Evening Star Newspaper, May 5, 1925, Page 3

PORTO RICO VALUES " EDUCATION HEHL lliiteracy Is Being Rapidly Eradicated Under U. S. School System. BY GIDEON A. LYON. VI rods from the north shore Porto Rico, a little to the east of i Juan, in a tiny settlement en- veloped by great cocoanut groves, stands a palm-thatched shack about 15 feet square. It looks like a ji- baro’s hut but for one fact, and that is that on the roadside rise: boo pole at the top of which floats the American flag. That m it as a schoolhouse, This is one of the ©old types of rural school buildings in Yorto Rico. A of few A short distance up the road nearer | the town of school, too, school of tion Rico is! ola Loiza is rising a concrete building. a type of the rural new system of educa- is transforming Porto illiterate land into an well informed people wentv-five years ago, immedi- ataiy after the Amel an occupation, educarfon was provided for about 000 children Today nearly a auartar of million are enrolled in the 1 alar school system. When the Amertean troops landed schooling was afforded to about 21, per cent of the people. Now free public in- struction is given to 20 per cent of them. is the which from na of 2,300 Schools Erected. At the close of the Spani there was hardly a single owned by the insular or governments of Porto Rico sively used for school There are today about 2,300 public school buildings, and all of them are either owned by the government or under its control. In a few vears the little roadside thatched schoolhouses regime building exclu- purpose will all be supplanted by substantial | “consolidated” schools with every fa- cility for instruction. hese figures give an idea of rkable advance that has made in public instruction in Porto Rico during this past quarter of a century of American rule. In no other manner has the American ad- ministration of the island been revolutionary and progressive. The 0l system of Porto Rico rem been a bam- | municipal | the | | education school buildings. Indeed, the best- looking structures in Porto Rico to- day are public schools. They are not of uniform type, but offer a wide va- riety of architectural style, all pleas- ing and all suited to the environment. They are of substantial construction, built mostly of reinforced concrete. Some of them are beautifully orna- mented, and all of them have ample space*for recreation purposes. In the planning of these buildings and their emplacement more intelligence, it | must be confessed, has been manifest- ed than in the provision of similar equipment in many of the cities of the States. Washington would be proud of such ‘hools as Porto Rico provided {during the past few years. The new high school at San Juan, just ap- proaching completion, would be a credit to any continental city. Many of the rural schools are superior to urban schools in the larger cities of the continent. | Yet there is no suggestion of ex | travagance or waste in the provision of these quarters. The buildings have been erected with a view to their en- | durance. The plant is for a long time, and it is safe to say that these struc- tures will be standing in good order when many of the same age in the States are shabby and decrepit. School Head a Porto Rican, During my stay in Porto Rico I was enabled to visit a number of both urban and rural schools under the guidance of the commissioner of edu- TYPES OF SC and Upper: substituted for um of instruct This was further the” high schools, both in San Juan | Fajardo, In the San Juan High children | English, in visited the p2 literature. ingly well, HOOLS 1IN THE KEVENING STAR, PORTO RICO A new consolidated rural scho rural school at Old Loiza. | panish as the medi-| ends at the en on. | the governme cession heade musicians. A demonstrated in which were likewis hool stories in of their favorite told them exceed- few hesitations and the governor athletes of the had just won an were telling amples They with e girls sa Arecibo. Lower: An old type tudents were ual competitions. WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, MAY 5, '1925. ntrance to La Fortaleza, nt house, came a pro d by a band of juvenile high school marching to show to the silver cup that the » San Juan High School for the fifth time in the thousand ng as they marched and sters, laughing and playing and hop- ping along gleefully, with just the same spirit as on their departure at the end of the day. They are clean and tidy. They love to carry their schoolbooks —home, and -they ~ clutch them under their arms jealously. Study By Candle Light. Thousands of these children live in palm-thatched huts far up in the hills, where the only fllumination after dark is a candle or a lantern. When they return from school they have many chores to do, but the manage to study their lessons some- how, and the teachers with whom 1 talked said that they show the keen- est spirit in