ACE vs.

Conventional School: A Comparative and

Contrastive Study

A report submitted to Ms. Julie Gonzales.

Las Piñas City National Senior High School ─ Talon Campus

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in PRACTICAL

RESEARCH I

By:

Andrey Urmineta

Rossette Blanco

Leomil Openiano

Jana Padua

Christine Simpao

i
 Abstract

The researchers came up to an idea of having a research about comparing two

school curricula, the traditional curriculum or the conventional curriculum, and ACE
curriculum. ACE stands for Accelerated Christian Education. We decided to conduct this
type of study because we want to know what are the differences and similarities of
these two curricula. The conventional curriculum, also known as traditional curriculum,
is the most common curriculum used in schools. It is where teachers necessarily need
to teach students in a classroom and give out assignments or seat works for their
grades. The ACE curriculum, on the other hand, is an individualized and mastery based
curriculum. It means that students in this kind of school are expected to learn to be an
independent student and having a mindset of “aim high to pass”. This is achieved by
using PACES, the booklets where they answer their given works. They get incentives if
they have high grades and able to finish certain requirements on time. While in the
traditional curriculum, some teachers only give incentives to students who have the
highest mark. Some students in the ACE curriculum (who were enrolled in a
conventional curriculum before) say that the education in their curriculum is better than
the other. Why? Because teachers get to focus on a student since their population is not
numerous. Some students in the conventional curriculum say theirs is better. Because
it’s more fun learning in their school since they’ve got lots of topic-related activities.
These answers are based on the survey we conducted among two schools here in Las
Piñas City. For the conventional, we asked students from Merry Treasure School. For
the ACE curriculum, we asked students from Las Piñas Baptist Academy. Find out more
in the following chapters of our research. We chose this topic to help parents, students,
and teachers to be educated about the two different curricula and help them to decide
whether it would be good for their child or not, if the student is capable of the curriculum,
and if the teacher needs help about what school curriculum he/she would want to teach
at.

ii
 Acknowledgement

The researchers would like to express their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the
individual who help in this research paper:

Ms. Julieta Gonzales, Practical Research I Teacher, for her expertise and
assistance specially for the patience, understanding, and warm kindness in making the
research successful, for the constant supervision, guidance, untiring effort and patience
in checking the manuscript.

As well, Mr. Alejandrino Rabutan, adviser, for the moral support and
encouragements.

To their beloved parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives for the moral and
financial assistance, love and understanding who serve as their great inspiration in this
study.

And above all the Almighty Heavenly Father for infinite wisdom and unconditional
love, which inspired them to overcome every obstacle and challenges.

The Researchers

iii
 Table of Contents
Page
Title Page……………………………………………………………………………………….....i
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………..ii
Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………………….iii
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………..iv
Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background………………………………………………….1
 Introduction……………………………………………………………………....1
 Background & Rationale………………………………………………………..2
 Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………...2
 Scope and Delimitation of the Study………………………………………….3
Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework…………………………………………………………….4
 RRL of the Study………………………………………………………………..5
 Definition of Variables…………………………………………………………..7
Chapter 3: Research Methodology……………………………………………………………..8
 Research Design & Instruments………………………………………………8
 Locale of the Study……………………………………………………………..8
 Respondents…………………………………………………………………….8
 Data-Gathering Procedure……………………………………………………..9
Chapter 4: Analysis & Interpretation of Data………………………………………………..10
Chapter 5: Summary of Findings, Conclusion, & Recommendation……………………….26
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………….29

iv
 Chapter I

I. Introduction.

As a Chinese philosopher has said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him
for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” But what if
there was no one to teach that man? In this study, we aim to compare and
contrast the difference between an ACE and a Conventional School. As we all
know, finding a good job requires things such as a good education and
background. The only way to improve and change this world we are living right
now is through acquiring knowledge and skills that we can absolutely use in the
future. Based from observation, an ACE school aims to train children to be
independent while a conventional way of teaching teaches students to be
dependent to the teacher. This study investigates about the curricula of an ACE
School and Conventional School, its effects to the students, and will determine
which curriculum will help more in improving the learning skills and knowledge of
the students. Our group also wants to help parents to know the benefits of each
curriculum so that they can choose the right school for their child. Not only the
child that will benefit while they're learning, but they will benefit in the future too,
because if they have a good education, they'll have a good job (as what we have
said earlier). This research will also help the two curricula in a way in which, they
would see the downsides that they can use to help improving the curriculum.

