Mr. ULLMAN. It is compulsory in your schools? Mrs. LONGo. In the whole island. Mr. ULLMAN. It is your understanding it is compulsory all through the island? Mrs. LONGO. This is a centralized system. Mr. ULLMAN. Thank you. Mr. O'BRIEN. Mr. Rivers? Mr. RIVERS. I do not have any questions. I wish to compliment you, too, for the fine statement you made and your work in helping improve the education of myself and the other members of the committee. For the record does Puerto Rico have any form of compulsory education or school attendance? Mrs. LONGO. Yes; we have a law that children have to attend school up to 14 years of age. Mr. RIVERS. Thank you. You spoke of private schools. Are most of those parochial schools? Mrs. LONGO. We have private and we have parochial, denominational. Mr. RIVERS. Does the Commonwealth government subsidize the private schools to any extent? Mrs. LONGO. Not that I know of. Mr. RIVERS. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Mrs. Longo, to set the record straight, the subjects of elementary schools and junior high schools are all the same, they are not elective subjects, are they? Mrs. LONGO. Not in elementary schools. They have to learn English, Spanish, mathematics, science, social studies, music, physical education, and art. Every child. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. That is the uniform program for all schools throughout the island? Mrs. LONGO. All schools throughout the island. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. No. 2: And among those subjects which are compulsory is English one of them? Mrs. LONGO. English. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. At all levels? Mrs. LONGO. At all levels. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Then amongst the subjects there are preferred subjects. What does preferred mean? Mrs. LONGO. It is the subject where most is given in the instruction in the sense a better selection of teachers is made. More supervisory staff is assigned to improve the teaching of English. More books are assigned, more moneys are assigned to the teaching of English than any other subject. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Within the available time, which is very short because of the double shift, does English have, relative to other subjects, a longer period of time, would you say? Mrs. LONGO. In the elementary schools in the first grades English has the same amount of time, but in the junior high school they have double time for English. If we teach Spanish 50 minutes, we have 100 for English. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Another question, Mrs. Longo. You said that the vocational school teachers get better salaries, and the reason you gave was that in order to get them you had to pay them. Mrs. LONGO. And because they are a few, only 14 or 15. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. The number is smaller and you can afford to pay higher salaries to get them. Now, in the case of regular schools, you have more candidates and can find them even though you do not pay such high salaries? Mrs. LONGO. Yes. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Is it also a fact you can afford more easily to get vocational teachers not only because they are fewer in number but because you also have Federal assistance money contributed? Mrs. LONGO. Yes. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Have you any money to assist the regular schools up to high school? Mrs. LONGO. No, just vocational programs. We get some money from the Federal Government for them. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. For vocational programs, but not the other courses including the teaching of English? Mrs. LONGO. No. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. No Federal money? Mrs. LONGO. No money for that, just for vocational, not academic. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. My last question: You depend fundamentally for your school buildings, the payment of salaries, and all expenses at the schools, upon appropriations made by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico? Mrs. LONGO. Yes. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. The municipalities are not charged with that responsibility? Mrs. LONGO. No. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. The insular government, however, taxes the ple of that municipality for that purpose? Mrs. LONGO. That is right. peo Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. However, in addition to that, as a supplement, the municipality adds money at times, and in Ponce money has been added on occasion? Mrs. LONGO. Yes. Mr. FERNÓS-ISERN. Thank you. Mr. O'BRIEN. Is there an islandwide salary schedule for teachers based upon preparation and experience? Mrs. LONGO. Yes, sir. Mr. O'BRIEN. If so, what is it? Or would you prefer to submit that to the committee later and we will insert it at this point in the record? Mrs. LONGO. Yes, I can. Provisional teachers begin with $130 a month, and Normal school graduates, $150 a month. We get increments for experience and preparation : $40 when you get your B.A. and $40 when you get your master's degree. But I can submit a complete report of it. Mr. O'BRIEN. Thank you. It will be inserted at this point in the record when received. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The information follows:) (H.B. 1540) LAWS OF PUERTO RICO (No. 79) (Approved June 22, 1956) AN ACT To set up a compensation system for the public-school teachers of Puerto Rico Be it enacted by the Legislature of Puerto Rico: SECTION 1. The following monthly compensation schedule is hereby established for public school teachers holding a certificate issued pursuant to the existing law on certification of teachers (Act No. 94 of June 21, 1955): Mini- rate Intermediate rates (increase stops) Maxi- $150 $155 $160 $165 $170 $175 $180 $185 $190 $195 $200 $205 $210 SEC. 2. Likewise, the following monthly compensation schedule is hereby established for public school teachers holding a provisonal teacher's certificate: Mini- Intermediate rates (increase steps) Maxi mum $130 $135 $140 $145 $150 $155 $160 $165 $170 $175 $180 $185 $190 SEC. 3. As of July 1, 1956, the compensation (including basic salary and additional compensation for years of experience) accruing to all public school teachers pursuant to Act No. 104 of 1953, shall be fixed according to the following provisions: (a) Every teacher receiving a compensation lower than the minimum rate in these schedules shall have his compensation raised to the minimum rate in the schedule corresponding to him according to his status as teacher under the law on certification of teachers (Act No. 94 of June 21, 1955). (b) Every teacher with two to five full years of experience shall, in addition, be promoted one step further in the compensation schedule; every teacher with six to ten full years of experience shall, in addition, be promoted two steps further in the compensation schedule; and every teacher with eleven or more full years of experience shall, in addition, be promoted three steps further in the compensation schedule. (c) Every teacher whose salary coincides with one of the rates in the schedules shall be promoted one step further. SEC. 4. In succeeding years, every teacher's salary shall be raised to the next following intermediate rate in the corresponding schedule upon completion of one year of service, and so on successively until attaining the maximum rate. By year of service shall be understood