their work. Through official organization care is exercised over the health of the school children. They are subjected to clinical examinations to prevent the spread of disease. Inquiry is made into thelr diet. 1In the cities, where many of the children come from the industrial population, luncheons are provided In needy cases and shoes and | clothing are also furnished when nec- essary. Most of the girls of the higher grades wear a sort of uniform, white blouses and dark skirts. They are always particular about their ap- pearance, Beginnings have been made along the line of technical instruction and industrial education. At the Baldo- rioty de Castro graded and technical school in San Juan, pupils of the seventh, eighth and ninth grades are taught in yarlous branche: The boys are given mechanical drawing, wood-working, plumbing, machine shop practice, printing and electric wiring. Graduates of this school have no difficulty in finding employment The school is crowded and there is| a demand for other courses, which will be installed as soon as space is avalilable. A Thriving University. The University of Porto Rico is established at Rio Piedras, which lies a few miles east of San Juan, and at Mayaguez, at the extreme western end | of the island. The College of Liberal | Arts, Law and Pharmacy and the | Normal School are located a Rio Pledras, and the College of Agricul- ture and Mechanle Arts at Mayaguez. Though somewhat lacking in_ bulld- | ings, the colleges of the Rio Piedras branch, which is the headquarters, doing excellent work. The vaguez college is contributing | to the agricultural development | of the island. During my Thomas ~ Eliot Benner was inaugu stay in Porto Rico| | ton is taught in all of the parochial schools of the island, which are re quired to follow a curriculum similar to that of the public schools. Polytechnic Institute. One of the most interesting educa- tional establishments in Porto Rico is the Polytechnic Institute, at San German, in the southwestern part of the island. It founded in 191Z b: Rev. John Willlam Harris, a Pre terian missionary, who had during the six previous years made three sep- arate attempts to start such a school and had as often fafled. During 1911 he secured from interested persoms in P’orto Rico and the United States $8,- | 000 with which to purchase a J00-acre site, making possible the success of his fourth attempt. The enrollmenc during the first school year was elght | boys and four girls. Since then the school has grown to an enrollment of 377, with 12 fnstructors and an an- nual budget of $41,800. | As a result of securing an en- dowment from the Carnegie Founda- matched by gifts from other | sources, this institution is now sub- stuntaily established and is beginning the execution of an inspiring plan. which, when completed, will make it one of the sources of valuable educa- tion in the island. The buildings to house this iInteresting school are all being constructed by student labor. It | was my privilege to visit this instl- tution and to witness there evidences of its prosperity and its great promise for the future. Education the Supreme Task. With all that has been done since the American occupation for educ tion in Porto Rico, much remains to be done. Gov. Towner in his annual report for the past fiscal year says: “The largest item in our annual budget is the appropriation for educa- tion. It constitutes almost one-half of the total appropriations for all of the expenditures of the Government That this large proportion of expendi- tures is fully justified will hardly be questioned by those who have know edge of conditions existing in the islands. With one-half of the entire population totally illiterate, with tens of thousands of children who are not vet provided with any school privi leges whatever * * * it has been fully realized that to better these conditions should be the supreme task of the Governmen With this record of accomplish- ment and with this purpose of future advancement held firmly in view by the insular administration, it is with pride that the visitor from the States looks at the little thatched school house at Old Lolza, with its Stars and Stripes floating from a bamboo pole and then turns to view one of the splendid structures that typify the new Porto Rico, the Porto Rico of American development. SUNDAY DANCES BANNED. California County to Fine or Im- prison Violators. