The Swiss educating for work and defense

Media

Part of Philippine Educator

Title: The Swiss educating for work and defense
Language: English
Year: 1952
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Fulltext: 24 THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATOR The other two speakers in the afternoon session were Martin Aguilar, administrative officer of the bureau of public schools, who dwelt on "The Lack of Professionally Trained Teachers" and Demetrio Andres, chief of· the instruction division, bureau of public schools, who expounded on "The Lack of Instructional Material in the High School." A new method of teaching English to Filipino students, called the "phonemic method," which does away with complicated markings was bared during the morning session by Miss Sims. She suggested that English be taught "only as a second language" next to the accepted national language. She said that 'f he Swiss Educating the best way would be to teach the pupils as Filipinos, and not as if they were Americans. Dr. Houston enumerated other reasons for the lack of instructional materials in local colleges, namely: 1) lack of knowledge on the part of the teachers on the right instructional materials, 2) reluctance of teachers to require students to buy their own books, and 3) inadequate facilities provided by school libraries. · The schedule of activities for today, the closing day, includes: reading of papers by Dr. Paul R. Hanna, Fr. Harry B. Furay, S.J., and Dr. Josephine Bas-Serrano, and business meetings. The site of today's meeting will be the University of the Philippines auditorium in Diliman. For Work And Defense CAMILO OSIAS AFTER MY THIRD visit to Switzerland and seeing more of the country, its people, and its institutions 1 am thoroughly convinced that we have much to learn and we can derive a great , deal of inspiration from this nation which is successfully educating its citizens for work and for defense. It has long been ,my belief that we can get more encouragement from a study of countries relatively small and poor than from those which are large and rich. Of course,. a nation like America has much t_o. offer, but at .times it is discouraging to see there a great many things to envy but which can not be duplicated because we do not have millions to finance large projects and we do not live under an economy of abundance. The experience and achievements of the Swiss are decidedly encouraging. Switzerland is small, its total area being only 16,000 square miles while that of the Philippines is 115,000 square miles. The population of Switzerland is only four million and a-half, while that of the Philippines is twenty million. The Swiss climate is severe, ours is benign. The soil of Switzerland is not naturally ferTHE PHILIPPINE EDUCATOR 25 tile, while that of the Philippines fusion. And when the green sign is fertile. With these bare facts turned up everybody moved. in mind, one is insensibly led to There was order; there was perconclude that if Switzerland could sonal and collective discipline. achieve peace and progress, pros- This training for discipline started perity and happiness, we in the m the homes and lower schools. Philippines in larger freedom can At Berne, the capital, there is do likewise. competition for beautifying the What is the main reason for Switzerland's success? Unhesitatingly I answer: education. There are several other factors that could be mentioned but I repeat for the sake of emphasis that the main factor is education, education properly oriented, education for good citizenship, education that educates for productive work, and for sacrificial service. Education in Switzerland is general and thorough and practical. Illiteracy is non-existent. Everybody works, works intelligently, works hard, works for a definite purpose and with persevering will. As it is not pos&ible for my readers and my fellow-teachers to be inspired in person by a visit to this land of indescribable grandeur and enchanting beauty I desire to leave in their minds, if I may, certain impressions. Looking out of my hotel window in Geneva one day I could discern among the throbbing throng a woman pulling a two-wheeled wagon heavily laden. She was well built, the picture of health and strength. Her head was thrown high, her chest forward, proud and unshamed because she had work to do and was doing it. Crossing the bridge near-by were street cars, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. When the signal light turned red everyone stopped each in a definite line and place without conwindows of houses, business establishment, and government offices with decorative plants and ilowers. A prize is awarded at periodic intervals for the most beautifully decorated windows. The people are educated to appreciate the beautiful. The lakes and streams are kept clean. Whether at Geneva or Lausanne, in city or village, the waters are kept clean and unpolluted. No papers, no rubbish may be seen floating to mar the scene. And good sturdy trees are grown and properly trimmed along highways and streets. Flower gardens are everywhere - along the walks, in public parks, in private yards. No wonder joy and pride are writ in the countenances of teachers in the schools and of the boys and girls under their charge working, studying, and playing amidst favorable surroundings and social climate. One night of entertainment was given for the enjoyment of delegates from many nations at the 41st Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference. The program consisted of beautiful musical numbers - solos, duets, quartets, choruses - sung by people from different sections of the country in their colorful costumes. Boys with fine· physique performed gymnastics evidencing unusual strength, · skill and grace. I was thinking 26 THE :·PHJLIPPIN:E EDUCATOR the entire evening of · our own ;health, music and art education and what could also be accomplished for the joy and satisfaction of our people and visitors if and when tourism will pass the talking stage and we have places, facilities and activities to attract tourists to our lovely shores. In Switzerland there is no wan.ton waste of man-power and useful time. Trains, planes, boats, and bµsseS. arrive and depart at scheduJed hours. In the hotels, restaurants, business and government ·offices there are no excess employees. Loafing during work nours, "slow men at work" at public. projects, sit-down strikes are -unknown. :.'