Gilpin observer., 1899-07-06
PORTO RICO SCHOOLS.
CHILDREN srUDYINo ENGLISH
They Eagerly Welcome It and so Do Their
Tcschers-They Honor the American

when I reached Porto Rico found
the educational activities of the island
were based on the Spanish school law
of 1857, as modified by later royal de-
crees," said General John Eaton, who
has just returned from Porto Rico,
where he was charged with the respon-
sible duties Of reorganizing the public
schools. 1.-THE educational work en-
braced what may be called the ele-
mentary, auxiliary and rural schools,
a school of industry, normal school
for girls and a collegiate institute for
boys. The cost of maintaining the
school of industry, the normal school
and the collegiate institute was paid
from the insular treasury, as they call
II, and the expenses Of the elementary
and rural schools were paid by the mu-
inequalities, Of which there are some
seventy in the island.
"The question of introducing Eng
liSh was a delicate one. There were
those who thought 1t would create ir-
ritatiOn, but the plan adopted was the
natural one. A reader in English was
put into the schools and the pupils
were assigned regular lessons in this
simple reader. The island was divid-
into sixteen divisions and a supervis-
ing teacher in English was assigned
to each division, who visited each
school and saw that the English was
correctly pronounced. These supervis-
ing teachers were selected from among
Americans who resided in Porto Rico
and the soldiers who were sent there
from the United States, although it was
necessary in a few instances to send
10 this country for assistants.
"The English reader we adopted is
very simple, and the native teachers
are required to use it. The supervisor
assists the native teachers in prOnounc-
ing the English words. There are not
fewer than 10000 children now learn
ing English, and instead of opposition
to the Introduction of our language
there is a great desire for it. The regu-
lar teachers are pleased that they have
an opportunity to learn it, and the
children take to it with special inter-
est Writing in English was also in
troduced, and patriotic songs in Eng
lish, including The BorinQuen,' the ma
tional air of Porto Rico. One of the
most delightful things down there was
the presentation of national flags to
each school by the Lafayette post of
the Grand Army of the Republic in
New York. Now a visitor who goes
into the schools of Porto Rico will find
the flag saluted in English with as
much enthusiasm and as beautifully
as anywhere in the United States. The
school children sing the American airs
with great deal of enthusiasm.
"Under the old Spanish law" contin-
ued General Eaton, education was
compulsory. That is, children between
the ages Of 6 and 0 years were COM
PEELED to attend schools. 1t will be our
purpose to extend the limit and compel
attendance between the ages Of and
16. The children did not get enough
education to benefit them. The new
scheme of instruction embraces only
American ideas, from the kindergarten
up, including normal schools, both men
tai and manual training, and profess
sional school. Two languages will be
taught-English and Spanish-but the
Spanish will be more pure Castillian
than in the past. All sectarian instruc-
tiOn has been withdrawn from the
schools, as under our constitution 1t
could not be continued. The people are
in favor of excluding religious instruc-
tiOn from the public schools.
II had to adapt American principles
and methods of education to the condi-
tions in Porto Rico. AS l have stated,
was able to find among the American
soldiers and residents many persons
competent to act as instructors in Eng
lish, but various municipalities have
asked for teachers in addition TO those
provided by the insular government.
There is one school In Ponce known MS
the American school. and 1t is very
popular. Not a few children are she'd
ding tears because they cannot obtain
admission to it."-Chicago Record.
In, Dl,yIt