XAVIER SCHOOL - Social Studies After Four Decades

XSPB ACADEMICS

Social Studies After Four Decades
Miss Cita Carluen, Chairperson Social Studies/Araling Panlipunan Department

Before the seventies, English was the medium of instruction used in Araling Panlipunan or Social Studies for all grade levels.

The 1973 Constitution of the Philippines provided the legal basis for the Policy on Bilingual Education that took effect two years thereafter. In accordance with this policy, the Department Order no. 25 series 1975 of the

Department of Education and Culture, set the “Implementing Guidelines for the Policy on Bilingual Education”. In this set of guidelines, the subject areas were divided into two groups: the first, English was to be used as the medium of instruction for Math, Science, Music, Arts, Physical Education and Language Arts; the second, Filipino was to be used for Social Studies, Character Education, Home Economics, Work Education and Filipino.

Cognizant of the department order, the Araling Panlipunan teachers in Xavier School started making changes in the curriculum. Filipino became the medium of instruction for Grades 1 and 2 in the year 1973 – 1974. The year after, Filipino was already used for Grades 3, 4 and 5. During these years, there were attempts to integrate Filipino and Araling Panlipunan in Grades 1 and 2 to minimize the duplication of concepts, skills and values.

During the 1977 – 1978 PAASCU accreditation of the Grade School Department, it was recommended that the implementation of the integrated curriculum of Filipino and Araling Panlipunan in Grades 3 and 4 be extended. At this time, English was still the medium of instruction for Grades 6 and 7 despite the recommendation of the Department of Education and Culture otherwise. This structure ensued until 1986.

After 1986, a new set of administrators was installed and the Araling Panlipunan curriculum experienced a major makeover. Filipino became the medium of instruction for all grade levels and the program followed the prescribed curriculum of the Department of Education.

Miss Pacita Carluen, the present department head, took over the leadership of the Araling Panlipunan Department. During the first few years after she assumed office, the teachers were able to enrich the prescribed Department of Education (DepEd) curriculum being followed in the subject. Several informal studies were made based on the performance of the students in the subject. Students and parents were also interviewed. After two years, three options or schemes were recommended for consideration to find out what would be best for the subject.

The possibility of adopting the MAKABAYAN curriculum

as prescribed by the Department of Education

where Araling Panlipunan will be integrated

with Music, Arts, and Physical Education

The complete integration of Araling Panlipunan

with Filipino in all grade levels

The use of English as medium of instruction

in all grade levels

The increasing number of Xavier School students who are non-native Filipino speakers;

For most of the students, the language is becoming an obstacle in learning the content of Social Studies.

English is the medium used by most of the web sites and gathering data using these resources became a time-consuming activity. The teachers and the students had to translate the material from English to Filipino.

The third scheme was deemed more advantageous and was for the best interest of the students. It is with this motivation that the following set-up is being implemented gradually:

The change in the medium is sustained by the regular evaluation of the faculty, teachers, and students. Based on the evaluation forms sent to the Grades 1, 2, and 3 parents and students, more than 90% of the students

preferred the use of English in studying the content of Social Studies.

Next school year (2007-2008), English will become the medium of instruction for the other remaining grade levels.
World History will be integrated in Grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 as an alternative scope and sequence in the subject. This will need a new set of instructional materials that will replace the existing textbooks in the market.

The changing of the medium of instruction in teaching the social studies curriculum from Filipino to English is a clear indication that Xavier School never ceases to address the ever-changing needs of the students. Even a subject as established as Araling Panlipunan that braved through four decades using Filipino for its medium of instruction bows out to give way to an improved Social Studies program, toppling down the language obstacle for learning a very important subject that is intended to prepare the students to become responsible citizens of the country and of the the entire world.