The times., 1899-04-22
SWEEPING REFORM In
PORTO RICAN SCHOOLS
How the English Language Is
Being introduced.
Laws 10 Replace the Spanish Sys-
TEN of Education.
ers mt $50 n MOnth-RepOrt on
General Eaton's Work.

DR.. Clark says that il is impossible at
present to offer salaries of more than fifty
dollars per month to American teachers,
with transportation to the island from New
York
The English speaking supervisors are
men, as they have to visit the remote
schools on horseback, through a rough
country. They are Americans, and the
best men that can be had for the money.
Through them General Eaton, the Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, hopes TO de-
velop some system of control by which the
worst abuses found there can be gradually
weeded out. Nominally these supervisors
are expected only to teach English.
At General Eaton's direction DIR. Clark
has prepared a revised course OF study con-
1 tanning only subjects taught in American
| schools, also project for new school law
embodying the main system of apportion-
/ ing State school funds such as is in use
/ in the Western States. This is done with
a view of applying this system TO the aid
F.; given the insular schools which il seems
necessary for the United States Govern
ment in Porto Rico to distribute to the
schools there.
Spanish School Laws.
hHeI lnt american Government LOOK
possession of Porto Rico it found in exist
ence a system of public schools organized
and administered in accordance with the
same educational laws that were in force in
Spain. Formerly under the autonomous
government of the island the supreme di-
rection of the schools was in the hands of a
Cabinet official known as the Secretary of
Education. This former department has
now been made bureau of the Department
of the Interior. under Gen. John Eaton
formerly United States Commissioner of
Education, as director, and DIR. Victor S.
Clark as subdirector.
The bureau of which they are respect
lively the head and subhead includes as
subordinate divisions a division CT records
and a division of English supervision The
division of records has charge of educa-
tonal statistics, the licensing of teachers
the appointment of teachers in the higher
schools and an indirect control over ap-
pointments in the municipal schools, con-
troll of the teachers pension fund. and also
copyrights and public charities, including
the care of the insane.
The recently instituted division of Eng
lish supervision is composed of sixteen
English speaking supervisors whose bust
ness ii is to visit, inspect, and teach Eng
lish in all the schools of the island. Both
of these divisions are under the director
General Eaton. and the subdirector. Dr.
! Clark. who perform administrative func-
tions. recommend educational legislation
authorize courses of study and textbooks
and maintain close supervision over the
entire educational system. This bureau
acts through the Secretary of the Interior
DR.. Francisco del Vale, whose assent
gives legal force TO its recommendations
except in matters Of legislation. which re-
ferred TO Governor General Henry.
No Higher Education.
As understood in the United States
there is no system of higher education il
the Island of Porto Rico. There is. how
| ever, an institute of secondary education
! at San Juan, where lectures are given tc
matricaulated students according 4
the French system. and degree:
given upon the completion of the pre-
scribed courses. But this school does 10
do work advanced enough TO prepare sin-
dents for any American college or uniyer-
sity of standing.
| Affiliated with this institute is a norma
school for boys. There is also separate
| institution known as the normal schoo
for girls. Grammar school subjects ar,
taught. There is little professional train
| ing and no practice teaching under criti
teachers is done. A scAcol Of arts for in
dustrial training was formerly connected
but this is now closed.
AS a rule the public schools of Port,
| Rico are kept open twelve months in tn
! year and six days in the week. In th
| summer only morning sessions are held
Schools are classified as superior and Gle
mentary. in towns; auxiliary, in villages
and rural This classification influences
somewhat, the salaries of teachers bu
does not represent any real difference il
| the grade of work done. There is no CO
| education OF the sexes in the schools o
| Porto Rico and there are practically m
country schools for girls.
No schoolhouses, built for school pur
poses, exist in the island, but in a few in
stances residences are owned by the mu
inequalities and used by the teachers fo
schools. A sum of money is allowed tn
teacher for rent of house, from the publ
funds, and he holds school in his residence
frequently n the common living room
Salaries range from 25 TO so pesos pc
month. and as the peso is rated at so cents
the salaries vary from $3.50 TO s25 pc
month. and in the past have been irregular
ly paid. Supplies are provided by the pub
lie for poor children and only a porto
Of the pupils have text books OF any kint
There are few or no school aids, and i
many cases the pupils bring their ow
chairs 10 sit in during school hours. Th
teachers receive fees from rich pupils an
this leads 10 discrimination in their ia
vor.
Peculiar Customs.
The pupils study aloud and much mem
oritor work is done. the pedagogical systeI
being founded upon the method of teach
ing the catechism. Common school sub
jects, the catechism and fancy needle wor
are taught the girls. In the place OF th
needle work the boys are supposed TO lear
agriculture-from books. In some rur;
schools DO the Boys Hall system
manual labor on the part Of the boys for th
teachers benefit is said to prevail. Teach
ers often keep store and pursue other on;
side occupations, leaving their schools
the hands of assistants whom they pa
! themselves.
There is a teachers pension fund for th
benefit OF superannuated teachers. TIL
| is raised by discount collected upon th
teachers salaries.
About 525 schools are reported in th
entire island and little over $500, 900
annually paid for their support. They al
I supported by local municipal taxation. Tt
total attendance is about $4,000, or az
proximately one in seven of the school poi
ulation. According to conservative est
mates about one person in ten in the is
and can read and write, though there al
no accurate figures obtainable on this sui
ject-
Under General Eaton's administration
English teaching is being rapidly intro
/ duced. and there is a great desire man
tested upon the part of both teachers an
pupils 70 learn this language. About one