The sun., 1903-11-06
THE SCHOOLS IN PORTO RICO.
The English Language and American Ideas
Now Taught Throughout the Island.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: A new
life began for Porto Rico In October, 1893.
In that month American brains and American
energy took up the educational problem Of
the island. The schools. such as they were
passed under control Of the American mill
tary government. Necessarily the defective
Spanish system had to be temporarily con-
tinued. II was with few schools. poor equip
ment. and inefficient un-American teachers
that the military government had to do its
work Of establishing the American free public
school In the island The work was done-and
we'll done. as far a. 1t was possible for the mill
tary government. This continued till the
civil government OF Porto Rico was estab-
lished. May !. 1900. and indeed until the Porto
Rican Legislature enacted comprehcnsiv
school law on Jan. 81. 1901.
The old Spanish system Is to be judged by
its results. The first American census tls98)
showed that only Is per cent OF the people
OF the island could read and write: and that
IN December. 1897. less than a year previous
to American occupation, there were only $50
schools, with an enrolment Of 22825 pupils
These schools $50 called) were without Gov
ernnent aid or control; without system: with
out uniform or adequate equipment were
taught hy poorly and irregula ry paid teach
ers. who themselves enjoyed few, if any.
ed'icnt ional opportunities. and who were given
In In contrast we note that during during the las,
school year. 1902 1905 the maximum number
of schools Of all kinds open was LIS, an in
crease OF 576, or more than 100 per cent, in
was 7osic PUPILS an 'e Increase sS Of ssl
That the Highest average daily attendance; tendance;
was 10000 daily attendance OF nearly double
the entire enrolment in Spanish DAYS. when
buildings in The town. the Schools are re
the completion OF which admits to n hiuh
school English is taught in every school on
the island: and there are about thirty, schools
done in the Spanish language, although
children have remarkable facility In memory
are, apt at LANGUAGE studies, and are proud OF
their ability to converse il English.
During the past year the lnsular Govern
ment paid out $500, 900 for school purposes. g.
besides $3.50. set apart in trust funds for
sShOS hsa s enc
the the" local paiitss disbur.emd ID a9a!,Sn $50 oSS
catfon. in this Spanish Neglected Gem r1t of f the
the total taxation Of the island, both insulsr
The, educational facilities comprise rural
schools. graded schools, kindereartens. high
sity for. this agricultural community indus
trial schools, normal schools. and now, as u
tns ara y, pnrto pRSfesfsry sco the INT
tribute to this young member OF our national
family was formally organized on June l.
1908. y
OF the university, DR.. 8. NJ Lindsay. the
under whose able mana cement 40 much rood
work is being done. says: The university
founded under unusual and novel conditions
aims not only to meet present and practical
needs, but has wide outlook over the future
1t Is hoped that in time IL may become The
educational centre OF the West Indies. or even
Of the Latin American peoples. The educa-
tional problem OF Porto Rico is twofold Not
only must the masses OF the people receive
women must be trained. whose culture must
be not an alien culture gained abroad, but n
culture which is inseparably bound up with
The interests Of the Island. and united with
American national ideals"
DR.. Lindsay is right. American mar tional
ideals is the keynote of our work In Porto
Rico Hawaii. Alaska and the Philippines
WATER j. BilLAuD
ScHFNE'rApy. y. Y. Nov l.