1
 II. Background and Rationale.

Education is a necessity and choosing a curriculum could help you to have a

good education. In our research we will be able to discuss about these two curricula: the
Traditional School (Conventional) and the ACE, Accelerated Christian Education.

According to Wikipedia, the traditional education also known as conventional

school has a classroom setting that promotes progressive education practices, where
social skills are also acquired. Credit for our modern version of the school system
usually goes to Horace Mann. When he became Secretary of Education in
Massachusetts in 1837, he set forth his vision for a system of professional teachers who
would teach students an organized curriculum of basic content.

Based on our research, the ACE was founded in 1970 by Donald Howard and
Esther Howard. According to them, it is already use in over 6,000 schools in more than
100 countries. This learning system has been criticized for its content, heavy reliance on
the use of rote recall as a learning tool and for the educational outcomes of pupils on
leaving the Accelerated Christian Education system both in the US and the United
Kingdom.

III. Statement of the Problem.

This study investigates about the curricula of Accelerated Christian

Education Schools and Conventional Schools, its effectiveness on the students,

and determines which school is best that will help improve the learning skills and

knowledge of the students.

2
Related Questions:

1. How does the curriculum of each school (ACE and Conventional) affect the students?

2. Which type of curriculum is more effective? Is it ACE or Conventional School?

3. Does the students’ performance depend on the type of school they belong?

4. What are the differences between these two curricula?

IV. Scope and Delimitation of the Study.

This research study is limited only to the students of an ACE School and a

Conventional School, ranging from age 13-18 years old. Accelerated Christian

Education (ACE) is a school curriculum that provides students with academics,

skill building, reading practice, character and wisdom training, and knowledge of

God and His Word. This complete package begins with reading development and

progresses through high school, giving students a solid foundation for pursuing

their life goals. On the other hand, conventional education is the long-established

customs that society traditionally used in schools. It will discuss the learning

styles of the students, styles of teaching, and its advantages and disadvantages.

Chapter II
I. Conceptual Framework.

ACE vs. Conventional School:

A Comparative and Contrastive Study

Las Piñas Baptist Merry Treasure

Academy School

Survey

Which
curriculum is
more effective?

ACE Conventional
School
School

II. Related Research Literature.

 (Wikipedia: Articles 2017, Accelerated Christian Education)
 Accelerated Christian Education was founded in 1970 by Donald and
Esther Howard. They set about developing a biblically literalist educational
curriculum with Donald Howard travelling to promote ACE schools around the
world as a new form of “educational mission”.

 (Anonymous, 2017 – 2018, Accelerated Christian Education, Inc.)

What makes A.C.E. different from other curriculum providers is its

individualized, self-instructional, mastery-based approach. PACEs allow students
to absorb subject material at their own pace rather than being forced to learn at a
pace set by a teacher in a classroom environment. Instead of being labeled by a
chronological grade, each student may advance according to individual learning
abilities. For instance, a student placed in the fifth grade in a traditional school
setting may be taking varying levels of PACEs in the A.C.E. system. This same
student could be taking Level 4 math, Level 5 science, and Level 5 English.
Students may move ahead in some subject areas and proceed at a slower pace
in others.

 (Shirley Ann, 2013, Accelerated Christian Education – A Review)

A.C.E. is a self-paced, self-study type curriculum. The children take

ownership of their studies. It is definitely a Christian curriculum science is taught
from a creationist view and each PACE incorporates Scripture, Godly character
building and wisdom principles. Children work in workbooks called PACE’s. Each
subject has 12 workbooks per year. The child sets his own goals (mo. of pages to
be worked per PACE) each day. Depending on the child’s ability, it is
recommended that they do between 3 and 5 pages per PACE per day.

5
 (Wikipedia: Articles 2017, Traditional Education)

The traditional education, also known as conventional school, has a

classroom setting that promotes progressive education practices, where social
skills are also acquired. Credit for our modern version of the school system
usually goes to Horace Mann. When he became Secretary of Education in
Massachusetts in 1837, he set forth his vision for a system of professional
teachers who would teach students an organized curriculum of basic content.

 (Julie Alice Huson, 2018, The Advantages of Traditional School)

Choices in education abound, and many parents are curious about

exploring all the options. However, the traditional model of classroom education
is what’s familiar the most. Despite the criticism, this model of school receives
from some classrooms are headed by one teacher within the school community
has a specific advantages that explain the reasons for its widespread appeal.
Most children benefit from and thrive in this form of education.

