Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-30
TEACHERS PLAN TRIP
600 Hope to Make Excursion
From Porto Rico.
USE ARMY TRANSPORT
COMMISSIONERS LINDSAY WILL
COME TO PERFECT PLANS.
Expected to Occur in July-Purposs
is for Attendance Upon summer
Schools-Donations.
USE ARMY TRANSPORT
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondents Of The Evening Star
SAN JUAN. p. R., March %. 1904
DIR. Samuel M. Lindsay, commissioner Of
education for Porto Rico, will sail next
week for the United States. where he will
visit New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Washington and probably other cities, In
the interests of the trip of 600 Porto Rtcan
teachers to the states in July for educa.
ton in summer schools. DR.. Lindsay will
discuss the details with President Roose-
Welt and Secretary of War Taft. the Pres
ident having some time ago promised the
use of an army transport to carry the
teachers from and to Porto Rico at no
expense except for their meals while en-
route.
The teachers Of Porto Rico are enthu.
siastic over the excursion and more than
400 have already signiaed their willing
ness to donate one months salary toward
covering the cost of the trip. The extent
of this financial sacrifice will be better
realized when 1t Is understood that school
teachers wages In Porto Rico are very
low. ranging from $50 a month for rural
teachers, who form the great majority,
to SIS a month for principal teachers.
who are the small minority.
Provision by Congress.
The resolution recently passed by Con-
teachers and not exceeding twenty-five
additional persons who shall serve as in
terpreters or clerical assistants in going
to and from the states will be given free
transportation, provided they meet all
expenses while in the states and pay
one dollar a day for meals while on the
transport.
tween $4,000 and 100000. making 1t ns-
cessary for Commissioner Lindsay to Sc.
cure financial assistance in the states.
where he hopes to succeed by appealing
to public-spirited citizens, and In con-
fident that their generosity will mater
tally aid the project
He has just issued a strong letter to
Porto Rican teachers pointing out the
advantages of the trip and of Ave or SIX
weeks study in some noted university or
college summer school,
He shows them how 1t viii improve
their knowledge Of English and teach
theni~ something more about American
educational policies and methods Of work
He says: 1T should promote better un~
derstanding between you and your fell
low teachers in the states and foster
feeling of comradeship in a noble profess
sion which knows no boundaries of lam
guage or nationality" s-.-.----
Estimated Cost of Trip.
1t Is estimated that the individual cost
to each teacher will not exceed s25. The
July j to September / Quarters will be
provided in the summer schools or pri-
vate homes, to which the teachers will
be assigned and the school term will last
five or six weeks Courses will be given
in English, geography, United States his
tory. arithmetic, pedagogy and nature
work, both with respect to the subject
matter of these studies and the methods
of teaching them in the elementary
schools.
At the close of the summer session the
transport will carry the teachers to va.
rious points and 1t is promised that they
will at least visit Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and Washington.
If 900 teachers go they will be divided
into four groups of 100 each.and assigned
to various schools colleges. In trav-
cling, every group of fifty will be In
charge of a superintendent who Is ia
miliar with English and Spanish
While the matter of going this trip
is entirely voluntary, DIR. Lindsay urges
that a full complement be secured, as
many advantages will accrue to the
teachers who make the pleasant and in
structive journey He has already re-
ceived many pathetic letters from teach
ers who cannot afford to go and some of
those may be assisted and benefited IL
the financial response from the states is
liberal.