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May After Jvne 1 dancing on Sund Santa Barbara County will be under an ordinance adopted by Board of County Supervisors. Supervisor Thomas T. Dinsmore, sponsor of the ordinance, sald it was almed at roadhouses in Montecito, a wealthy suburb. A fine of $500 or six months’ prisonment is the penalty fixed violation of the ordinance. illegal the im- tor Mexico, although second largest pe troleum-producing nation in the world, imports large amounts of mineral ofls, particularly refined oils SKILLED PRESCRIPTION OPTICIANS Perfectly ground glasses 610 Thirteenth St. N.W. Between ¥ and G Sis. Phone Franklin 171 s in| Ordered to Manila. Maj. Rufus I has been relievec Tokio, Japan, P. L. for duty EMPLOYERS $. Bratton as a stuc and ordered 1 Investigate the f Salary Budget Insurance Write for I N. E. ELLSWORTH w , Mgr. 801-6 sdward e For GARAGES IR ARIES, SR BUNGALOWS {WASHINGTON CONSTRUCTION CO. 201 Fenton Court N.E. | 0RO RRRTRAR ATV “METROPOLIS “WATCH” VIEW GROW” The Nearest Downtown New Home Development | with cation, Juan B. Huyke, a native Porto Rican, the only islander who has been at the head of the department since its establishment in 1900. He took of in September, 1921. An enthu believer in a broad system of reaching the greatest pos. fice sias a 1s organized on muech the same prin- ciples those that obtain in the There are eight grades in the primary department in the urban zones and six grades in the rural dis- tricts. From the eighth grade in the urban area the pupil passes into the high school university for those who and who care to pursue their by special training in the arts and sciences, | re in New Buildings Attractive. The first-time visitor is strongly the to Porto Rico impressed by the size and attractive £ the newer = SPECIAL NOTICE AND X STORI designs iS. REPAIRED. UPHOLSTERED Special atfention given to re. que . 1 are _and _pianos. | 1510 Wis. ave. n'w. W. 651 FURNITURE a nished | finishing an WETHERILL. 9¢ = OFFT ton Six ation will | ssociation, N THE Por ( ANNT ECTION OF 7 and_d 0t the Wask Permanent B: ng Associ; be held at the office of the €30 F uf” ne cdnesday. May 6. 1025. | Polls ope Cam. t 3 pm * G CRTERMAYER. de PIANGS AND PLAYERS repaired | terma: wo Gr0. MM ol 4796 expierie WHY HAV FADED-OUT RUGS CYCLONE wash 1 new. 6 xal- lons,” $1.25. PROC 608 F nw | FURNITURE n DIRTY Mich. Rightway ini West 7 MARRIED _ ED Li i | “B'de. Fran | 1 WILL, NOT hes or jewelrs le after May 10. A. Franconetti 5 A SPEC PLC W I A ad of Thursday CHAS. F. O'BRIE WE MAK: To Baltim n | e TRANSER AND SToRAGE O, | FOR SOLTD COMFORT ON YOUR ATTONG: | bile: tours you need my new lnope: | fits_inside 'TO BED MFG. CO.. e chington. D. | IF_YOU HAVE ANY AILM Grugless evétem for relief. Dr. T. MAHON. D.C.. 1603 R. I ave. n.e. North 4539 OF = 0 HE LANSTON MO | Machine Company Philadelphia, April 1925—The annual & 0f the stockhold: ers of the Lanston g any will be h | Fince and Roya Alexanar. { at twelve ol Th Tth day of May €lecting a hoa KLY TRIPS _ | Wilmington. Del.. Tork City : <day. H é for the purpose of of directors to serve for the action on amendments d by the board of © of chairman of | and defining his duti angi; of the business 16 meeting. on Apnil rectors etary BABY PHOTOGRAPHS SP! the Nursery Studi 12 Artists Proof PHONE (OL! ten am W ARTHUR ECIALIZED 17 18th St. N.W. R’ SK Dozen. MBIA 8965 . Troubles Will Fade Away —with the coming of night if that mattress 18 made comfortable Coax sler by renova Phone M for this service. BEDELL MFG. CO., 810 E St. N.W The Best We Know How —that's what we put into every print- ing job. HIGH GRADE. BUT NOT HIGH PRICED BYRON: S. ADAMS, ERETES Your Printing Desires —m be matched here in this milllon- dollar printing plant. The National Capit&l Press 1210-1212 D_ST. KO RUST—NO DECAY and leaks with our famous “Protec-Tin | Roof Paint. KOONS EOOFING 110 3rd st. S.w. PORCHES INCLOSED. DOORS AND WINDOWS SCRE FRANK. 8072-W. HARRIS, 1010 Machine Work. Complete Equipped Machine Shop. Manuiact Parts and Repairs, Gear Cutting. Mill Supplies. Cast Phosphor-Bronze Bushings. Tobin Bronze Shaits. Shafting & Cold Rolled Steel H. C. Cragg Mig. Co. HAVE US REPAIR YOUR ROOF Call us up at Main 14 for a good. ting it beyond which is the | | ment has | people were iliiterate. | who themselves learned English and speak | | structions in that language. number, Mr. Huyke has given| Rico a school administration which meets with general commenda- tion. The of course, differ- ences of opinion regarding curriculum and methods. No school system wa ever created and maintained that w not subject to such criticism, for it is well established fact that educators T ely agree upon modes of procedure M Huvke, however, does not engage in controver but proceeds, with a high idea guide, to conduct the hoo! system of Porto Rico faithfully | nd capably. When the United in Porto Rico Spanish wa versal language of the island. Very le spoke English. Of course, such instr ion as was given was in Spanish. To build up a public hool system on a_bilingual basis mposed serious difficulties. Prob- ably mistakes have been made in the rdopted for teaching Eng to the childfen of Porto Rico, | perha the be: system is not now employed, as some critics aver. But considering the magnitude of the task of creating a two-language edu-y cational institution the