The Meeker herald., 1899-07-08
PORTO RICO SCHOOLS.
CHILDREN STUDYING ENoL,sH
They Eagerly Welcome 1t and 50 Do TheaF
TeachersLThey Honor the ADsssesn
Flag.

when 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 E1ton, who
has Just returned from Porto Hico,
where he was charged with the respon-
sible duties of reorganizing the pubic
schools, THE educational work en-
braced what may be called the ele-
mentary, auxiliary and rural schools,
a school of Industry, a normal school
for girls and a collegiate institute for
bows. The cost Of maintaining the
school Of industry, the normal schooi
and the collegiate institute was paid
from the insular treasury, as they call
IL. and the expenses of the elementary
and rural schools were paid by the mu-
picipalities, Of which there are some
seventy in the island.
1.-The question Of introducing Eng
lish was a delicate one. There were
those who thought it 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 superyis-
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 1t was
necessary in a few instances to send
/ 10 this country for assistants.
1.-The English reader we adopted Is
very simple, and the native teachers
! are required to use 1t. The supervisor
assists the native teachers in pronounc-
I 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 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 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 8 years were COM
PEELED to attend schools. 1t will be our
purpose to extend the limit and compel
| attendance between the ages Of 6 and
16. The children did not get enough
education to benefit them. The new
scheme of instruction embraces only
American ideas, from the kindergarten
mp, including normal schools, both men
tai and manual training. and profes
sional school. Two languages will bt
taught-English and Spanish-but thu
Spanish will be more pure CastilliaI
than in the past. All sectarian instruc
tion has been withdrawn from thu
schools, as under our constitution i
could not be continued. The people ar,
in favor Of excluding religious instruc
ton from the public schools.
81 had to adapt American principle,
and methods of education to the condi
tons in Porto Rico. AS have stated
was able to find among the American
soldiers and residents many personi
competent to act as instructors In Eng
lish. but various municipalities hav'
asked for teachers in addition to thos,
provided by the insular government
There Is one school in Ponce known a
the American school. and it is yer!
popular. Not few children are shed
ding tears because they cannot obtail
admission to it-"-Chicago Record.