· All these are seen and done in 'a·· 1and where .at .least on&.quarter of its soil 'is barren, a land without natural resources. SwitzerJand developed . propserity· from -pov.erty, strength from weakness, ·unity from diversity. · · Land ·being limited, the smallest plot of land is cultivated and made to.yield its utmost. ·Vineyard and -orchards are found at the highest possible altitudes. The best-look.1ng sheep and cattle are cared for ·and raised along precipitous moun'tain·:sides. The small farmer-class is the rule; there is no absentee . landlordism. Agricultural output is intensified, methods of plant. ing arid animal-breeding have been modernized and the youilg farmers ·are scientifically trained and they .. apply their training for life im· provement. : Switzerland' educates for -the vorcatl<>:ns and the professions .. Small iJl. territory and population it has . seven universities. Three of them .I visited ·and .I noted that they :ha.ye pyercome: the diversity of Ianguages; Three are official and national ~ German, French, and Italian. A fourth, the Romanish, a Latin dialect, is national but not official. Swiss consciousness proves that languages are not a bar to ihe development of national solidarity and strong nationality. There are a number of technical and technological. schools in . the country. These are sources .of sup,. ply for skilled workers and technicians for the heavy industries, the watch industry, and other industries. Specialized .workers receive technical training from scientific institutions and Iabotatories. · · · · The Swiss love precision and admire quality. The shappy, the ·common-place, trash is abhorred. I saw men and women at· work in the Cortebert watch factory and each has a special work and every one must do good work or else' the ·watch of about 300 little parts will not work well. . The country being without mineral resources, its people had to ·specialize in making small, . useful, and beautiful artieles that ·command good prices in the world's markets. Switzerland · is ·noted fo.r. precision . instruments c;.nd apparatus . and machines. .Good taste, good craftsmanship, good quality . are emphasized m the college and factories. The government of Switzerland is Pl\rliamentary and democratic. The legislative body consists .of two branches, · ( 1) the Council of Estates wherein each canton has two representatives and half~n ton <me, '-nc:l , · (2) . the National Council with member.a elected by universal male iJUffrage through .a . system of proportional representation. The two chambers unite . to THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATOR 27 elect the Federal Council of seven members. This is the executive branch. Each year the Federal Assembly chooses from among the seven members of the Federal Council the President and the Vice-President for the Swiss Confederation. The judiciary, corresponding to our Supreme Court is not in Berne, the capital, but in Lausanne. In Switzerland citizens must be educated and habituated to read because every elector is at the same time a legislator. Acts approved by the legislative body are for the most part subject to review by means of popular ref erendum and popular initiative. One high official, asked about the Swiss Army, said, "Switzerland has no army but the whole nation is an army." This is literally correct. There is but a nucieus of professional soldiers. There is a citizen's army and the youth of Switzerland deem it an honor to . be conscripted. Every citizen is trained as a soldier. The courses and activities in educational institutions are synchroni:1;ed with the national militia system. Every citizen is called for a certain period each year to take part in military maneuvers 'and pursue special courses and special training. He takes bis a!'Ills, his kit and munitions, and . his uniform back home with him and is ever ready for a call to 'arms at any time. The Swiss stress the educational value of army service teaching order, discipline, team work, self-direction, comradeship, cooperation, democracy. I asked many Swiss acquaintances, "Do you have communism?" The unanimous answer is "No. We drive out communists. They are trouble-makers." The citizen army of Switzerland :mirrors good citizenship and serviceable nationhood. The preparedness of the Swiss, their will to defend their native soil, their devotion to peace and freedom have been responsible for the success of their policy of neutrality. Switzerland has education that educates !or work and defense, for productive work and serviceable citizenship. Important Announcement Kepublic Act 728 extends the .filing of pref er.ence for Act 6tiU (for those who have already established their rights to retire under Act 2589) up to December 31, 1952. Just write a letter to the Manager and Actuary, the GSIS, stating your preference to retire under Act 660. Then, accomplish "Designation of Beneficiary" Form, which can be filed later. But letter of preference should reach the System not later than December '31, 1952.