6
III. Definition of Variables/Terms.

 Curriculum – it is defined as the courses that are taught or offered by

a school, college or an educational institution.

 ACE School – it is an American company which produces

”Accelerated Christian Education” school curriculum structured around
a literal interpretation of the Bible and which teaches other academic
subjects from a Protestant fundamentalist or conservative Evangelical
standpoint. It is also known as “Self-Study School”.

 Conventional School – it is also known as “Traditional Education”. It

is defined as teacher-centered delivery of instructions to classes of
students who are the receivers of information.

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 Chapter III

I. Research Methodology.

This chapter presents the research design, locale of the study, the
respondents, and the data gathering procedure. It contains the information about
the respondents needed in this study.

II. Research Design and Instruments.

This study conducted a descriptive-survey research in both ACE School

and Conventional School. The purpose of this type of research is to compare and
contrast both curricula to be able to help them improve their system.

III. Locale of the Study.

We, the researchers, conducted a research in Las Piñas Baptist Academy,

an ACE School, and in Merry Treasures School, a Conventional School, on Junior
High School students. We needed 20 respondents from each school. We made
contact with potential respondents with the use of survey questions for the
participation of this survey research in order to conduct.

The co-researchers set the following criteria: (1) They must be studying in
an ACE School or Conventional School or have been enrolled to both schools; (2)
they must be Junior High School students.

8
IV. Respondents

The respondents of the study were Junior High School students from

different levels of Las Piñas Baptist Academy, an ACE School, and students from

different sections of Merry Treasure School, a Conventional School.

V. Data Gathering Procedure

To conduct this study, researchers asked permission to the assistant of

the principal to give the survey questions to the students. The researchers solicited

the support of Junior High school students of Las Piñas Baptist Academy and

Merry Treasure Academy. The data for this research were collected using guide

questions. The researchers prepared at least 10 questions for the respondents.

Researchers gathered the data by using a survey questionnaire. The answers

have been analyzed and interpreted according to the specific problems set forth.

The researchers came up with a theme that suited the answers of the co-

researchers.

9
 Chapter IV

I. Analysis and Interpretation of Data

ACE SCHOOL: LAS PIÑAS BAPTIST ACADEMY

5%

45% Christian /Values

Parents/ Family
50% Good Curriculum

CHART 1

Students’ Response Why They Chose To Enroll In an ACE Program

In this part, students chose to enroll in this kind of curriculum because of

values and their religion. Some students responded that it is because of their
parents’ decision.

45%
Affect
55% Doesn’t Affect

CHART 2

10
 Students’ Response on Their School Performance

In this part of study, the school curriculum affects the students’

performance based on their PACEs or modules. Also, they can manage their
time, improve their academic performances and it is easy to understand the
lessons.

For other students, the school curriculum does not affect their
performance because they have time for other things and they get used to the
curriculum. And some students view that both curricula are just the same.

5%

Help
Doesn't Help

95%

CHART 3

Students’ Response on How Their Curriculum Help Them Understand Their

Lessons

One student answered that some of them are too shy to ask questions to
their supervisors/teachers.

Some of them agreed because it’s easier to study in a quiet place. Others
said that their teachers help them understand the lessons easier. They even
thought that self-studying is a better way of learning. And most of them stated
that their PACE’s have complete instructions that help them understand every
lesson.

11
 35%
Affect
Doesn’t Affect
65%

CHART 4

Students’ Response on How Their Curriculum Affects Their Study Habits

Several students believe it affect them slightly, for they still have time to do
other things. They are able to focus on their studies for the reason that their
teachers help them.
Many students replied that they want to achieve their goals. Few
answered that it is easy, and that they learned to be independent. And a student
said that he wanted to please others and God.

40%
Affect

60% Doesn’t Affect

CHART 5
12
Students’ Response If the Curriculum Affects Their Interaction with Their
Fellow Students

Many students refused that their interaction with other students was not
affected because all of them are friendly and it’s just the same with conventional
school.
Some of them agreed for the reason that their curriculum teaches them
Christian values, it produces healthy competition and that they already used to
attend home school.

Helpful

100%

CHART 6.1
Students’ Response on Their Teachers, If They Help Them Understand the
Lessons

Most of the students in Las Piñas Baptist Academy agreed that their

teaching helps them to understand the lesson that is not very clear to them.

13
 Creative Ways

100%

CHART 6.2
Students’ Response on Their Teachers, If They Have Creative Ways for
Them to Understand the Lessons

Most of the students in Las Piñas Baptist Academy agreed that their
teachers have their own creative ways to understand the lessons.

