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Puerto Ricos' Language Policy Timeline

By Anrym
  • All subjects in English

    All subjects in English
    The first change in the Puerto Rican language policy. It introduced teaching all subjects in English in the public schools which was very much in line with the assimilationist orientation of the moment.
  • English & Spanish official lang.

    English & Spanish official lang.
    The Official Language Act granted official status to both English and Spanish.
  • English as a medium of instruction in all grades.

    English as a medium of instruction in all grades.
    Theodore Roosevelt's Commissioner of Education re-establish English as the medium of instruction in all grades.
  • Spanish medium of instr. 1st-4th gr.

    Spanish medium of instr. 1st-4th gr.
    The shifts in language policy continued and in 1917 there was a change toward a more nationalistic view, Spanish was reinstated as the medium of instruction for the first four grades.
  • Taught in Spanish from 1st-8th gr.

    Taught in Spanish from 1st-8th gr.
    Commissioner of Education, José Padin introduce a language policy which required all subjects except English to be taught in Spanish in the first eight grades.
  • Roosevelt made English lang. of instr. in all gr.

    Roosevelt made English lang. of instr. in all gr.
    The language policy shifted again toward assimilation when Blaton S. Winthrop, named governor by President Franklin Roosevelt, made English the language of instruction in all grades.
  • English in the secondary schools.

    English in the secondary schools.
    English was re-established as the language of instruction in the secondary schools.
  • Spanish as instr. lang. in all gr.

    Spanish as instr. lang. in all gr.
    The first Puerto Rico's Governor elected by Puerto Rican, Luis Munoz Marin, who established Spanish as the language of instruction in all grades.
  • Spanish Only

    Spanish Only
    The language policy was Spanish Only.
  • Englisg & Spanish as off. lang

    Englisg & Spanish as off. lang
    Law Number 4, April 5, 1991, was revoked and substituted in 1993 for Law Number 1 January 28, 1993 a Pro Statehood Party language policy which established both English & Spanish as official languages on the island.