BACKTHE Department of Education's rationale for including English as
part of its curriculum from first to twelfth grades is extensive. Some
of the reasons are:
The island's economic, political and social ties
with the mainland require the use of the English language for the island's
growth and economic development. Likewise, in-dividual, economic, and professional
progress are closely related to the ability to speak and write English.
Furthermore, in the last decade different segments
of the Puerto Rican population have migrated to the United States for many
reasons. Those who migrate in search of job opportunities need to learn
English for their progress on the continent. Puerto Ricans also need to
know English because migration has developed strong ties with the United
States. Almost every island resident has either immediate family members,
relatives or close friends living perma-nently on the mainland. Migrating
school children need to know English to adjust to English-dominant school
settings and cope with the demands of a different culture. Simi-larly,
the island's returning migrants require English instruction which will
meet their needs. it is likely that Puerto Ricans for years to come will
continue to migrate to and from the United States whether to seek job opportuni-ties
or to be with family and friends.
Finally a very important point is that a command
of the English language is a worthwhile educational goal in and of itself.
English is one of the languages most spoken by literate people in the world.
Much of the wor1d's literature in the arts and sciences is either originally
written in En-glish or is readily available in English. To acquire an ad-equate
command of the English language, is to have ready access to a vast body
of knowledge and thought. English then, is potentially one of the greatest
resources of the edu-cated person in Puerto Rico.
Since the department is committed to meeting the needs of all its
citizens, this curriculum guide aims to meet the needs of the department's
divergent student popula-tion. Not only must the English curriculum meet
the needs of urban and rural school children, it also must address the
needs of the potential migrant to the United States and those students
who come to the island from the continent.
In an effort to improve the teaching and learning
of English in Puerto Rico, the English program of the Depart meet of Education
has revised the curriculum based on the present needs of our society and
on recent research findings in second language acquisition. This revision
aims to develop learning activities within a critical thinking and value-oriented
framework.
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