Policies of the Department of Education Regarding the Teaching of English in the Past 114 years
By Violette
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English has been taught on the island
As a result of the Spanish American War, the island became a possession of the United States -
The teachers of Puerto Rico had to learn English
Dr. John Eaton, Former Commissioner of Education of the United States and his assistant Dr. Victor Clark state that teachers Of Puerto Rico should learn English and only those who learn the language would be given preference to be hired. -
In 1900 is created the Department of Public Instruction
At the time the policy was to keep the Spanish and the English was acquired: the Spanish in the elementary grades and English as special subject. In high school all subjects were in English and Spanish as a special subject. -
Increased the use of English in schools
Increased the use of English in schools with the idea of making it the official language schools PR. For this reason they sent 540 teachers to the U.S. to study. Annually the departement of instruction offered an English exam to qualify teachers as a criterion for their selection. -
The Spanish is suppressed in schools
English is used as medium of instruction in all grades of the school system -
Separatist Movement
Teachers were not happy with what is imposed and started protesting. Thus arose the separatist movement. They adopted the cause of Spanish as the language of instruction and condemned the use of English. They saw that all this situation to impose English in education in the country was a threat to Puerto Rican identity. -
English courses for teachers
As part of the policy of teaching English became mandatory that teachers take courses in English. With this the teachers got a $10.00 monthly increase in their salary. They were also required to take the Test of English annually. -
The ongoing struggle over language
For many years continued the demands of both sides. Then in 1913 thye introduced the Spanish for the subject of health and for readings. -
A new project
They introduced a project of law to make Spanish compulsory in education and in the area of justice -
New orders established
It was established that the Spanish were the medium of instruction for first to fourth grades. For grades six through eight and high school English was used in half the other half in Spanish. -
Continuing controversy in linguistics
During this time there was a dispute between the Commissioner Paul G. Miller defending the English and Jose de Diego in his defense by the Spanish. There were debates all the time about the language. Mr. Miller was dismissed by conflicts during his tenure. -
A New Comisinado and a New Rule
Mr. John B. Huyke was the new Commissioner of Education and the emphasis is on the use of English because they had to take the opportunity to learn. Also wanted teachers and students to use English outside the classroom, in meetings and conversations. Spanish-language publications were banned and all school supplies was in English. -
A difficult time for Puerto Rico
For 1930-1950 there was a recession that affected all PR and politicians seeking alternatives and said that the language was the factor in the differences between puetorriquenos and Americans. The commissioner in turn Dr. Jose Padin said that English is a foreign language from the pedagogical point and struggled to impose Spanish as medium of instruction. Research and studies were made to finally decuded to teach English as a second language and for this reason special programs were created. -
The complaint of U.S. President
The U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, complained that Puerto Ricans had not learned English after 38 years of American occupation and wished that all instruction was in English so that the next generation will speak English. They try to implement a bilingual program but many public protests would not let him. -
End of bilingual debates
During this time the Spanish returned to prevail until the sixth grade and continuing English as a subject. Then in 1948 the school education was in Spanish through ninth grade. In 1949 was the end of the discussion of bilingualism and Spanish is taught at all levels in the public schools. -
A New Bilingual Education Act
In 1968 the U.S. signed the Bilingual Education Act by President Johnson and it was not until 1972-1976 that are implanted in PR under the PPD government and the project started in schools Padre Rufo and Pope John XXIII. -
A Project Transferred to English Deparment
During the years 1980-1984 the PNP government returns to lead but the bilingual education program stopped being program to become a project under the direction of the Department of English in the Department of Education which had not assigned a director for long time. That same year Bilingual Certification for Teachers was signed but not implemented and it was difficult to the teachers to get it. -
An Autonomous Bilingual Education
By 1993 the Bilingual Education had become autonomous. The Secretary of Education back then appointed a director to lead the bilingual program. These programs are federally funded attended except for the school Father Rufo that is offering the services on their own initiative. -
Puerto Rico Aims to Become Fully Bilingual by 2022
Again Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño makes another attempt to get the puetorriquenos become bilingual citizens in order that in the future to open doors and provide opportunities for children for success in the competitive global marketing.As always happened there is much controversy about it. We still have to wait and see if is successful
