let the Golden-winged Philippine Eagle rouse our divine nature. Each one carries the light of the Almighty Creator. Thus, we must soar high to live in His presence.

May we remember what Anakin’s mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi taught him to always keep in mind, "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!"

(Next week: "God who has no hands" and science)

(For more information, please e-mail at obmci@mozcom.com)