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Spanish American War
The Spanish American War began. United States won the war. PR was Spain territory and was ceded by Spain to the US as award for its victory. A new educational policy was implemented this year. All public school subjects were in English. The Spanish was treated as a special subject. -
John Eaton, Ex Educational Commissioner
US appointed John Eaton to lead of educational issues. He chose Victor S.Clark like his assistant. Clark visits the island to talk to Puerto Rican teachers, to distrubute books, maps and the US flag. He inspects the schools and prepared a general report to recommend the island Gobernor, Guy V. Henry, some new strategies and reforms in order to change the Educational System. Some of these new changes were: school constructions, new materials, text books, chairs, ect. -
"Common Public Schools" First Law in Public Schools.
It was established the "Common Public Schools" under the amerian domain in PR. Graded School: between 6 and 18 years of age, no more than 50 students per teacher. Boys and Girls could be together. QualifiedTeachers had to take a test. -
First Education Commissioner
The first Commissioner of Education was appointed by US. Had excesive powers. Had to supervise Puerto Rican teachers who did not speak English. He brought non Spanish speaking teachers from US, but they confronted many problems as did not understand the Puerto Rican culture, its language and besides they thought native culture were low below for them. Later on, they left. By this year, were constructed many new schools, which had a resemblance to schools in US. (One in Ponce, Fajardo and S.J.) -
Dr. Paul G. Molinero
Dr. Paul G.Molinero, was the first Education Commissioner to establish Spanish as medium of instruction from first to fourth grade, English for firfth to seventh grade and English and Spanish for eighth to twelveth grades. -
Juan B. Huyke, New Education Commissioner
Juan B. Huyke as appointed by US as Commissioner of Education in Educational Administration. He was the first Commissioner who lead a centralized Department of Public Instruction in PR. He took all the decisions related to choosing new teachers, curriculum programs and many other important issues. He stated all teachers must speak English in the classroom and teacher meetings. -
Jose Padin, PuertoRican Education Commissioner
New Puerto Rican Education Commissioner, Jose Padin, orders Spanish instruction in all grades and English as a special class, only on first grade. He created many special programs to improve the English class. Spanish is adopted to official language. Padin recommended bilingual education at that moment, but he does not created any program to implant it. -
Dr. Jose M. Gallardo, Education Commissioner
Created a new educational program with greater emphasys on the English. First and Second taught in Spanish, English as a second language. Third and fourth grade, two thirds in Spanish and one third in English. Fifth and sixth, half and half. Seventh and eighth, a third in Spanish and two thirds in English. Superior education totally in English and Spanish as a second language. This issue began to provoke protests in between political parties, groups; superior edu. and university
students. -
Spanish prevailed...
AS a result of many protests by political parties, different groups, students from superior grades and university education at the time, the vernacular language prevailed more than English. People will say that teaching English by force, produced psichologycal resistance,discomfort and set back the English learning.
Spanish was useduntl sixth grade, while English continued as a second language. Also the vernacular language was use as the main medium of instruction until nineth grade. -
First Puerto Rican Gobernor Elected by People
For the first time, Puerto Rican people can elect their own gobernor. They choose Luis Muñoz Marin. He now can appoint a new Education Commissioner. Assigned Mariano Villaronga, to this position. Next year Mariano Villaronga, instituted Spanish as the official language to be taugh in the public teaching at all levels. Spanish is the official language by law for the first time in all school grades. -
The constitution of the Commonwealth in Puerto Rico
600 Law, approved by US, authorized the island to create their own state constitution. The ELA started working on July 25, 2952 and this in turns, provides rights relating to public education in PR.: A public education system, free and non sectarian. It also established the Spanish as the main teaching language up to now. -
Federal Funds
The Department of Education and the Universities asked for federal funds to help students returning from the US. At this moment there were few bilingual programs: Bilingual Education Program Tittle VII, Program for Migrant Students, Adult education progrmas, Bilingual Vocational Programs, Special Program for Disadvantaged Students and the College Level Program, ect. -
More Bilingual Programs in Puerto Rico
Under the Popular Democratic Party (Rafael Hernandez Colon, Gobernor), PR had different bilingual projects. The government signed the Law for Bilingual Certification. Migrants returning from US, had special aid at schools toimprove Spanish and also most English teachers named as "Nuyoricans" were trained to teach English in PR. -
Bilingual Education Program Transferred to the English Department
The bilingual education program was transferred to the Englsih Education by the government of Carlos Romero Barcelo (PNP party), Barcelo signed the bilingual educaton certification, but was not fully implemented and teachers who applied have much difficulty on getting it. -
Spanish Only Legislation
Legislation was approved by the Popular Party to make a law regarding "Spanish-Only", as the main language for all Puerto Ricans. -
We hear again about Bilingual Education
Bilingual Education projects are now autonomous and we hear about it again. Jose Arsenio Torres, Education Secretary at the moment; appointed a director to lead the program in the public schools. A new law (Law #1: January 28, 1993), Pro Statehood Party language policy established both the English and Spanish as official languages in Puerto Rico. -
Dismantling of Bilingual Schools
Dismatnling Bilingual schools by the Department of Education. There were more than 400 Bilingual Schools in Puerto Rico by this years. -
Census 2010
95.7% of Puerto Rican population speaks only Spanish. 19.2% can speaks little English, not fluent. 4% of the people speaks English at home. -
Bilingual Programs Up to Now...
On 2009 there were 35 bilingual schools in Puerto Rico. With the new bilingual program 103 schools have been impacted and are approximately 13.678 students who benefits with the bilingual program, also 694 teachers. The teachers are getting better trainings to implement the program. The program has been well received and the acceptance of teachers and students to learn better English and becoming bilingual persons, is good.