accomplish- | been remarkable | sible Porto States took hold the uni- | Hlliteracy Reduced. i of the American oc-| over 90 per cent of the That percent- has since 1900 been reduced by one-half. It is plain to see were the obstaeles to be | in establishing a school | system to teach both English and | Spanish in a country where nine-| tenths of the people ¢ 1d at the be- ginning neither read nor write. The | illiterates of today are chiefly those | remain of the population as it | at the beginning of this cen. In the five lower grades of the ¢ schools English is taught as a subject, general instruction being given in Spanish. From the fifth | de onward the instruction is in nglish save in physiology At the e cupation | nearly how great overcome stood tury Spanish is taught in these upper elementary grades as a separate subject | Inasmuch as many of the teachers | the elementary schools, and rly those in the rural dis- icts, are Porto Ricans who have it with an accent, the teaching of that language in the lower grades is per- haps not as effective as it should be, and the children reach the higher grades, where English becomes the nedium of instruction, with but an | imperfect knowledge of the funda- | mentals of the language and, of course, an imperfe pronunciation. In one of the schools I visited in San Juan of the first grade the chil- | dren were put through their English lesson by the Porto Rican teacher. They were intensely eager to answer her questions. Their English, of was crude, but it was probably English than would have been Spanish spoken by continental school children if they were given in- i | Older Pupils Better. | | _In a second grade school in San | {Juan the children also gave a “dem- | | onstration” lesson, and there I could see an improvement in the quality of the English spoken and in the readi ness of understanding. And it w conclusion that these children are really learning English well enough to carry on their studies in the high- er grades capably when English is S TIR ON CREDIT T. 0. PROBEY CO. Store No. 1—2104 Pa. Ave. Store No. 2—I12th & H Sts. N.E. Store No. 3—9th & P Sts. N. | famili | with excellent an admirable choice of words At Fajardo they displaved an equal ty with the language and pronunciation, recit- ing Lincoln's Gettysburg address ar Whitman's “My Captain” fluent nd correctl It has been some slo of o questioned by whether it is worth while to teach these children English, inasmuch in their own homes they speak and a spoken to in Spanish, which is the language also of their pastimes. Bu n answer to that it may be said that result of the compulsory teach ing of English the entire school popu lation of Porto Rico is becoming miliar with that tongue, sufficiently least to communicate reech and in writing, and that a Bl per cent of these children will, upon completion of their school course, find English of practical use in business or in educational work. English of Great Value. There is a demand in Porto Rico, particularly for English-sp clerical posit Many of high sch nental c in thi by the cities of n San Juan islanders for This is an incentive, the students who reach the yols re headed for conti leges and universities, for hnical and educational cou The English they have acquired in the | hools of Porto Rico is of the great st value to them in this work in the states. Of course, a great many of the chil dren who are thus being taught Eng lish in the rural sections will have little or no use for that speech. They have practically no chance to use it at home, or in their associations. Their English may become “atrophied,” through lack of use. Perhaps their instruction would have been more ef- fective if conducted throughout their course in Spanish. But it may be urged that for such as these the more thorough instruction will be of little | value in any cas There is one point, however, unan-| swerably in_favor of the compulsory | teaching of English. These youngsters are all Americans. That flag that| floats outside of their schoolhouses, | whether on the bamboo pole beside the thatched hut in the coconut grove or on the tall, straight, gold-tipped staff ||f n front of the beautiful urban school, | their flag, and it will so remain. | They are acquiring Americanism through the study of English, as they could never acquire it if instruction were given solely in Spanish, with English as perhaps an elective study for such as seek special training. One morning during our stay an Juan, down Allen reet, Pe in | which chec great | past again, Tt ing given to the students of the victorious school Afte upon the balcony them winne: studies tors dispersed, having and are so placed, mainly along the high- ways, reach Yet wal evening | are But There fs no more delightful sight in neighborhood of a rural school in the morning Shakesps unwillingly seen there. % SHWashington s gave their school f the