Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-02
SCHOOLS IN PORTO RICO
Their Entire Administration on the Island
Recognized,
A Board of Education Formed and Its
Duties Specifically De-
fined.

the governor general of Porto Rico. Brig
adler General Geo. w. Davis. general or
ders 90, dated July g. 1899, which in effect
reorganizes the entire school administra-
ton of the island.
One of the results of the order is to les
sen the expenses of administering the
schools of the island. The further object
of the reorganization is to secure the ad-
vantage of competent counsel in education
al matters, 10 secure every necessary ad-
vantage in the work of educating the youth
of the island, and upon the recommended
ton of the director of public instruction. to
establish board of education similar to the
boards in the states of the Union have
been constituted.
The board is to act in a general advisory
and experimenting capacity over the edu-
cational interests of Porto Rico, and is TO
report directly to the governor general of
the island.
The board is to consist of five members
and of men conversant with educational
affairs. They are to serve without compen-
Sat1on except for necessary travelling eN-
peESeS. Three members are to constitute
quorum for the transaction of business.
Meetings are to be held monthly at the Of
fee of the president of the school board
in San Juan, and at such other times as
the board may deem necessary.
The employees of the bureau Of education,
as provided for in the educational budget
lci lliG tOllbiliS iStdi year, are ~ We u dliS-
ferred to the board Of education. The bu-
reau will then cease to exist. 1t is pro-
vided that the president of the school board
shall perform the duties formerly falling
upon the director of public instruction, eN-
cept 50 far as they modified by the or
der named.
Duties of the Board.
The duties of the board of education are:
First, 10 receive complaints and petitions
from citizens, or teachers, affecting public
instruction, and to act upon the same.
Second. To approve the warrants for ap-
preparations. due the bureau of education
and to audit and approve the monthly
financial report to the auditor of public in
struetion to the auditor of the island.
3. To approve the appointment Of ad-
ministrative officers and teachers in sec
endary and higher schools.
4. To grade schools and determine the
course of studies, examinations and stand
ard OF requirements to be maintained in
schools of different grades; to grant char
tiers to private educational institutions de-
string to confer degrees; to grant diplomas
to students who have completed required
courses in chartered educational institu-
uons in public institution under the
direct supervision of the board.
.. To decide, subject to approval Of the
governor general, upon the sites and loca-
ton of public educational institutions un-
der the direct control of the state, and upon
the appropriations necessary for the sup
port of the same, and to supervise and con-
troll the erection, maintenance and repairs
of buildings occupied by such institutions,
and of the furniture and apparatus en-
plOyed in the same.
q. To nominate to the governor general
suitable persons as members of the local
boards of trustees in each municipality, TO
perform the duties now performed by local
juntas of public instruction wherever in the
judgment of the board such change is deem
ed advisable. To make a quarterly return
to the governor general of the property Of
a 81 he iDrl
under its direct charge. with list of their
employees and salaries.
8. To recommend notifications and
amendment to the school laws.
g. Appeals from the decisions of the board
may be taken to the governor general
The board is as follows: Victor 5. Clark,
Phi. D., acting director Of public instruc-
ton, San Juan teX-oftlcio}. Geo. c. Croft,
NJ. D, PHI. D., ex-presdent of Bucknell Uni
yersity, Pennsylvania, San Juan; Prof.
Henry Huyke, Arroyo; Jose E. Saldana NJ.
D. San Juan; K. II. Todd, San Juan.
DIR. CIark's Statement
In connection with the above reorganiza-
| ton of the board, DR.. Clark, president of
the board of education. takes occasion to
state that the organization of an insular
board of education, which assumes many Of
the functions formerly belonging 10 the
director of public instruction, and to the
inspectors, concludes the series of admins
trative reforms in this department that
lures, and have resulted in great economies
in the matter OF salaries. He says that at
the time of American occupation the Off
Gals OF the board of education were receiV-
ing %, 100 pesos per annum.
During the six months following the
American occupation this salary list was
1906 pesos, until March /, after which
salaries Were paid in gold, and the salary
list was $1,000, currency OF the United
States
Under the reorganized bureau, for the
present fiscal year, the salary list will be
S1,220 per annum, and this includes the
salary of an English bookkeeper and CASH
Ter, under bond, not previously employed,
as under the new system of financial adj
minfstration the educational budget is ex-
pended and accounted for to the United
States auditor directly by the educational
authorities, duty formerly fa--ing upon
the department of finance.