Mh900401780

Puerto Rico Language Policy Timeline

By marie lopez
  • Americans arrived Puerto Rico

    Americans arrived Puerto Rico

    As a result of the Spanish American War, the island became a possession of the United States.
  • Period: to

    Timeline of Bilingualism in P.R.

  • English actually dominated Puerto Rican public education

    English actually dominated Puerto Rican public education

    The educative policy was that Puerto Ricans will continue to talk in Spanish but they will learn English.
    ln high school, subjects were taught in English,
  • Teachers were sent to the United States

    Teachers were sent to the United States

    540 teachers went to Cornell and Harvard University. Dr. John Eaton established that Puerto Rican teachers must learn English and the ones who were prepared, will be hired.
  • Spanish Language is removed from Puerto Rican Schools

    Spanish Language is removed from Puerto Rican Schools

    English is used to teach in all grades
  • Spanish for First Grade

    Spanish for First Grade

    Health Course and Reading were authorized in Spanish Language.
  • Learning Spanish is obligatory

    Learning Spanish is obligatory

    A law established that the learning process will be in Spanish and legal proccesses in court too.
  • English is considerated as a foreign language

    English is considerated as a foreign language

    Dr. Jose Padin exposed that from a pedagogic point of view.
    Mr. Paul G. Miller (commisionate) had a big controversy with him. Mr. Miller revoked on August 30, 1921.
  • The president of the U.S. wanted to be English our language.

    The president of the U.S. wanted to be English our language.

    Jose M. Gallardo is the new Commissioner of Education. He tried to establish a bilingual program, but a lot of protests did not allow it.
  • Spanish is the main language in schools.

    Spanish is the main language in schools.

    from First to Sixth Grade. English was just another subject.
  • Ends teaching in English

    Ends teaching in English

    Governor of Commonwealth of P. R. Luis Munoz Marin ended the practice
  • Spanish is used as First Language up to Ninth Gade

    Spanish is used as First Language up to Ninth Gade

  • Luis Munoz Marin established Spanish as the main language of instruction

    Luis Munoz Marin established Spanish as the main language of instruction

    English is taught for one period a day as a Second Language.
  • Spanish declared as official language

    Spanish declared as official language

    Dr. Mariano Villaronga finally put Spanish as First language for all school's levels.
  • U.S. created the Bilingual Teaching Law or Title VII

    U.S. created the Bilingual Teaching Law or Title VII

    President Johnson signed it, but it was not until 1974 that it made a boom.
  • P.R. asked for funds to help English Language Students

    P.R. asked for funds to help English Language Students

    The Department of Education and some universities asked for funds to meet the necessities of students who came to P.R. and their mother tongue was English.
  • First two bilingual projects are established in P.R.

    First two bilingual projects are established in P.R.

    The Popular Party established it in two schools: "Padre Rufo and Papa Juan XXIII".
  • Bilingual Certification Law is signed.

    Bilingual Certification Law is signed.

    Governor Carlos Romero Barcelo signed it but it was not fully implanted. The teachers who applicates for it have a lot of trouble to obtain it.
  • Migrant students constituted a portion of school population in P.R.

    Migrant students constituted a portion of school population in P.R.

    10 % of students in P.R. studied in U.S. A lot of federal programs were available to these students up to this date.
  • Popular Party declared Spanish Only Legislation.

    Popular Party declared Spanish Only Legislation.

    Spanish is the official language in P.R.
  • Four projects for the Department of Education are approved

    Four projects for the Department of Education are approved

    Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon sign them: two for UMET, one for Sagrado Corazon and two for Universidad del Turabo.
  • Law #4 is revoked

    Law #4 is revoked

    English and Spanish are both declared as official languages in P.R. by Dr. Pedro Rosello, governor of Puerto Rico.
  • P. R. statistics of Bilingual schools

    P. R. statistics of Bilingual schools

    Only 12 of the island's 1,472 schools offer an all-English curriculum of the sort envisioned by Fortuno, while 35 other schools offer some courses in English, such as math and physical education, said Education Secretary Edwin Moreno.
  • Bilingual Certification began at Sagrado Corazon University

    Bilingual Certification began at Sagrado Corazon University

    I had the priviledge to began this certification with a group of almost 80 teachers from around the island. After doing this timeline, I realized that we became part of the history of Bilingual Education in Puerto Rico.