A couple of weeks ago, I got a real shock. I was floored.
What happened?
Well, I was talking with a young person that I know. I won’t name the person, because it might be embarrassing for her. I don’t intend it to be that way, but it might happen, and I don’t want that.
This girl that I was talking with is a very smart young lady. She graduated from high school recently, and was one of the top students in her class. I was so proud of her when she accomplished this, and on top of her educational accomplishment, she was also involved with many different extracurricular activities at her school too, making for a very well-rounded person.
Well, while we were talking, somehow we got onto the subject of geography. I was shocked that she did not know what City was the Capital of the United States of America. I started asking her other questions on all kinds of subjects, and on probably 75% of the questions she did not know the answer. It wasn’t like “let me try to remember…” it was more the fact that these are things that she had never learned. Amazing.
Honestly, how could a person (regardless of what country they are from) not know that Washington, D.C. is the Capital City of the United States. The Philippines gets a lot of aid from the USA, so the Philippines is rather closely tied to the USA. USAid, the American organization that assists developing countries around the world, dumps a ton of money into Mindanao, and even assists in educating kids in the area where this girl went to school.
Don’t take me wrong, I am not blaming this girl for her lack of knowledge, not at all. She is a very bright individual. Who am I blaming? The school. The Department of Education of the Philippines. I regularly see Department of Education approved textbooks that are full of mis-information, and just outright wrong information. How can these books be approved in the first place? Who is minding the store?
Now, I know what people are going to say… “But, Bob, if it is that bad, why are you sending your kids to school there?” Well, let me put that to rest. This girl went to a Public School. My kids are in a Private School, and a very good one at that. Just to put my mind at ease, I asked my kids a lot of the same question that the girl had been unable to answer, and they know most all of the answers. The answers came from their mouths rapidly, and without much effort. I feel comfortable that a good Private School in the Philippines is as good as schools in the USA. When I compare my kids to their cousins of the same age in the USA, my kids are actually ahead of them.
But, going back to this Public School educated girl, it just makes me wonder…. what does the future of the Philippines hold? How can the country grow and prosper under the leadership of a generation that virtually knows nothing about the world around them. Don’t blame the kids… blame the Government educators for the state of the Children of the Philippines.
It still shocks me.
Hi Bob – Wonder how many public school textbooks used in the Philippines are printed in China? If you ever looked through a book printed there (or in other "cheap labor" Asian countries), you'd chuckle over spelling, syntax and grammar while shaking your head at misguided, misstated or outright incorrect "facts" presented therein!
I'd give your young acquaintance a break on the USA capital question, taking into account that the city of Washington encompasses the entire District of Columbia. (DC could be considered the capital, so it's sort of a trick question! 😉 )
Hi Paul – I would suspect that most text books here are printed in the Philippines, although I am not certain on that.
I don't think that the question about where the US Capital is was a trick question. I didn't think that she should know about the District of Columbia or even what that is, but Washington DC is a common fact that is known worldwide!
Hi Bob,
I have known lots of people who thought New York was the capital of USA, even more think Sydney is the capital of Australia.
I was most surprised in the Philippines once when someone asked my wife where she lived, after my wife told her it was London, the Filipino lady replied "London?, I thought you lived in England!"
Regards
Phil
Hi Phil – If she had answered "New York" I would have been happier with a wrong answer than just a dumbfounded look, and no answer at all. At least New York would show some knowledge of the world around her.