10%

Effective
Not Effective

90%

CHART 7
Students’ Response If They Think That Their School Curriculum Is
Effective
Many students believed that their school curriculum is effective. Two out of
twenty students stated that their school curriculum is not effective.
14
 It is effective for them because they have their education that they wanted,
they can have their time to study their PACEs, and it also encouraged them to
be more responsible and diligent in their studies. For other students, their
school curriculum is not effective because they don’t learn much and the same
thing goes with conventional school.

10%

20% Easy
Hard
Average
70%

CHART 8.1

Students’ Response on How Hard Learning in an ACE School

The majority of students from Las Piñas Baptist Academy rated that their
learning system in their school is too hard because they need to catch up with
the lessons and requirements or it will pile up. Also it is hard for them because
they need to memorize their lessons.

For others, the learning system from their school is too easy because even
if you fail the test you have a chance to retake it.

15
 5%

20% Easy
45%
Hard
Average

30% No Experience

CHART 8.2

Students’ Response on How Hard Learning in a Conventional School If

They Have Experienced Studying in a Conventional School

Several of our respondents have not been enrolled in a conventional

school due to personal reasons.

Approximately half of the students that have experienced both curricula

rated that it is average because the lessons are clearly taught. Some said it is
easy because if there are no teachers, then there are no classes. Most of the
students said it’s hard for they do not understand some of the topics without the
presence of an explaining teacher

15%

Want to Change
Doesn’t Want to Change

85%

CHART 9

16
 Students’ Response If They Want To Change Their School Curriculum

Few students wanted to transfer to a Conventional School because it is

hard to obtain the passing grade and the school itself implements strict rules.

But majority of our respondents answered no because it helps them

develop Christian character and made them who they are today. Two students
refuse to change their curriculum for their reason that it is entertaining and they
are accustomed to the environment. And they are more familiar and already used
to the curriculum. Some said that it is easier to study in this kind of school.

45%
ACE School
55% Both Curricula

CHART 10

Students’ Response to the Differences of the Two Curricula If They

Attended Both

As we have said in chart 8.2, there are students who have not been
enrolled in a conventional school. For this reason, approximately half of our
respondents were pure ACE students.

17
 ACE Schools teach Christian Values and about God. They have a more
understandable way of teaching students. They use PACEs/ modules as self-
study with the guidance of their teachers.

CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL: MERRY TREASURE SCHOOL

30%

Near their house and cheap

Family-related Decision
70%

CHART 1

Students’ Response Why They Chose To Enroll In Conventional Program

In this part of study, most of the students chose to enroll in this kind of
curriculum because the school is located near in their houses. While some
students responded that it is because of the decision of their family, specially
their parents.

18
 20%

Affect
Doesn’t Affect

80%

CHART 2

Students’ Response on Their School Performance

In this study, the school curriculum affects the performance of the students
in achieving the academic awards and getting higher grades because they are
motivated to study hard.

Some students responded that they are distracted in some things

and it is because of the curriculum they belong. Few of them responded that
the school curriculum not really affects their performance in school.

20%

Not Sure
Helpful

80%

CHART 3

19
Students’ Response on How Their Curriculum Help Them Understand Their
Lessons

Out of twenty students, only two answered that they are not sure if the
school’s curriculum really helps them to understand the lessons better.

Others agreed that they understand the lessons better by the help of their
teachers and their visual aids that are used in the discussion.

25%
45% Affect
Doesn’t Affect
Not Sure
30%

CHART 4

Students’ Response on How Their Curriculum Affects Their Study Habits

Few students answered that they don’t know if the school’s curriculum
really affects their study habits.

Some of them responded that it doesn’t affect their study habits. Many
students agreed that the school’s curriculum really affects their study habits in
terms of studying. Some students from Merry Treasure School stated that there
are times they study less because it’s boring and sometimes they need more
time to study their lessons to understand it better.

20
 5%

Affect
Doesn’t Affect

95%

CHART 5

Students’ Response If the Curriculum Affects Their Interaction With Their

Fellow Students

Most of the student responded that their school curriculum does not effect
on how they interact with their fellow students.

Out of twenty students, only one believes that their school curriculum it
affects their interaction with their fellow students for the reason that some of their
plans are cancelled of their school activities.

Helpful

100%

Chart 6.1

21
Students’ Response on Their Teachers, If They Help Them Understand the
Lessons

All of the students agreed that their teachers help them when they have
difficulties in understanding their lessons.

