Policies of the Department of Education

Department of Public Instruction

Oct 30, 1900

Dr. John Eaton establish that tecaher in Puerto Rico should learn English. Those who kenew the language would be the first to find jobs. Students in elementary schools took all the classes in Spanish, the English class was a special course. Students in High schools took all the classes in English, the Spanish class was a special course.

Language Act Revoked

Oct 30, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt's re- establish English as the medium of instruction in all grades.

English in Schools

Oct 30, 1904

During summer time 540 teachers were sent to the United States to study in Harvard and Cornell University. Teachers had to take an English test every year.

Every class in English

Oct 30, 1913

All the classes were taught in English. Teacher were obligated to take an English class once a week, take a test once a year,

Spanish in First Grade

Oct 30, 1913

Spanish was used in first grade to teach Reading and Health.

English

Oct 30, 1930

Juan B. Huyke was the Commissioner of Instruction. Students and teachers were supposed to talk in English at all times.

English as a Second Language

Oct 30, 1930

The Comisioner Jose Padin was the first one who said that we should see English as a second language. Geography, History and Math were imparted in Spanish.

United States Teachers

Oct 30, 1930

United Staates teachers were employed on the Island to improve the quality of English.

Sapnish in Schools

Oct 30, 1934

Spanish was stablish as the primary language for all the classes between First and Fourth grade. From Fifth to high schools only half of the classes were imparted in english.

Spanish as the language of Instruction

Oct 30, 1948

The Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Marin, establish Spanish as the language of instruction in all grades. English was going to be taught for only one period a day as a second language.

Only One Class in English

Oct 30, 1949

All the classes were in Spanish and English became a second language. This is the way we have been until 2012.

Bilingual Education

Oct 30, 1974

Thanks to the '' Lau versus Nichols'' the bilingual education became famous in the United States.

Law Number 1

Oct 30, 1993

This law revoked the ''Spanish Only'' Legislation approved by the Popular party in 1991. The law establish English and Spanish as official languages on the Island.