You mean London is in England? I didn't know that! 😆
Hi Bob…i find your topic very interesting but sound not good in my part coz i am a public teacher here actually…i cant blame you if you can say bad impression to the Philippine education here in Phils…yes,you are right that its not the kids that vve are to blame…part of it is the government…one thing that i dont like is the comparison of the private and public school…as a public teacher i dont really like the situation here due to lack of facilities…but vve should try to think that Philippine is the poorest country,so its just normal that they cant afford to give all that the filipino kids needs in school…but actually according to vvhat i have learned and read in psychology books..it vvould also depend on the side of the kid…if he really has the poor ability then he cant have a complete understanding to vvhat his teacher is trying to give…as vvhat i have observed especially the kids in a remote areas…they dont have enough food to eat..they are slovv learner compared to those vvho have enough food…i could not really make comparison betvveen public and private school becoz in the school i am vvith,their are teachers graduated from a private school but i proudly say that i am doing better than them…i am just a state university graduate but i can compare my ability to them…secondly, my son is studying in a SMART SCHOOL in a public elementary here in our place but i can also compare him to our nieghbors' kids vvho are in private…my son is smarter than them…so i could say,the ability of the kid does not depend only to the things he learned at school but it depends on his natural ability,to the support of the parents and to the invironment vvhere he is…thank you bob for your post …please dont get me vvrong..i am just trying to say about my openion too…vve all have the right for our ovvn openion…thank you once again and more povver to you and feyma…God bless you…
Hi Jane – I understand what you are saying. What I wrote is not intended as an indictment on any person. As we would all know, there are good and bad teachers at all schools – public or private. I don't question that. I just hope that all kids in the Philippines can gain the opportunities available, and do the most in learning during their childhood.
Thanks for responding, Jane, and all the best to you.
you are vvelcome bob!vvell actaually ,i am suppose to vvrite again,that there are teachers in both private and public school vvho are not deligent enough..they just go to school to earn money but not doing their job as a teacher..i am mad at them actually…thank you for your reply..yes you are right…but vve are not the one holding the budget for the education…vve vvill use vvhat is available and try to research the others needed around if vve can find…for me,i am trying my best to impart good to my pupils but i am dispointed sometimes vvhen im revievving them on the next day coz only fevv can remember the past lesson vve have…there are really many factors in the kids knovvledge…thats vvhy i hate to compare…thank you once again ..and have a great day!! see you soon….
Near to what Phil said in #3, I have had similar, I always thought it was an urban myth but it was asked of me. I met a college grad and she asked me where I come form, I replied London, she said " which state of the U.S is that in !!!
I replied "London, England "….. oh she said looking at me blankly.
Geography doesn't seem to be a strong point here.
Hi gerry – very interesting response. I do agree with you that geography is a weak point in education here. I hope that it can improve.
Bob
One of my well educated friends is convinced we have humans living on Mars, and another thinks the Moon landing was 1812.
These guys are doing well in the education system.
They look at me as if I am mad when I try to tell them they are in error.
Both told me they had this information from school!!
Hi John – It's quite sad, don't you think? 😥
Honestly, how could a person (regardless of what country they are from) not know that Washington, D.C. is the Capital City of the United States. The Philippines gets a lot of aid from the USA, so the Philippines is rather closely tied to the USA. USAid, the American organization that assists developing countries around the world, dumps a ton of money into Mindanao, and even assists in educating kids in the area where this girl went to school
Bob, I have a problem with that paragraph. 1st, you expect everyone to know the capital city of USA? If I pull in random an american, say of the same of the age of the Fil girl you were talking about, and ask that american, what is the capital city of Manila, should I be outraged after knowing that, that american cannot locate where the Philippines is? I bet you'd say "No". The US does not get any aid fr the Phil so in the eyes of all americans, we are insignificant and trifles such as Phil capital city is a pointless trivia. Now, you are sure that the US gives the Phil tons of aids that you present this almost a given. My goodness, how can you be so naive? Think of America as a person. Do americans go around giving tons of aids to poor people NSA?
As for the rest of your piece, I give that to you. The general quality of public education in the Philippiines is poor esp if compared the US public schools. That's no brainer. Just compare the facilities alone.
Very interesting topic Bob. Public schools would fare worse since you have around 50 children in a classroom. Even if you have a great teacher with the best intentions, there is no way you can individually look at a student's progress and rescue students lagging behind. Plus, most public schools squeeze a supposedly whole day's lessons into 5 or 6 hours to optimize the classrooms. I think that for people who can afford to send their kids to private schools, it's the best option.
Roy – based on the things that you say about me, I suspect that you have not read much of what I have written on my various websites. Frankly, the things you say about me are nonsense. I do not think of the Philippines or the people of the Philippines in the ways that you say, if I did, i wouldn't live here. You think that I think of my wife and kids as "insignificant"? I have no idea where you got such an idea.
Hi Cathy – You know, last year when I went to Tawi Tawi, the public schools there had 85 kids in a classroom. I don't know how the kids could learn. In many instances there were only 1 or 2 text books for those 85 kids to share too. The public school teachers there in the ARMM go up to 6 months at a time without being paid their salaries too. It's very sad.
