The silver star., 1899-07-07
PORTO RICO sCHOO|
CHILDREN STUDYING ENC,
They Eagerly Welcome 1t and SO n.
Tcachcrs-They Honor the A..
F1ag.

when l reached Porto Rico
the educational activities of the
were based on the Spanish school
of 1857, as modified by later row,
crees," said General John Eaton
has just returned from Porto
where he was charged with the M
sible duties Of recognizing the h
schools. 1.-The educational work
braced what may be called thu
mentary, auxiliary and rural sci
a school of industry, a normal =
for girls and collegiate institut
boys. The cost Of maintainIns|
school Of industry, the normal \
and the collegiate institute was
from the insular treasury, as they
IL, and the expenses of the elemel
and rural schools were paid by thu
inequalities, Of which there are
seventy In the island.
The question of introducing
fish was delicate one. There
those who thought 1t would Great
ritation, but the plan adopted wa
natural one. A reader in English
put into the schools and the d
were assigned regular lessons in
simple reader. The island was d
into sixteen divisions and n supe
ing teacher in English was asst
to each division. who visited
school and saw that the English
correctly pronounced. These supel
ing teachers were selected from au|
Americans who resided in Porto |
and the soldiers who We're sent d
from the United States, although III
necessary in few Instances to
10 this country for assistants.
1.-THE English reader we adopte1
very simple, and the native tead
are required TO use it. The superb
assists the native teachers in promo
ing the English words There are
fewer than 10000 children now le
ing English, and instead of opposi
to the Introduction of our lang
there is great desire for it. The n
lar teachers are pleased that they
an opportunity to learn it, and
children take to it with special Il
est. Writing in English was alst
PRODUCED. and patriotic songs in
lish. including The Borinquen,' thu
tional air of Porto Rico. One Of
most delightful things down there
the presentation Of national flag
each school by the Lafayette poi
the Grand Army Of the Republi
New York. Now a visitor who
into the schools Of Porto Rico will
the flag saluted in English wit
much enthusiasm and as beauti
as anywhere in the United States.
school children sing the American
with q great deal Of enthusiasm
Under the old Spanish law" CO
ued General Eaton, education
compulsory. That is. children bet
the ages Of q and o years were
PEELED to attend schools. 1t will b
purpose to extend the limit and CO
attendance between the ages Of {
10. The children did not get en-
education to benefit them. The
scheme of instruction embraces
American ideas, from the kinderg
up. including normal schools, both
tai and manual training, and a pl
sional school. Two languages w
taught-English and Spanish-bu
Spanish will be more pure Cast
than In the past. All sectarian In,
ton has been withdrawn from
schools, as under our constituti
could not be continued. The peopl
in favor Of excluding religious In,
ton from the public schools.
II had to adapt American prin'
and methods of education to the G
tions In Porto Rico. AS l have 81
! was able to find among the Anne
soldiers and residents many pc
competent to act as instructors In
fish. but various municipalities
asked for teachers In addition to
provided by the insular govern
There is one school In Ponce kno,
the American school. and II Is
popular. Not a few children are
ding tears because they cannot G
admission to it."-Chicago Recor