Evening star., 1932-10-01
PUERTO RICO ADDS
NATIVE TEACHERS
Number of U. S. Instructors
in Schools Declines to
New Low.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispat tch to The Star.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, October
1.-The opening of the island schools
this year saw fewer Continental Ameri-
cans appointed to teach than at any
time since the establishment here in
1900 Of American civil government
Sixty-flve mainlanders receiving teach
the peak number reached in 1925, when
$50 were named, and 2 less than in the
first year of the installment Of the
school system.
The startling decrease in "maestroS
AmericanoS" is explained by number
of factors, none of which signifies ag-
gressive anti-Americanism The cost of
travel between the islands and the Unit
ed States has increased, and salaries
are low. The University of Puerto Rico,
through its College of Education. has
reached the stage where it is prepared
to supply the insular demand for both
grade and high school teachers. Final
ly there has been for some time the
growing conviction that Spanish rather
than English should be the language
medium of instruction This attitude.
though it undoubtedly has political i'm
gogical basis.
Educators Favor Spanish.
Educators, including group OF Co.
lumbia University experts, who, under
the leadership of DR.. Paul Munro, made
a survey of the insular system Of pub
lie instruction. have pointed out that
Puerto Rican children are retarded by
having to study and recite in for
eign tongue The Columbia educator
recommended that great part of ele-
mentary instruction be given entirely
in Spanish. Many islanders, who advo-
cate a permanent union with the
United States and favor the speedy
acquisition of English. urge that it be
taught as a separate subject rather
than as the language of instruction.
The Socialist Labor party is strongly
opposed to any further attempt tc
limit the use of English in the schools
since it regards the implanation of the
national language in Puerto Rico as 6
guaranty of the continuance of the
islands relationship with the United
States.
Most School Official Islanders.
How completely Puerto Rico is nov
running its transplanted educationa
system is SHOWN py the 1act tndL tnt
Commissioner and Assistant Commis.
sioner of Education and 40 of the As dis
trict supervisors are insular born citi.
zens. The advanced training Of tht
higher educational officials was received
in American universities. Commits
sioner Jose Padin holding a master:
degree from Haverford and a doctorats
from Columbia. while the Assistant
Commissioner, Pedro Cebollero. has al
A. M. from the latter institution.
Puerto Rican schools, this year, will
receive more effective aid than for.
merly from the Federal government
which through the extension of tht
vocational training act to the island
contributes $4,000 to the education
fund. The island spends about thirC
of its annual budget on education, tht
school appropriation for the coming
year exceeding S3,960000, about $780,.
900 less than last year. Only little
over half the school population, how.
ever, can be given instruction at pub
lie expense, 10000 out of 100000
children being denied schooling. be-
cause Of the islands inability to pa!
for sufficient equipment teachers.