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Spanish American War
In 1898 began the Spanish American War. Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the United States by the Treaty of Paris. The first change in the Puerto Rican language policy occurred in1898, Introduceing the teaching of all subjects in English the public schools. This was very much in line with the assimilationist orientation of the moment. As result, Dr. John Eaton and Dr. Victor Clark established that the teachers of Puerto Rico must learn English to obtain a job in Puerto Rico. -
Department of Public Instruction of Puerto Rico
Between 1900-1902 the Department of Public Instruction of Puerto Rico estalished that during elementary level, all of the classes would be taught in Spanish, except the English class. In high school, all the classes would be taught in English, except the Spanish class. During that time, american culture gained more importance. Students had to learn the national anthem and some of America historical figures. -
Attemt to establish English as Oficial Language of schools of Puerto Rico
The Department of Public Instruction of Puerto Rico sent 540 teachers to learn English at Cornell University and Harvard University to transform the Escuela Insular to Universidad de Puerto Rico. The teachers must take an English exam every year. -
All the classes must be in English
The demand to teach all the classes in English rom 1905 to 1913 caused the formation of a separatist movement that condemed the american imperialism. The separatist movement belived thet the american imperialism threatened the Puerto Rican Cultural Identity. -
Hygiene & Health Class
For first graders the hygiene & health classes must be in Spanish. The reading must be also in Spanish. -
The Great War (1914-1918)
On 1917 The United States entered the World War I. That year the Puerto Ricans received U.S. Citizenship by the Jones Law. -
Law Project 1915
This project wanted to establish Spanish as the oficial language for teaching in Puerto Rico ae well as the language of the judicial system. -
1916-1934
Students must take from first grade to fourth grade the classes in Spanish and from fifth grade onward the students must take classes in Spanish and English. -
Escuela Superior Central, Santurce
There was a conflict in the Escuela Superior Central in Santurce some students wanted to name the literary society "Sociedad José de Diego". -
Dismiss of Paul G. Miller
During a graduation in1917, Paul G. Miller authorized the police to arrest some students that had a Puerto Rican flag. He established that this was the enemys flag. -
Education Comissioner Juan B. Huyke
The United States appoint the Puerto Rican Juan B. Huyke as Education Commissioner from 1921-1930. He stated that teachers must speak English in the classroom and teacher meetings. -
Late 1920s and 1930s
In the late 1920s and 1930s, United States teachers were employed in the island in an effort to improve the quality of English Instruction. -
The Great Depressión
The new Educational Comissioner Dr. José Padín states that the English was a foreign language from the pedagogical point of view and fought to establish Spanish as the language of instruction. During this time English was viewed as aSecond Language and there were some studies and investigation regarding bilingualism. The Department of Instruction adopted the Spanish for the teaching of Geograohy, History and Mathematics. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt assigned Dr. José Gallardo as Education Commissioner with the task of implementing English as the language for instruction. José Gallardo try to establish a bilingual program but it was protested since people thought that this was an assimilationist policy. Franklin D. Roosevelt himself said; "it is an indispensable part of American policy that the coming generation of American citizens in Puerto Rico grow up with complete facility in the English tongue..." -
1942
The Spanish prevails as the language of teaching until sixth grade and English as a continious subject. In 1948 Spanish was used for teaching until ninth grade. -
Dr. Mariano Villaronga
The Education Commissioner put an end to the bilingual debate. He established that the classes of the public school should be in Spanish. -
Federal Funds
The Department of Education and the Universities asked for federal funds to attend the needs of the students that returned from the states.There were many programs of bilingual education such as: (1)Bilingual Education ProgramTitle VII, (2)Program for Migrant Students, (3)Adult Education Programs, (4)Bilingual Vocational Program, (5)Special Program for Disadvantaged Students and the (6)College Level Program, -
Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon
Under the Popular Democratic Party (P.P.D) Puerto Rico starts various bilingual projects, including the Padre Rufo School and Papa Juan XXIII School. During this time the government signed the Law for Bilingual Certification. -
1970s and 1980s
In the 1970s and 1980s, returning migrants or "Nuyoricans"were trained by the then Puerto Rican Department of Public Instruction to teach English in Puerto Rico. -
Governor Carlos Romero Barcelo
The government passed the Bilingual Program to the Department of English. -
Second term of Rafael Hernandez Colon
On 1989, Puerto Rico received federal funds for four Projects of the Department of Education, two Projecta for the Universidad Metropolitana, one for the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon and two for the Universidad del Turabo. On 1991 the Popular Democratic Party (P.P.D.) approved the Spanish only legislation (Law Number 4, April 5, 1991). -
Law Number 1, January 28, 1993
On 199,3 the New Progress Party (P.N.P.) established both English and Spanish as official languages on the island of Puerto Rico. -
1. What have been the policies of the Department of Education regarding the teaching of English in the past 114 years?
I explained in details the policies of the Department of Education
regarding the teaching of English since the Spanish American War in the timeline. -
2. Have the policies been consistent or inconsistent?
Since 1898, all the policies have been inconsistent regarding the teaching of English in Puerto Rico. I showed in the timeline how year by year how the government changes the policies. These changes created a separatist movement that sees our Cultural Identity in danger. The Department of ediucation neeeds to change the public perceeption of English teaching in such a way so that it is not viewed as an attempt on the Puerto Rican cultural identity.
