New-York tribune., 1909-07-08
PORTO RICAN SCHOOLS.
Problem Described By DIR. Derter
at DenUer C0nUentiOn.

Denver July THE principal address at the
general session of the National Educational Asso-
citation to-day was made by DR. Edwin e. Dexter
Commissioner Of Education Of Porto RICO Dr
Dexter who this country especially TO at
tend the convention described the school system
of the island, saying the problem there was nothlhg
less than the establishment Of an entrely new
school system for million persons he sald'
in part:
At the lime OF the American occupation. there
were, roughly, Eve hundred schools in operation IN
private houses and only poor children were ed
mitted without special tuition fee OF m dqi1fdrS Ing
the poor pupils the teachers received sTna!l sfaiE
from the government, which was not paid promptly
and was often many months rs IN mar scboo libraries
have been established throughout the lsiaho pS
the Department OF Education This is a very i'm
portant move since because Of the scarcity OF
books graduates OF the schools nag iItg peTx rays
School banks have also been a6lished IN neaPy
three hundred schools: and chidrens piaysroui'uS
In seventeen municipalities .. :, ,.-.,o,
The island takes a great interest In Its schools
and except for occasional and unimpoTtant critl-
cisms is fully in sympathy with the system of
Pentlriousness and q fear that colleges rob the
farms were imputations against the farmers OF
America made by James W. Robertson. president
Of Mcdonald College, Ste. Anne de Bellevue. Que
bee who spoke before the Rural and Agriculture
Department to-day.
1t is not matter Of little education being dan
gerous" said the speaker. 1t is the vast remain
ing ignorance that hurts the farmer OF to-day. He
wants little education for his son, but he does
not want TO pay. He does not want educa-
ton because he thinks his viii leave him.
This is where he IS wrong, because If the son
knew more the farmers would be worth
more
R. J. Crosby. of the United States Department
Of Agriculture pleaded for a closer relation be
tween the rural schools and the community. He
wanted to shift the emphasis from the three RS
to good cooking and the ability to make fences
The old controversy between the university and
the normal school to whether the latter is able
10 If men and women for teaching up again
in the meeting Of the normal department. Samuel
4 HarwOod. superintendent of the training school
IN the Illinois Normal school, Carbondale III, took
up the defence Of normal training with the asser-
tion that training and observation will give TO q
prospective teacher the necessary foundation for
teachers education. g B. Robertson. OF the New
York Normal School, Cortland. y. y also spoke
this side OF the question.
Henry @. Williams dean OF the State Normal
School al Athens. Ohio. speaking of teachers in
country schools said: There are some rural teach
ers who don't know the A R c OF education,
Yet they are called Professor just the il
the doctor. the dog trainer"
J. Y Joyner. superintendent Of the South Caro-
lima schools was announced to-day as a candidate
for president Of the association IN opposition 10
Ben Bewtt, superintendent Of schools of ST Louis.
and J II. Phillips superintendent OF schools OF
Birmingham. Ala. There still other candidates
10 be heard from. though they have thus far de-
clined TO permit their names to De discussed one
is a New York The election of officers Will
take place tomorrow.