girls bore a They marched were properly nally the b A’ group American flag the palace and fewed.” Holiday Reward Denied. while after the proces- ed back came a torrent Jllowed by a large number rls, making for the palace but now in great hurry. massed in front of Fortaleza v solid throng, a delegation ascend to the executive offices to present that a week's holiday be In a little n had p boys, the petition in recognition of the triumph « time the governor went forth nd, congratulating success, told them hool competition rs always went back to their nd thus kept themselves fit ent work The *“demonstra- gave him a ringing cheer and perfectly satisfied with | eived executive felicitations | upon their t in the States T advice. In the rural districts the schools permit the children to them without undue difficulty. some of these children have to several kilometers morning and | especially where their classes in the consolidated schools. do so gladly and eagerly as to held the: to Rico than the scene in the before lesson time. wre’s schoolboy “‘creeping to school” is not to be They are merry young: just Streets Are Being Cut But NOT the Trees o D.C e Hedges & Middleton, Inc. REALTORS 1412 Eye St. Frank. 9503 PN THE OUTSTANDING HOME VALUE OF WASHINGTON, D. C. HUr [EITH At 36th and R Sts. N. W. PROVED not alone by volume of SALES, but by the { health problems in Porto Rico, is es- Over 100 Homes Now Under Construction Metropolis View Bids Fair to Be Washington’s Most Successful New Community Price, $7,850 On Easy Terms rated chancellor of the universit with appropriate ceremonies covering | two days. There was first an anni. | versary day celebration in Rio Pledras | on the 11th of March, with a most | creditable parade, which was reviewed | by the governor. In the evening | there was a reception, with speeche: at the Spanish Casino in Rio Pledras The next d: March the formal {nauguration occurred in one of the theaters of San Juan, at which the governor presided. That night a ban quet was tendered the new chancellor and Mrs. Benner. attended by all of- ficfal and social Porto Ric Dr. Benner, lately of the Universi of Tennessee, was chosen as chance! lor of the university with great care | and after consultation with leading | educators in the States. He took | charge last Fall. He has an enthusi- | stic faculty and anardent student body. The University of Porto Rico is re- | garded by some of the people of the | island as the foundation of a pan.| American institution drawing students both from the States and from the Southern continent. It has, however, a_sufficlently important role for the present to afford higher education for Porto Ricans who cannot come to the States for graduate work. The School of Tropical Medicine, of which more hereafter in connection with the A nNexy deliCious dressing forsalads Tnznn of the same old salad dressings, meal after meal? Try this one and get a new kick out of salads! 114 tablespoons Gulden's Seladres- Mustard e . teampoon wagas 11’8 different because it hasthe tang and taste that only mus- tard can give. In this new Gul- den's product the mustard is blended with olive oil, vinegar and spice to make it mild and delicate for salad dressing use. Delicious, 00, mixed with mayoa- Get a bottle today and havea new trest, 15c. At all grocers. GULDENS SALADRESSING MUSTARD | | TUTUBUTGUBL Within 15 minutes of downtown. The homes we have built represent our best effort in workmanship, materials, planning and conveniences. DON’T MISS SEEING THEM Open Daily From 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. Take Michigan Avenue car to 7th and Monroe Streets; walk south to Girard Street; or phone M. 36 ANY TIME for auto CHAS. D. SAGER Realtor and Builder 924 14th St. N.W. Main 36 Member of Operative Builders’ Association BT BT UG AR U tablished as a branch of this institu tion. It should be mentioned that English The New York Life Insurance Company Announce the Appointment of Randall H. Hagner & Compan class of people who are buying_them. It is becoming an Army and Navy center. of families who could buy larger houses them. Locality and a truly remarkable Scores are buying HOME are responsible for this. [SHANNON, Prices, $8,500 up EASY TERMS WHY PUT OFF? & LUCHS NGRS E S lem for all time—now. tion—Ruud is a lifetime RUUD MFG. CO. 733 13th St. N.W. Phone Main 6985 Sold on Easy Payments by practical rodter. IRONCLAD Roofing Company. 1121 5th n.w. Fh. Main'14 Plumbers and the Gas Company Get Your Ruud Today TTLE your hot water prob- pay only once for a Ruud Auto- matic Gas Water Heater. Noiron boilers to wear out—no deprecia- Pay a small sum down and the Ruud is installed. You have al- most a year to pay the balance in easy monthly installments. FPamentsit YSouWish You buy. as Their Mortgage Loan Corresponden . for Washington, D. C and Outlying Districts 1321 Connecticut Avenue Telephone M. 9700