It depends on the school and the students. There are good quality public schools but most are in citys not in remote areas.
My daughters went to public schools in Angeles city but they were in the special science class. When my younger daughter arrived in Arizona she took the AIMS test they require here for graduation. A test many students here claim is too difficult.
She blew the test out of the water scoring in the top percentiles in every subject except English. She was well above the cut off in that as well. So there are good schools just sadly they aren't good schools.
the last line should read so there are good schools just sadly they aren't all good schools.
And I always thought London and Sidney are in Kentucky. Heck, there's even a Manila in West Virginia. BTW, these are real cities in those states…as there is a London in Canada.
I too can't blame the public education in the Philippines in terms of Geography. To be able to appreciate the subject, an individual should really have the concsciousness, desire and the urge to travel. These are traits that are so lacking with the kids who are by the majority very poor indeed.
Travel is a very expensive activity for majority of Filipino households. I bet most have not traveled more than 100 kilometers from their places of residence. So there is really no motivation to know where places are.
Most kids are only forced to travel far after high school to be able to attend college. Only then, they open their minds that there are other places out there to see. The learning curve become very steep from then on. Only then that memorizing those capitals of each province made sense.
For private school students…well , it goes without saying that most have parents who can afford to travel. They have cars, vacations, nice hotels, restaurants, etc. For these kids travel is a pleasure, and an adventure.
For most public school kids travel means a long walk some over mountains, streams and rivers with camote and bananas…if there's any at all. For these kids travel is torture.
My two cents. 🙁 Bob, I'm not trying to inject class warfare in your legitimate and very important concern indeed. I just want to expand on jane's point.
Bob I have a couple of comments on this topic. I teach school here in the U.S. and I think I am more aware than most of what you are discussing. Marlou's son Luigi came here to the U.S. and was enrolled into the 3rd grade. The school system he is in is a public school and one of the best you will find-anywhere. Luigi was an "A" student at his school there at Davao Christian. I have his records so I am thinking this kid is ready for whatever our schools have to offer. I will tell you in all honesty that in Math he is on or above grade level but his reading comprehension is not acceptable. This could be an ESL problem-I am not sure. Hes getting the help that he needs but he has his work cut out for himself. I teach Social Studies in an urban environment in a very large American city. Let me assure you that if I tested my 8th graders with the question of where is our nations capital I would not be pleased with the results. Its not just there-its in a lot of places. There is a new show out here called are you smarter than a 5th grader-its an eye opener. Congratulations on getting your kids into a good school. When I was in Davao I was very impressed with a school called Faith Academy there in Marfori-if I lived there now that is where Luigi would be going for sure. Ron
Hi Tom – I am happy to hear of your daughters' success!
Hi Dr. Long – Learning Geography is more than just for traveling. For example, the Philippines is aiming to become a hub in the outsourcing/call center industry. For this, the agents will need to know some geography in dealing with their foreign clients. For somebody who wants to get ahead in life, knowledge is power. It always has been, and always will be.
Hi Ron – Yes, Faith Academy is an excellent school, but it is also premium priced. I went and checked the place out about a year ago. Tuition for Faith Academy, if you are not a missionary, is around $12,000 per year per student (yes, that is DOLLARS). Pretty rich. I feel that the education at Ateneo is on par with Faith, with the only exception being on US based subjects like history. For missionaries, the tuition is much less, as the purpose of the school is to serve missionary families serving here in the Philippines.
Hi Bob,
I agree that the Philippine educational system needs a lot of help. However, I don't have a problem with a Filipino high school graduate not knowing what the capital of the USA is, although I will have a very big problem if this same person didn't know what the capital of the Philippines is. I agree with Dr. Long that as this person grows older and her horizons expand, she'll learn more about the world beyond what she knew in her little hometown.
One of the TV shows here in NY did a random geography test on people they met on the street and you'd be shocked at some of the answers. And these were from working adults!
