El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-04
P0RT0RIG0Hl5
GOOD SCHOOL
SYSTEM
Under Guidance of United
States, Educational Pro
gross Has Been Marvellous.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
INCREASED SLXFOLD

Rico. When il Is considered that in
1889 only Is percent of the people Of
the island above the age of 10 could
read and write. and that $4,000 chill
dren were enrolled in the schools in
1911, with an average daily attendance
OF 1U5svuv during q ScnOOl term OF 30
weeks, some OF the changes that have
been wrought viii appear. When ii is
further stated that a system OF schools
has been established which conforms
TO the best standards of Europe and
America, and in which cooking. sewing
agriculture, and manual training are
being made features, one VIII begin 10
understand why It IS that educators
from everywhere are making trips to
I-orto RICO to study It's newly estab-
nshed educational system.
school Attendance Increase Marvellous.
At the beginning Of the American oc-
cupatlon the average daily attendance
IN the schools was $4,000. 1t has in
creased skiold since then. Nearly eV-
cry one OF the $4,000 children IN the
public schools are receiving the basic
principles Of agricultural instruction
IN the shape OF nature study. More
than COO pupils are receiving actual
agricultural instruction Of practical
kind.
Porto Rico now has d schoolhouse for
every 81 sQuars miles Of territory in
Inc island. as compared with one for
every 81 square miles in the United
States While in the rural districts
mUcn progress has been made in the
erection OF modern country school
houses many are Still In use which
have thatcled roofs and primitive fur
l-LLre- In q day travel IN a IasJ au-
tomOble one scarcely ever sees "a rural
schCOIhOU5e whose grounds have not
been beaatified with gardens and at
tractiTe trees and shrU bbery- In fact, D
the school house. with its American
Tag and its beautifully kept grounds. D
IS usually the most pleasing feature OF
any landscape A healthy rivalry IS
maintained among the schools OF the /
island by the annual award Of a di- F.
pioma TO the school having the best I
or a i'm 1F A nj
districts
Many Graded schools.
Graded schools are maintained in .
each Of the GS towns OF the Island The
buildings are nearly all constructed o.
cement along the lines OF a mOdlIled
style Of Spanish architecture, pleasing
iu appearance Weil-liEnteQ ana TenLL--
ated. The climate is such as to make
glass windows unnecessary There are
only shutters with movable BLINDS 70
exclude the rain In nearly ali tne
schools one finds pictures of Washing !
ton and Lincoln and sometimes o.
Roosevelt and Taft, hanging on the
walls.
High schools are maintained in the I
three principal cities, and their grad
lllates pass the entrance examinations !
10 American colleges and universities
without ollllcullg- E-acn Llsn , sS--9o-
las well equipped commercial &c
Bartment, and those who take the COM
InerciaI course find their services IN /
ligh demand after graduation
school system OF Porto Rico-the con
1lnuaUiOn schools now only Two
vear- old This school provides prac-
tical instruction for those children
who finish the graded schools and VINO
dc not desire 20 take the nigh scnool
course. The continuation sc1Coi pro-
Ntdes for tWO-year course lD manual
training. domestic science, and sewlnS-
thus fitting the boys and girls FOR the
practical things OF NE me course
also provides work in Enslish and
Spanish composition, rhetoric, and 1T
eiature. mathematics and bookkeeping
The more advanced work in aSr.cul-
lure IS fully up 10 the best american
l-''--0 Cooking schools Also.
The cooking schools Of the island are
proving an especial boon TO the people
and are serving to enlist a widespread
interest in education, In the four
towns where such schools nave been
established many parents nave oougIt
ovens and utensils so that their girls
who take cooking lessons can prepare
the family meals In ACCORDANCE with
their instructions ia the cooking
classes. The cooking course Is an
adaptation Of standard American
course in cooking such mOdiTfeat tons
being made as VIII fehGeI II aua nc
TO tropical products ana tropical needs
and tastes one town has been hold
ing z cooking school class every morn
ing before regular school hours the
ri9Ts making coffee and bread, which I
IS sold at cost to underfed children who
come TO school Sometimes the little
of nourishmeut, and if they cannot pay
for the food they are permitted TO
work out the amount after school
-''- Bands Maintained.
In many Of the schools bands are
maintained and the natural spanish
love for music IS permitted 70 oeFelop.
Each band is under the direction OF a
competent instructor These school
bands give concerts in the public plaZaS
and the music for the fleStas and Gel ,
~Trar1e
u.unities. The local school boards FUR
uish the money necessary 10 MAINTAIN /
these bands
No race OF people in the world are
foDder of holidays and celebrations
than the Latin-Americans, and the
school children or Porto Rico are no
exception TO this rule Their parents !
do not come to the school celebrations
as much as formerly. because the cnI-
dren are learning English SC Iapldly Z
that they can conduct their exercises {
iu English, and any one VINO mas ever Z
heard q speech In a tongue ne cannon
understand knows how interesting II Is
10 the Spanish speaking Parents 70 !
l'sten to exercises in EnSli@ll- me I
schools observe Thanksgiving day Ar
Dor day, Was hingtOn-S DlrtnOay- Iu-
berculosis dav and Memorial day More
than 10000 trees were planted last Ar I
Dor day around the school grounds and Z
more at the children.s homes {
Government Aids Worthy.
One Of the most interesting features !
Of the Porto R1can educational system ( q
Is the scholarship arrangements where q
lV the most deserving students may Sc Z
cure the aid of the government in
completing their education. Tt IS said r
that no other country In the world has
I better or more complete system Of
scholarship support than Porto Rico.
ID Is possible for the bright pupil in :
he remotest thatchedrOOfed backless- r
1enched schOolhouse in the island TO =
inish his education at the best uni q
-erslties Of the United States entirely
IS a government scholarship student. z
The law provides that the municipal
schools may use not to exceed five u
percent Of their funds for supporting q
,uDfls who have distinguished them 4
-elves in the neiEhborinS rural schools. J
oupils who stand highest in the mu- f
licfpal graded schools are awarded [ G.
scholarships 10 the high schools, the ] il