Creative Ways

100%

Chart 6.2

Students’ Response on Their Teachers, If They Have Creative Ways for

Them to Understand the Lessons

Students responded that their teachers use creative ways in teaching, it is

for them to understand the lessons. Their teachers make the discussion in a
way of giving entertaining questions, visual aids, power point presentations and
having lesson-related activities.

22
 25%

Effective
Not Effective
75%

CHART 7

Students’ Response If They Think That Their School Curriculum Is

Effective

Most of the students believed that their school curriculum is effective

because they are learning new things and their teachers help them to understand
the lessons, also to get higher grades and achievements.

Some students stated that it’s not effective because sometimes, some of
their teachers didn’t help them.

5%

Average
No Experience

95%

CHART 8.1

Students’ Response on How Hard Learning in an ACE School If They

Have Experienced Studying in an ACE School

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 Only one student of Merry Treasure School experienced or has been
enrolled to an ACE School before. He rated the learning system average
because PACEs help them a lot in their studies.

15%

Average
Easy

85%

CHART 8.2

Students’ Response on How Hard Learning in a Conventional School

Many students of Merry Treasure School rated their curriculum as

average. They stated that sometimes they have difficulties in understanding the
lessons and it caused them stress. But sometimes their teachers are helping
them to understand the lessons easier.

Few of them responded that their assignments, projects and activities are
easy to do because of their way of studying or learning.

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 20%

Want to Change
Doesn't Want to Change

80%

CHART 9

Students’ Response If They Want To Change Their School Curriculum

Few students from Merry Treasure School wanted to transfer in an ACE

School because they want to try a new curriculum and to challenge their selves.

But majority of them answered that they don’t want to transfer in an ACE
School because they are contented and they enjoying their studies in a
Conventional School.

5%

Conventional School
Both Curricula

95%

CHART 10

25
 Students’ Response to the Differences of the Two Curricula If They
Attended Both

As we have said, in chart 8.1 only one student experienced or enrolled in

an ACE School. He stated that their teachers in an ACE School are more
focused on their students.

Meanwhile, in Conventional School, students needed teachers for them to

understand the lessons.

Chapter V

This chapter presents the Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation.

I. Findings.

According to our findings, these two curricula have their different

advantages and disadvantages. ACE Schools tend to develop students who

may not be used to learning through self-expression because of its

individualized way of learning. On the other hand, some Conventional

Schools may have the possibility of students to develop teacher dependence

on their own learning.

26
 One advantages of ACE School is that they teach their students to be

independent from their teachers. They are able to develop their own study

habits because of individualized system of learning. They make sure that their

students understand their lessons so when they graduate or transfer to

another school they would still be able to remember the lessons they’ve

learned.

On the other hand, Conventional Schools provide an easy but

interesting way of educating students by the help of their teachers and

professors. Students also develop their socialization skills together with their

fellow students.

II. Conclusion.

As researchers, we have come to conclude that both curricula have

advantages about their learning systems for the students to have good

education, and they also have disadvantages that may vary with other

students.

We found different perspectives from our respondents. And according

to them, the way students learn still depends on how they deal or adapt with

the learning system of a certain curriculum.

27
III. Recommendation.

Based on the findings of our study, we recommend the following:

1. For ACE Schools, we recommend that they should have an activity, event, or

program that will enhance socialization skills of students.

2. Meanwhile, for Conventional Schools, we recommend that they should improve

or develop varying teaching styles for educating students considering also the

individualization or distinction on the way how different students learn depending

on the learning styles of students.

3. Also for Conventional Schools, we advise teachers and professors the need to

create a more effective, yet enjoyable way of educating so that students will be

more productive in learning the discipline of the subject.

4. Another recommendation for ACE School is that they should implement less

strict rules and lower their standards in terms of passing grades for the students

to easily cope up with their studies.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anonymous, 2017 – 2018, Accelerated Christian Education, Inc. Retrieved

from https://www.aceministries.com

Ann, Shirley, 2013, Accelerated Christian Education – a Review. Retrieved

from https://www.thecurriculumchoice.com/accelerated-christian-education-a-c-e-review

Huson, Julie Alice, 2018, The Advantages of Traditional School. Retrieved

from education.seattlepi.com/advantages-traditional-schools-2140.html

Wikipedia: Articles 2017, Accelerated Christian Education Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Christian_Education

Wikipedia: Articles 2017, Traditional Education. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_education

29