I am not trying to make excuses for the poor standard of education in public schools there but I commend the public school teachers and the students for getting to where they have gotten with what little they have to work with…
Hi Tina – It is not just about Filipinos learning where the capital of the USA is, that is just an example that I used. I believe that it is important for all people to know the geography of the world. A Frenchman should know that Moscow is the capital of Russia. It is sad that many Americans now don't know geography too. Some years ago, my brother told me that he had visited a foreign counry when he passed through New Mexico, and I really told him that he needed to do a little learning on geography. So, please realize that I am not singling out Filipinos. I want what is best for these young kids. To get a good job, knowing basic information is very important. It is not, in my opinion, something that should be left until the kids are older and such.
I agree that Geography is weak in our curriculum (Philippines)… because the last extensively taught geography subject I remember was in 5th grade where we taught about all the regions of the Phlippines (region 1..ncr,etc.). I went to a really great private school as well but I don't remember being taught world geography at all.. Not even in university! I think it was only my desire to live abroad and travel that had my eyes opened to world geography — thanks to my dad who bought a Time World Geography encyclopedia as a coffee table book in the house. I read it a whole lot as a kid. I also remember my grandfather had a huge map of the world posted in his wall. Even with that, I still forgot world geography during the times I had "no use" for it. But when I really had the chance to travel and live there then the geography stuck in my mind. But still I admit they do have to add more courses in world geography in school here.
Hi PinaySpy – your family offered you some wonderful opportunities by making learning materials available to you, and a good school too. From your writing, I can see that you took advantage of those opportunities too. I hope that every school child in the Philippines can be offered such opportunities in years to come!
Hi Bob, I think it is worldwide – the deficit in education. You and I read the newspapers and listen to the news on the radio or TV. The children don't, so we are always building up our world knowledge, although even at 55, before I arrived in Austria I didn't know they spoke German! Now that I am over here, most Austrians would love to visit Canada. Canada has only two cities – Toronto and Vancouver and neither one is the capital.
And Canada also has problems – I don't know how many of my letters and parcels have gone to Australia when shipped from Canada. We even have a T-shirt sold over here in Austria that says "There are no kangaroos in Austria"! The lack of education is everywhere.
Hi John in Austria – I do have to agree with each point you made. BTW, I have a friend in Manila who is from Austria originally. Everytime somebody asks where he is from he says "Austria" and they always think he means Australia. 😆
Hey Bob, I agree Pinay spy, I dont remember that we tackle that subject about geography back then in school, we are just pretty much know about our country and that's it, I remember back in high school just memorizing the capital cities in the philippines is too much to learn for me 🙄 in my case, I learned geography on my own way also by reading english pockets books, watching the news reading magazines & news papers and watching movies from the states, we can't just rely on learning this stuff in school, but I do believed it is very important now adays to start teaching this in School or at least have some tools to educate about the world and speak English well, why? number one as what you said Bob the philipphines is trying to outsource call center now and who are this people that they are dealing with?mostly are from the states and speak english, I dont think the call center company will hire somebody who can't speak english or does'nt know about geography, number two, most of the people now are aiming to work abroad and having knoledge about geography and speak english well is a plus, and there is a lot of way to learn it and I highly recommend constant reading and watching news of course the english version one. I understand Bob about your thoughts regarding this matter, for me it is alarming indeed. you have a good day Bob. 😎
Hi Bob & All. All my grown up life I have wished I would have paid more attention in school. I didn't realize how important it would be. In letters we are judged by our spelling & punctuation. In person we re judged by our grammar& knowledge of geography. These issues are usually a good indication of our quality of education. They can also have a great influence on our future. It is too bad that in large classes,some are going to slip through the cracks.
Hi Sheila – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really hope that education can improve so that more Filipinos can get good paying jobs and enjoy the success that they deserve!
Hi Guy – I like your thoughts. I did well in school myself, but didn't always pay the most attention, because I found myself bored, so I understand where you are coming from.
I agree with Pinay Spy and Sheila that World Geography is lacking in the Philippine education; same here in the US, but more so in the Philippines. I think the same with other Asian countries too e.g. Indonesia and India. We're good when in comes to math and science but suck in Geography!
When I was the same age as that girl, I knew the capital of USA. I can't remember how, but definitely I did not learn it from school. We did study Philippne geography as part of the Phil. history class.
My only exposure to World geography was in my World History class. However, it's not a great help either because the names of the places we studied have been changed.
