New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
SCHOOLS IN PORTO KlCO.
REPORT OF GENERAL JOHN EAloN' FUN
MERLY UNITED STATES COMMITS
sIONER OF EDUCATION.

SIONER OF EDUCATION.
Washington. Feb % (speciaD. General John
Eaton formerly United States commissioner Oh
Education. who was recently appointed ouper"-
tcndcnt of Public instruction in Porto RICO mas
written an interesting letter on the condition ana
needs of public education in that island. The let
ter. which was addressed to Senator Frye. and cop
les of which have been sent to several other Seha
tors and Representatives, reads as follows:
San Juan. Porto Rico February 49, 1899 =
My Dear Sir: by the invitation 9l t Inn COM
mandinz the Department came 10 rort b. Tor Tor
early this year to supervise education hers' and
many and various previous observations anu "a
periences In similar work should not nave uhueL
taken the task There has been system 81 nv the
lie schools here. the elementary supported py fne
municipalities and the two higher grade by tlIe III
sular Goyernment There T. great lack OF OF peops
are extremely poor. Many teachers IN rural 1 1s
trcts have taught many months without pay h Une
schoolhouses In the whole island are reported Pc
longing to the Public Tew text ns3KS ar where
school of seventy pupils only six had BOOKS, N
the matter Of school furniture and equipment SINH
The school laws however have many good feat Feat
ures The most favorable reports claim tnat olIs
half the pupils have attended school Ihere are are ~
exact statistics but local authorities report that a.
Snnnish ideas laws custOms-shut in by the span
ish language. English must be the medium Tor
knowiedge ana love Of American institutions and
affairs Naturally there will ho division or senu-
lining 10 retain control By maintaining the old
order may take advantage Of this love Tor the past
10 reqiSt the coming I'm of American IDEAS 1870,
on the other hand. there is a large and enthusl-
astc demand Just at present for all that Is Amer
asm NAV accomplish mu"h If improved Al once. II
neglected a reaction must be expected. The tnlted
ala to education in this great change. although II
is here efficiently as IT must be win us Army
and Navy and Treasury and postal service. uolls
the best Of work for the now order in those re,
spectve lines Al is in the minitary grasp ana g.r
there has been no such opposition 10 the | nue1
States in cuba and In the Philippines This peace
reduce the expense Of military occupation and
early render il entirely unn@"' ssary VIA query
sult is he le1rnirE = English General Henry has
felt th. # such vital tmportanc" thaL ne III ~
teachers OF English so month. twelve months
Of the year American money. The plan We have
adopted rs AZ the same Tine m" m2st efo, ri
~ eyery nnn1 and reoure regular daily lessons
The teacher Of the school must SOC that this work
is done as required and special teacher oI FRI
size Visits each school twice week and sees that
the English is correctly pronounced ana written
,I,it 20 mnder tho sunoryeion Of the Super
~, M tbird The salary OF each teacher OF Eng
Itsb i,no, condition that the municipalities paid the
other two-thirds and 3Coo for English readers ana
other aids in primary English for the nrst yeat n
friction. How could SO small sum oe spent IN
This win reach you very late in the session: !
know. but can It not he done by the insertion o. =
single clause i'm some appropriation bill? may say
I'm addition mat We pro trying TO put patriotic
American song book into every school that WITH
Tho assistance of LAFAYETTE Post the American
DAG has been distributed 10 the schools and is
luted bv tho children every dav. and that the
United states Commissioner 81 Eduoation mas So,
cured from the Public Land Office two hundred and
nfty maps Of The United Statea for the schools
here Besides this. portraits Of eminent Americans
rave been hung the schoolrOOm walls. ana lena
interest to the stories Of American history
For adults evening schools served by volunteer
teachers without recomDcnse. have been estao-
lished for tho special teaching OF English Courses
Of lectures upon American subjects are being pre-
pa red to he delivered in the theatre with the ala
Of stereopticon views. An American library, the
Ia sis for which consists Of volumes contributed by
American publishers. has been started here under
the administration of tn" Supcrintendent OF run
lie Instruction and viii by system OF loans, try
to reach the whole island. Books are arriV MS ana
seven thousand volumes ere thought TO be already
i'm sight General Henry approves all that Is being
done