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Priority to be Hired
Dr. John Eaton (US ex-commissioner) and Dr. Victor Clark (his assistant) established that PR teachers should learn English and they would be priority when hiring. -
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Special subjects and North American culture in PR
Spanish and English would be acquired. Spanish in elementary and English as a special subject. In secondary all subjects were in English. Spanish was a special subject. They emphasized North American culture like the flag salute, singing the hymns, also the celebration of American patriots. -
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English as the Official Language of Puerto Rico's Schools
-They sent 540 teachers to US to study in Cornell and Harvard Universities in 1904
-They enacted the legislation to transform la Escuela Insular in UPR.
-They offered an English annual exam for Puertorrican teachers and they established a system to classify teachers to select those who knew English. -
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Spanish is suppressed. English is taught in all grades and all schools.
-English class for Puertorrican teachers.
-Class organization by American professors. Compulsory teacher's attendance.
-Small classes in summer. 4-6 weeks.
-$10 more in monthly salary. Qualified teachers to work with English.
-Special exam. Professor's knowledge in arithmetic, geography, and English.
-Mandatory English annual exam. Teachers that did not pass would be suspended until they did. More than two years suspension, teacher's license or diploma would be revoked. -
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"Movimiento Separatista"
English was established as a base in all schools with approximately 35,000 students. Then a protest happened. -
Spanish was Introduced
Spanish was introduced in 1st grade for some courses like hygiene and health. Reading was recommended in Spanish. -
Only Spanish!
A bill was implemented to make Spanish compulsory when teaching. -
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Half and Half
Spanish was established as a teaching vehicle from 1st to 4th grade. English had to be used in half of the subjects and the other half in Spanish in 5th grade. This was also for grades from 6th-8th. Also in secondary school. -
Linguistic Controversy with Politics and World War I
Puerto Ricans go to war and it is required to teach patriotism in schools.
Controversy with Commissioner Paul G. Miller and "Escuela Superior Central de Santurce" in which students wanted to call their literary society "Sociedad José de Diego." Randolph, the school's principal did not wanted to accept the name.
Graduation incident in which Commissioner Miller asked the police to take out the "enemy flag" from the auditorium. They asked for the Commissioner's dismissal and he left the island. -
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Only English!
Instruction Commissioner Juan B. Huyke required professors and students to use English, even out of the classrooms. Reunions and conversations had to be in English and public material in Spanish was forbidden. -
English as a Foreign Language
Dr. José Padín was the first to put English as a foreign language and he fought to put Spanish as the teaching language. English was not abandoned, but they emphasize it as a second language. Spanish was used to teach geography, history and math. English was used as a special subject. Commissioner Padín recommended bilingual education. -
José M. Gallardo
The President of the United States complained because Puerto Ricans did not learn English 38 years after.
Dr. Padín resigned and José M. Gallardo was the new Commissioner. Gallardo tried to implement bilingual education but he did not make it because of public protests. -
Spanish Prevailed
Spanish prevailed until 6th grade as a subject. -
Vernacular
Vernacular was used as the teaching vehicle until 9th grade. -
End of Bilingualism Debate
Commissioner Mariano Villaronga ended the bilingualism debate putting vernacular as a teaching vehicle for all grades in public schools. -
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Bilingual Projects
"Partido Popular Democrático" implements bilingual projects in Padre Rufo and Papa Juan XXIII schools. -
Bilingual Education Program
The Bilingual Education Program stops being a "program" and they transfer their "projects" to the English Department. -
Four Projects
The approval of four projects for the Department of Education in Puerto Rico, two for Universidad Metropolitana, one for Sagrado Corazón in English as a Second Language, and two for Universidad del Turabo.