What I can attribute to this lacking of geography lesson in school, many may disagree, is that – when you don't know geography, you don't dream of going to those places. When you don't dream of going to those places, where else where you be but in the Philippines. You become dependent to the Philippine government and politicians. That's why some underpriviliged people tried to suck up to politicians to survive. Which is sad. Also, Philippines becomes more of a center of your life. Either you think Philippines is the best in everything or you think it's the worst in everything. If you learn geography (and other information about the place/country) you tend to use it as a base, and one can realize, Philippines is not bad at all.
Lasly, if somebody doesn't know geography, you'll still be fine as long as you know "google".
Hi Lea – EXCELLENT comment! You said exactly what I felt, but said it much better than I did. Thank you so much!
If you ever watch Leno interviews of random man in the street in LA
it is no different elsewhere.
Hi Bob:
I agree with your observation. I've seen such with my peers many moons ago where I'd hang out with friends who attended the public school system and with those in my private school. Obviously, things had not changed and perhaps gone worst since.
With no condemnation intended but I'm sorry to say that's just the truth. While I agree with the earlier comment made that it depends on the child and the parents' support, the main responsiblity still lies on the educators. Now, if such person cannot even express herself with proper grammar and spelling, I rest my case.
The comments here as just as interesting as the post itself.
The state of public education has always been the subject of much debate. It just hasn't been given the focus and priority that the sector deserves. The militant youth movement have long cried out for higher state subsidy for education, but there is always some other priority that gets a bigger cut out of the national budget (I don't have the facts though).
Aside from competing with 50 other children in the class for the teacher's attention, a public gradeschooler may have to wake up at 430am to make it to school by 530am, for classes that start before 6am. This happens when public schools need to share 3 classes in one classroom so there would be 3 shifts. I've seen this happen to my own nieces.
Some groups (private sector) have taken it upon themselves to "adopt" local schools just to help alleviate some of the needs of the schoolchildren. Some state colleges and universities tie up with private corporations just to have funding for facilities, etc. School administrators are trying to be very creative just to fulfill their dreams of providing quality education to the kids that walk their halls. Though I still believe it is primarily the State's responsibility to educate its children well, I understand the need for the x-deals with the private corps.
It is sad.
Bob –
On a lighter note, I'd say most of the geography I was taught in school is no longer valid — too many name changes and captial shifts over the years have rendered my "geographic education" down to the level that most current graduates exhibit! 😆
Hi rseneris – I don't believe that what I am describing is the same as the Jaywalking episodes. For one thing, you don't know how many people Jay talks to in order to get tapes of 3 or 4 people that he features.
Hi Veechee – No condemnation here either, just a wish for improvement in the system.
Hi Vera – I agree, as usual, the comments here are the most interesting part of the read (yours included).
Hi Paul – Yes, changes happen in any aspect of life, no doubt about that. That does not, however, excuse the need to learn about the world around us, in my opinion.
Bob,
A recent survey done in the states showed that over half of American
High School students could not find China on a map that had no wrtting
on it.
Rick
Hi Rick – That doesn't surprise me. Thing is, I don't write on this site about the United States. I was not comparing the Philippines to the USA. I was simply stating a fact about the Philippines. Do you care to comment anything about the Philippines?
Sad to say…poverty is difficult to contend with, so to rise above and beyond it needs a very strong motivation (with some luck) to succeed in life–most of the time the opportunity comes later, much later and to some maybe 'never'. I don't know if I could blame anyone: not the helpless children, not the overworked parents, not the underfunded schools and lost teachers, and not even the corrupt government. This is just the fact of survival [of the fittest].
Sadder though when those with the opportunities to make changes are the ones wasting their chances 'to make this world a better place…' I agree with (#17) Dr. S. L.'s deduction that "an individual should really have the concsciousness, desire and the urge to …. These are traits that are so lacking with the kids who are by the majority very poor indeed." I'm quoting this in general terms, and when someone along the way could spark this desire, life will be full of meaning. And, it will be a life well lived!
On the lighter side, the Dr. had already mentioned the city of London in Ontario, Canada. Had the situation been reversed and I had asked somebody from this place if he/she had met the queen, would this make me a pathetic geographically misinformed individual? I admit I probably would never know this had my 2 sisters who live in ON, Canada had double checked which London our friend was going.
