THE flag floating above the country school house is the most, convincing symbol of a nation's progress. Twenty years' membership in the family of Uncle Sam has done a great deal for the school children of Porto Rico. In 1898, there was only one building on the island especially erected for educational purposes, and out of the population of a little over 953,000, less than 30,000 attended school – leaving over 300,000 children of school-age who were not in school. The effect of this was shown in the condition of the older generation; 73% of the males of voting age – that is, over twenty-one years – unable to read or write.

The Governor of Porto Rico now reports that, in 1919, out of the population of 1,300,000 there were 434,381 children of school age, and that about 161,000 of these attend school – an increase over conditions of twenty years ago of nearly 14,000. There were only 525 teachers in 1898 – today there are 3,000. There are now 529 public school buildings – most of them fine structures, completely equipped. There are elementary schools, high schools; night schools, and special trade schools – with special courses in agriculture, cooking and sewing, and instruction in music and drawing. In the education of Porto Rico children; utility is the dominating thought – as it should be. Instruction in the Porto Rican public schools is now given in the English language. Spanish is taught as a special subject, beginning with the second grade, and continuing to the end of the course. There is no disposition on the part of teachers, to force English or to suppress Spanish. It is important, however, that the young generation should speak the language of Uncle Sam. A balance of the two languages will naturally be maintained, for the children hear and speak Spanish almost everywhere in their daily life – at home with their families, and in association with their friends.

On and above the actual instruction given in the schools, all the benefits, pleasures and pursuits of American school life are cultivated. There are school libraries, playgrounds, and lunchrooms – the latter supported either by private donations, public funds, or both combined. Some of the children get better food at school than they get at home. School bands have been organized, for instrumental music plays, an important part in the social life of the Porto Rican people. Every town has its band, and an improvement in their music is noticeable since the establishment of school bands. School bands render music at the school festivals, exercises, and, special concerts on the public plaza, at teachers' meetings, at meetings of parent associations, athletic meetings, and other occasions. School bands are already organized in twenty-one towns. San Juan, besides having a school band, has also a school orchestra.

Besides the public schools there are a number of private, schools in Porto Rico – last year there were 60 altogether, 21 of them in San Juan – the grade of work ranging from kindergarten to high school instruction.