The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-25
PROGRESS IN PORTO RICO.

me commissioner oi education of Porto itigo
IN. VI. q. Brumbaugh. professor of pedagogy a.
the University OF Pennsylvania, from which hc
has been granted leave of absence. in conl
'n'ncation TO the dean of the law department y.
the university has enclosed most encouraging;
report OF the remarkable work accomplished by
the commission.
Tie sail in part that the recent git pf $1O00U
by Mr. Carnegie tor free public library was a
great gain for Porto Rico. ard has already pro.
duccd many wonderful results.
lie spoke very enthusiastically OF the commits.
Sioh'S activity. and of the eager and wonderful
enthusiasm displayed with Porto Ricans in all
educational enterprises. On Nov. DIR. Br,,m.
baush and DR.. George W. n. Hunt the governor,
started on a tour of the island, Dr. Brumbausi,
iccturing in numerous places on our American in
stituions, which is The first propaganda with the
people of the island direct. On Nov. DR.. Brum.
baugh laid the corner stone OF the irls,,'ar Normal
school at Rio Pcdras. This school building will
cost more than $4,000. and owes its establishment
r'Iirci% % the lahOrs OF DR.. Br,'nbiugh, who
ale planned every detail of This undertaking.
In an interesting report which accompanied
DR.. Lewis letter. the commissioner said in part
that the average school year in Porto Rico is now
nine months, which is higher than in many of
i!c public schools in the United States. The
average daily attendance 'or the last nine months,
proves concIusvc'y the popularity OF the Lew
system among the natives. the percentage oi at
tendance being higher than in any other state in
the Union. except in Massachusetts. which exceeds
it 10y per cent.
IN speaking OF schools lc report, that under
the military government they had only Oh
schools; the number now exceeds lI,0 schools,
in which 1000 now first class desks have hcnn
placed, their being only 100 good American desks
IL lin, al ,,y, inn
During the coming wear they expect TO add about
900 additional desks
The demand for mr,t schools greatly exec als
The supply. Although chc-four,h of the rcvcuie
iron. taxes has been set apart by the natives
for t'!n advancement OF education. the half mil
hon dollars thus realized is not nearly sufficient.
although as much as can he spared from insuiar
rev cnu, To erect the school houses necessary the
United States government should appropriate
S2jO.U0O to si00.000 annually for the next ten
years. Not one school house of our own was in
Porto Rico at the beginning. OF this year. There
have since been erected eighteen agricultural
"loolS and eight more arc in process OF cree.
tion: six tour.room graded schools have been built
and arc now ready, Il, also two OF four rooms
ctcl three OF ten rooms each. tmcc OF two
rooms each ard oi six rooms. The .al"c ri
these buildings and permanent equipment is nov
Iorc than S2Gj.cO3.
The usual limit Of each school is titty'tirc pli.
pills, and in some there are already as mar Is
IA on the waiting list.
The local school boards this wear t"r the irS.
imc will have money to pay all their debts.
which is the financial stamina injected in one
,car Ponce alone was 5000 in arrears last yclr.
The total cost to The iusu!ar government NJ
,upil in the schools established by tine coinI,.
ion is only Sl2 Tor nine months.
DR.. Bunnbaugh closes his report H. commenting
Al