Did Einstein say information is not knowledge? With the computer bringing knowledge at our fingertips, anything is possible. Hope is not lost. I am a living legacy…50 years ago, my world was just one remote farm, and I've learned along the way. It's the attitude that we have to worry…and the drive to make each day a better one. Life will be as perfect as we want it to be…this too I've learned!
Hi Cecilia – Thanks for sharing your interesting thoughts.
Hi Bob,i have enjoyed reading the answers to this topic,and do agree that lack of geographical knowledge is everywhere.I feel the biggest problem in Phils is lack of resources.However,there must be a desire by the child to learn the subject.Parents should also play a major part in their childs education,but this is not always possible.If your parents are poor and uneducated,you have to rely on whatever schooling is available.Maybe many filipino children lack interest in this subject because they feel its irrelavant,as they will never have the resources to travel anyway.I certainly do not have all the answers to this problem.I will sign off with an old saying "state education will get you a job,but self education could make you a fortune".regards,chas.
Hi chas – Yes, the comments on this post have included all kinds of interesting information, no doubt. Nice saying you put there at the end!
Hi Sir Bob. Just had an ear op so ihave missed the blog for a few days . Err where is this USA you talk sbout?
Hello frank – good to hear from you! It has been a while! 😆
Hi Bob I should say that i tryed to book a flight to manila in a large travel agents in the uk after 10 minutes looking on a map the girl asked ware manila is
Hi peter – Amazing! 😥
Hi Bob.
I am in total agreement with you, the Philippines public school is rapidly deteriorating, the quality of education is very questionable, and that is due to the fact that our government is setting aside a very small budget for it, I hate to say this, the way thing's going with all the people in the government, politicians, church, military etc..etc. the future of Philippines public school is uncertain.
on the lighter side, the quality of education in private school in the philippines is almost the same as you can get in the states, as a matter of fact I have a personal experience with one of my friend who just recently arrived in the state, she enrolled her 2 kids in one of the public school in pennsylvania, her daughter came from a private school in the philippines and she is actually on her 2nd year in high school, according to her, the daughter cried on the first day of school and wants to go home and she don't' want to attend the school anymore, the reason is, the poor little girl was so scared of what she saw on the first day, back home, students in her school wears a uniform, they are well disciplined when in school, what she saw in that public school was different from what she accustomed to, the clothes the student wears, the student attitude etc..etc.. so my friend enrolled her daughter to a private school in the same district, everything seems to be ok for a few weeks, until the daughter complained that the subjects that are taught in that private school was already taught back home when she was a grade 6, (btw, she is grade 9 in that school), as a matter of fact the girl is actually on the very top of her school and that is because she already took most of her subject back home.
my friend is now in a dilemma as she do not know what to do about the education her daughter can get, there's only one private school in her district and she cannot afford to send her daughter to another private school far from their home and her workplace.
she thought that the education in the states are better compared to the phillipines, i told her "that it is still true but not always", not because she is in the states doesn't mean everything in there is perfect.
don't get me wrong, i am not saying US education are not better, all i am saying is, it all depends on where you are in the states and what private or public school (for that matter) you go to. not every school in the states can be used as a basis to measure the quality of education against the Phil. education.
of course you cannot compare the quality of Harvard University versus the Ateneo university, or the penn state university vs. diliman university, the same way i cannot compare the girl's old school in the philippines versus the school she is currently in.
the point is.. Philippine education is not geared towards the US education and faulting the Philippine education system because it cannot offer what the western people wants is simply wrong. Philippine education is made for the Filipinos and US education is made for the americans.
here's one..
More and more states in the United States are hiring qualified teachers from the Philippines.
The latest states included in the list are North Carolina, Virginia and Kansas. There are now hundreds of other Filipino teachers teaching in schools in Maryland, Texas, Las Vegas and other states where there are a lack of special education teachers. Many local newspapers have been covering the arrival of these teachers and narrating how the Filipino teachers are all coping with the weather and the different behavior of students in the US.
source http://www2.manilamaildc.net/article1429.html
for a minute think about this, most western people tend to think that philippine education is not as good compared to their home countries, if that is the case so why the US is hiring teachers who are fully educated from the Philippines??
Hi Dans – thanks for sharing your interesting thoughts about the Philippine Education system. I especially enjoyed what you said about Filipino teachers going to the USA. I know for sure that this is very accurate.