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What have been the policies of the Department of Education regarding the teaching of English in the past 114 years?

By Nany2012

  • • 1898-1900

    • 1898-1900
    All subjects in Public Schools are taught in English. Dr. John Eaton, Ex-Commissioner of Education of the United States and his assistant Dr. Victor Clark state that teachers in Puerto Rico should learn English. The Department of Public Instruction is formed.

  • 1902

    1902
    The Official Language Act granted official status to both Spanish and English.

  • 1903

    1903
    President Theodore Roosevelt’s Commissioner of Education re-established English as the medium of instruction in all grades.

  • 1904

    1904
    Schools increased English lessons with the idea that it will become the official language.
    540 teachers were sent to the United States to both Harvard and Cornwell University.
    A yearly English exam was given in order to choose highly qualified teachers.

  • 1913

    1913
    Spanish is named the official language. English is to be taught in all levels of education.

  • 1917

    1917
    Spanish as medium of instruction in grades 1-8; English as medium of instruction in grades 9-12.

  • 1920-1930

    1920-1930
    American Teachers are employed on the Island in an effort to improve the quality of English instruction.

  • 1930

    1930
    All Subjects expect English are to be taught in Spanish

  • 1934

    1934
    Blanton S. Winthrop makes English the language of instruction for all grades.

  • 1936

    1936
    M. Gallardo is named Commissioner of instruction.

  • 1946

    1946
    Teachers are required to teach their students in English.

  • 1947

    1947
    Puerto Ricans given right to elect own governor.

  • 1948

    1948
    Luis Munoz Marin re-establishes Spanish as the main language of instruction. English is to be taught once of day as a second language.

  • 1949

    1949
    Dr. Mariano Villaronga announced English was to be taught in all schools and at all levels.

  • 1969

    1969
    President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Titular 7 Education Law.

  • 1970

    1970
    The Department of Education applied funds for students who return from the United States. This is known as “Educacion Bilingue”.

  • 1972-1976

    1972-1976
    English projects are implanted by the PPD.

    English Projects are converted to English Bilingual Programs were 59,810 students applied for English Education services.

  • 1974

    1974
    Lau V. Nichols

  • 1978

    1978
    United States Congress authorizes that Bilingual Projects are remain focused to teach those students who return to Puerto Rico from the United States.

  • 1984

    1984
    Bilingual Education is stabilized and is no longer considered a “Program”.

  • 1989

    1989
    Universities such as Universidad del Turabo, Sagrado Corazon, and Universidad Metropolitana are all assigned English Programs

  • 1991

    1991
    The “Spanish Only” legislation is approved.

  • 1993

    1993
    Jose Arsenio Torres is named director of the Bilingual Education Program.

  • 1997

    1997
    English immersion program made their way into Puerto Rican schools, under the “Project to Create a Bilingual Citizen.”

  • 2001

    2001
    No Child Left Behind Act

  • 2012

    2012
    Only 12 schools in Puerto Rico offer an all English Curriculum.