New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-22
rnTCATION IN PORTO RICO
-,poRT OF THE sUB-DIRECTOR OF.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
,,ocREss IN THE INTRODUCTION OF
.urRrcAN METHoDs-ENTIRE REFoR-
NATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
WELL UNDER WAY.
r,y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

WELL UNDER WAY.
rny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBuSE.l
.srgton. April 21.-Assistant Secretary
.s,n.obn gave out for publication to-day a pre-
s,-s,v report from DIR. Victor s. Clark. Sub Di-
..o- ~ Public Instruction of Porto Rico on the
- NJ educational matters In the island
So renort will follow in short time Mr. Clark
is r that II is impossible ct present 10 offer saa-
-. ~ more than $50 month to American teach
~ with transportation TO the island from New
s.,r The Englsh-speaking supervisors are men,
= .,sv have 10 visit the remote schools on horse
ssor travelling through rough country. They
=. Americans. and the best men that can be had
-, the money Through them General Eaton, the
s.,sr,ntendent Of Public Instruction. hopes to de-
ulop some system Of control by which the worst
.,uses found there can be gradually weeded out
Nomnally these supervisors expected only to
teach English
Al General Eaton's direction DR.. Clark has pre-
,ared a revised course OF study, containing only
subiects taught in American schools: also project
for new school law embodying the main system
n apportoning State school funds. such as Is In
use IN the Western States. This is done with
view Of applying this system 10 the aid given the
,nsular schools. which it seems necessary for the
r,n,ted States Government in Porto Rico to dis
tribute 10 the schools there
REPLACING THE SPANISH SYSTEM.
When the American Government took possession
~ Porto Rico It found In existence a system OF
,ublic schools organized and administered in &C
.o,asnce with the same educational laws that were
IN force IN Spain. Formerly under the autonomous
government Of the island the supreme direction of
tha schools was in the hands of Cabinet official
known as the Secretary OF Education This De-
nartment has now been made bureau Of the De-
na,tment Of the Interior under General John
Eaton formerly United States Commissioner of
. 1ortyo
subdirector The bureau Of which they are re-
snectlvely the head and sub-head includes as
subordinate divisions a Division of Records and
riyison Of English Supervision The Division of
Records has charge OF educational statistics. the
licensing Of teachers. the appointment of teachers
in the higher schools and an indirect control over
amendments in the municipal schools. control OF
the teachers pension fund and also copyright and
nublc charities including the Of the insane.
The recently Instituted Division Of English Super
vision IS composed of sixteen English-speaking
Supervisors, whose business II is 10 visit inspect
and teach English in all the schools OF the Island
Both Of these divisions under the director.
General Eaton and the sub-director. Dr. Clark,
who perform administrative functions. 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. Fran
cisco Del Vale whose assent gives legal force 10
its recommendations. except in matters Of legisla-
ton which are referred 10 Governor-General
Henry.
AS understood in the United States. there is no
system Of higher education in the island OF Porto
Rico. There is however institute of secondary
education at San Juan, where lectures are given
10 matriculated students according TO the French
system and degrees given at the completion Of the
courses. But this school does not do
work advanced enough TO prepare students for any
American college or university Of standing. Afil-
ated with this institute normal school for boys
There is also a separate institution known as the
normal school for girls. Grammar-school sub
jects are taught There is little professional train
Ing. and practice teaching under critic teachers
IS done. A school Of arts for Industrial training
was formerly connected with the orphan asylum
81 San Juan. but this is now closed
As a rule. the public schools Of Porto Rico are
kept open twelve months in the year and six days
IN the week In the summer only morning sessions
are held Schools are classified as superior and
elementary In towns. auxiliary in villages. and
rural This classification influences somewhat the
salaries Of teachers but does not represent any
real difference in the grade OF work done. There
is no coeducation Of the sexes in the schools Of
Porto Rico. and there practically country
schools for girls.
SCHOOLS AND THEIR WORK.
No houses built for school purposes exist IN the
the municipalities and used by the teachers for
schools. A Of money is allowed the teacher
for of house from the public funds, and he
holds school frequently in the living
room Salaries range from % to 80 pesos a month,
and as the peso is rated at 30 cents. the salaries
vary from sl2 so to S25 a month, and in the past
have been rregulariy paid. Supplies are provided
by the public for poor children. and only portion
OF the pupils have text books Of any kind. There
are fen school aids. and IN many cases the
j bo s owP ch2 qary 10 fn N from CUTIE Tn
pupils. ard this leads to discrimination In their
The pupils study aloud and much memoriter
work is done. the pedagogical system being founded
mon s school Subjects the catechsm and fancy
needlework are taught the girls. In place Of the
culture from books In some rural schools a DO
the-boys Hau" system of manual labor the
TO prevail. Teachers often keep store and pursue
other outside occupations. leaving their schools in
There is a teachers pension fund. for the benefit
u superarnuated teachers This is raised by
discount collected the teachers salaries About
I've hundred and twenty-five schools are reported
n the entire island and little over $4,000 is an,
)y local municipal taxation. The total ATTENDANCE
s about twenty-five thousand or. approximately.
me IN Of the school population According
% conservative estimates. about one person in ten
y the island can read and write, though there are
10 accurate figures ootainable on this subject.
INTRODUCTION OF ENGLISH TEACHING.
is being rapidly introduced, and there IL
great desire manifested on the part Of both
eachers and pupils TO learn this language. About
)nefth of the public school teachers OF the island
read English more or less. Reading and arth-
netie VIII be taught In English and geOgra ply and
grammar in Spanish after the course Of study
mas Dten introduced New teachers will be re-
quired TO know English we'll Spanish.
A revised course Of study and uniform graduation
Of pupils will soon be force in the schools New
textbooks are being published in the States TO re-
place the Spanish books in use.
General Henry employs the public funds freely 70
aid the schools. KinderEartens uncer American
teachers have been authorized and are being estab-
ished. In short reforma ton Of the whole public
choo system is being rapidly accomplished
The call for English books and maps from the
Ocal authorities is urgent and so great that The
bureau IL embarrassed In the matter OF their dis
-ributiOn although II Is aided by the Ouartermas-
ers Department Of the Army Any description OF
he Porto Rican educational system that may be
ions in the island three months hence.
L. 10 nuhlic agencies for urth