Little Journey to Puerto Rico : for Intermediate and Upper Grades - For Intermediate and Upper Grades by Marian M. George
page 29 of 93 (31%)
page 29 of 93 (31%)
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Children in Puerto Rico sleep on the floor or in a hammock, and they eat whenever or wherever they can find fruit or vegetables within their reach. Sometimes they smoke, too. They have no toys, no books, no pictures, no fine clothes or homes; yet, for all that, they are cheerful and contented. They have little, but they seem to want little. The children of the wealthy and well-to-do dress and look very much like the children in our Southern States; though the babies and very young children sometimes wear no clothes. These children are sent to school, or are taught by a governess or tutor at home, until they are old enough to be sent away to school. Then they are sent to Spain, France, or the United States, to complete their education. The girls study and read very little. It is not considered necessary for them to be well educated. They are not allowed to walk about the streets alone, but must have a servant, nurse, or attendant from the time they leave their cradles until they are married. EDUCATION IN PUERTO RICO. Not more than one seventh of the 850,000 people in Puerto Rico can read or write. Only one child in twelve, between the ages of six and sixteen, attends school. (In 1897, of 125,000 children of school age, only about 28,000 attended school--about 19,000 boys and 9,000 girls.) |
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