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Puerto Rico's Educational System: A Tool for Ideological Control, 1898-1908

Jacques Bell

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Published in Creating Tropical Yankees: Social Science Textbooks And U S Ideological Control In Puerto Rico 1898 1908 (Latino Communities: Emerging Voices Political Social Cultural And Legal Issues)

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Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the United States acquired control of Puerto Rico. As part of its efforts to Americanize the island, the U.S. government implemented a new educational system that was designed to inculcate American values and beliefs in Puerto Rican students.

Creating Tropical Yankees: Social Science Textbooks and U.S. Ideological Control in Puerto Rico, 1898-1908 (Latino Communities: Emerging Voices - Political, Social, Cultural and Legal Issues)

by Ji-Yeon Yuh

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	242 pages

Social science textbooks played a central role in this process. These textbooks were written by American authors and presented a sanitized and distorted view of American history and society. They portrayed the United States as a benevolent and progressive nation that had come to Puerto Rico to uplift its people. They also ignored the island's rich cultural and historical heritage.

The use of these textbooks had a profound impact on Puerto Rican students. They learned to view the United States as a superior civilization and to identify with American values and ideals. This process of Americanization helped to create a new generation of Puerto Ricans who were loyal to the United States and who supported its policies.

The Impact of Americanization on Puerto Rican Education

The Americanization of Puerto Rico's educational system had a profound impact on the island's culture and society. It led to a decline in the use of Spanish in schools and the adoption of English as the official language of instruction. It also led to the of new subjects into the curriculum, such as American history and civics. These changes were designed to create a new generation of Puerto Ricans who were loyal to the United States and who supported its policies.

The Americanization of Puerto Rico's educational system was not without its critics. Many Puerto Rican educators and intellectuals opposed the changes, arguing that they were destroying the island's cultural identity. They also pointed out that the new textbooks were inaccurate and biased. However, the U.S. government was determined to Americanize Puerto Rico, and it used the educational system as a key tool in this process.

The Legacy of Ideological Control

The legacy of ideological control in Puerto Rico's educational system is still felt today. Many Puerto Rican students continue to learn a sanitized and distorted view of American history and society. They are taught to view the United States as a benevolent and progressive nation that has come to Puerto Rico to uplift its people. They are also taught to ignore the island's rich cultural and historical heritage.

This process of Americanization has created a generation of Puerto Ricans who are alienated from their own culture and who are unsure of their place in the world. It has also led to a decline in civic engagement and a rise in political apathy. The legacy of ideological control in Puerto Rico's educational system is a reminder that education is a powerful force that can be used to shape the minds of young people. It is a force that can be used to promote or suppress particular ideologies, and it is a force that can have a lasting impact on a society.

The use of social science textbooks as a tool for ideological control in Puerto Rico is a clear example of the power of education to shape the minds of young people. It is a reminder that education is not a neutral process, but rather a powerful force that can be used to promote or suppress particular ideologies. The legacy of ideological control in Puerto Rico's educational system is still felt today, and it is a reminder that the fight for educational justice is an ongoing struggle.

Creating Tropical Yankees: Social Science Textbooks and U.S. Ideological Control in Puerto Rico, 1898-1908 (Latino Communities: Emerging Voices - Political, Social, Cultural and Legal Issues)

by Ji-Yeon Yuh

4 out of 5