any period of at least nine months within a school year during which a teacher has been serving under contract or appointment, and any cumulative ten-month period of service over different school years. Raises for years of service shall be determined at the opening of a fiscal year or the first month the teacher begins to work in a fiscal year. SEC. 5. Every teacher holding or attaining the degree of bachelor, master, or doctor, in the University of Puerto Rico or in any other university whose degrees are recognized by the Department of Education, shall, on and after the fiscal year 1956-57, receive an additional compensation which shall progressively increase over the next succeeding five fiscal years, namely: SEC. 6. Payment of the additional compensation for academic training to teachers hereafter meriting same shall begin the month next following the date on which the pertinent accrediting official evidence is submitted. Every teacher who in order to fill a given position must pass post-graduate courses of not less than thirty (30) university credit hours, without attaining the master degree, shall receive an additional monthly raise of ten (10) dollars over what he is entitled to receive as a Bachelor. When he obtains the Master degree, said raise shall be specified in the schedule under section 5 above. SEC. 7. Every teacher working under contract as English teacher shall receive, in addition, a raise equivalent to two increase steps over and above the salary he is entitled to to receive under the pertinent schedule, upon establishing, to the satisfaction of the Department of Education, that he has traveled or resided for at least twelve months if any country where English is the official language, or upon establishing that he has pursued studies in one of said countries for a time equivalent to one academic year. In such cases the maximum rate in the schedule shall be extended up to the equivalent of two additional increase steps. SEC. 8. By public school teacher shall be understood all teaching and technical supervisory personnel of the school system, excluding office personnel. Teachers and principals engaged as such by other departments or agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be comprised in such term. Evening school teachers and professors of the University of Puerto Rico are hereby excluded from the provisions of this act. The teaching personnel engaged by the Vocational Education Division of the Department of Education to hold position as trade instructors, teachers of agriculture, coordinators, registrars, vocational school directors, vocational education supervisors, teachers, instructors, and any other such position hereafter created, is likewise excluded: Provided, however, That the compensation of the teaching personnel of vocational education shall in no case be lower than that fixed by this act. SEO. 9. Beginning with the fiscal year 1956-57, there shall be included each in the Operating Budget of Expenses of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico the appropriations of funds necessary for all public school teachers, as stated in section 8 hereof, to receive salaries in conformity with the compensation schedules established by this act: Provided, That whenever the sums appropriated in the budget are not sufficient to pay the salaries established by these schedules, the Secretary of Education, or the secretaries or heads of agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in whose budgets such deficiencies occur, shall request of the Secretary of the Treasury the sums required to cover said deficiencies. The Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized and directed to set up on his books and to pay such deficiencies from any available funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. SEC. 10. Act No. 20, approved May 1, 1947, as amended, is hereby expressly repealed, except for section 7 thereof, as amended, which shall stand in force as a part of this act. SEC. 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 1956. (H.B. 954) (Reconsidered) No. 103 Approved, June 25, 1953 AN ACT To amend Section 7 of Act No. 20, approved May 1, 1947, as amended by Act No. 313 of May 13, 1949, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Legislature of Puerto Rico: SEC. 1. Section 7 of Act No. 20, approved May 1, 1947, as amended by Act No. 313, May 13, 1949, is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEO. 7. The following additional increases shall be paid for special services: "Principals. Taking into consideration the number of teachers under the direction of a principal, the number of other employees under his supervision, such as lunchroom employees, janitors, watchmen, and others, the number of pupils enrolled in the center or in the schools under his direction, and the complexity of the school organization in charge of the principals, the Secretary of Education shall establish a classification system to group principals within the five classes for which the following additional compensation is established: "Assistant Superintendents.-Taking into account the same factors considered for establishing the various classes of school superintendents, the Secretary of Education shall establish a classification system to group assistant superintendent within the five classes for which the following additional compensation is established: "Superintendents.-Taking into consideration the territorial area of the school district in the charge of the school superintendent, the total number of teachers in the school district, the school enrollment of the district, the administrative and supervisory personnel in the charge of the superintendents, the total number of other employees in his charge, such as school lunchroom and breakfast center employees, janitors, watchmen, and others, the Secretary of Education shall establish a classification system to group superintendents within the five classes for which the following additional compensation is established: "Curriculum Technicians and Zone Supervisors.-Taking into consideration the subject matters with which he shall deal; his work in the preparation of service plans, the supervisory work to be carried out, the work in the preparation of the curriculum, the freedom in his work with relation to the other supervisors or the other curriculum technicians, the administrative and technical personnel in his charge, and the school grades included in his field of action, the Secretary of Education shall establish a classification system to group Curriculum Technicians and Zone Supervisors, as well as such additional personnel as he may require to carry out the work to be done, within five classes of Curriculum Technicians or Zone Supervisors, for which the following additional compensation is established: "General Supervisors.-Taking into consideration the subject matters which he shall supervise, the administrative and technical personnel under his direction, and the school level on which his activities develop, the Secretary of Education shall establish a classification system to group general supervisors within the five classes for which the following additional compensation is established: The Secretary of Education shall readjust the classes in accordance with the determining factors thereof, as herein established, and shall, at the same time, promulgate by regulations the method to be followed in grouping by classes the various school system officials referred to by this Act; Provided, That the |