aken up, with much attention to English. The
fact that very few children knew any English, and that most of the
teachers knew very little Spanish, made the work trying and slow at
first. The children proved themselves about as bright as American
children, quick in their perceptions, with good memories, weak in
arithmetic, not good thinkers or reasoners.

Rarely do American teachers in the States receive so many little
tokens of esteem and appreciation. On the other hand, the pupils are
quick-tempered, with little power of self control; rather easily
offended, and lack in perseverance and stability. They have little
idea of attention and little power to study. They are anxious to come
to school, and will sacrifice much to get clothes and pay tuition. On
the other hand, they will often stay at home for trivial reasons,
having no idea of the need of regular attendance. They always come to
school well dressed and usually clean; they will not come barefooted,
ragged or dirty. The children of the poorer classes roam the streets,
before and after school, barefooted and ragged, saving their clothes
and shoes for school.

The Christian schools, such as those of the American Missionary
Association, do not exist merely to supplement the public schools.
From the conditions in Porto Rico the public schools must be entirely
and utterly non-religious. Not even religious songs or the Lord's
Prayer are allowed. Any teacher discovered teaching any phase of
religion forfeits his or her salary for that month.

[Sidenote: Bible Study.]

In the Christian schools, while the carefully-selected American
teachers insure good schools and good teaching of the ordinary
branches, there is a place for moral education, for simple religious
exercises and for Bible study.

[Sidenote: Rural Education.]

The great problem in Porto Rico will be rural education. Probably
800,000 of its 950,000 people live in the country or in hamlets. The
cities are already providing for teachers' training-schools. The
field of greatest usefulness for the A. M. A. lies in giving the
young men and women a fair education under Christian influences, and
sending them out into the country and village schools.

The people of Lares are deeply interested in the school and willing
to help the work; the location is as healthful as any in the island,
and Lares, as a great coffee center, promises to thrive and grow.

The education most needed in Porto Rico is practical, i