Mariano Villaronga Toro

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In this
Spanish name, the first or paternal surname
is Villaronga and the second or maternal family name is Toro.
Mariano Villaronga Toro
Born9 November 1906
Educator
and Commissioner of Education

Mariano Villaronga Toro (9 November 1906 - 7 March 1987) was a

Free School of Music system. Most importantly, during his tenure Spanish was adopted as the official language of instruction in all levels of the Puerto Rico public education system, displacing instruction in English which had been pushed by the previous governments of Puerto Rico under US-appointed colonial governors.[2]

Early years

Mariano Villaronga Toro was born in

Armstrong-Poventud Residence
, another national landmark also in downtown Ponce.

Training

Villaronga Toro graduated from

educator and public servant, Villaronga earned a master's degree in Education from Harvard University.[2] Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he joined the faculty at the University of Puerto Rico
. In 1943, he became head of the Department of General Studies there.

Spanish language instruction pioneer

While a man of many talents, Villaronga Toro is mostly remembered for having established, in 1949 and while Commissioner of Public Instruction, the educational language policy of using Spanish as the instructional medium for all school years, with English being taught only as a special subject.[4]

In 1946, the political leadership of the

Puerto Rican people.[2]

In 1948, however,

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was formed, Villaronga was designated secretary of Public Instruction, a position he held until 1957.[2]

Spanish educational television pioneer

Under his direction, the groundwork was laid for the establishment of an educational public television network in Puerto Rico. The actual rollout occurred in 1958, two years after Villaronga had left office. The system, WIPR Television, was the first educational television station in Latin America.[2]

Education books by Villaronga Toro

Villaronga, Mariano. La Educacion Liberal, 1953[5]

Death

Mariano Villaronga died in San Juan in March 1987.[6] He is buried at Puerto Rico Memorial Cemetery in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Villaronga Toro, Mariano - Education | EnciclopediaPR". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Villaronga Toro, Mariano - Education | EnciclopediaPR".
  3. ^ "National Association of Secondary School Principals. NASSP Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 63, p. 168. (1936)".
  4. ^ "The Political Side of Bilingual Education: the Undesirable Becomes Useful. By Jorge R. Schmidt-Nieto. Department of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus". Archived from the original on April 3, 2005.
  5. ^ Cornell University.
  6. ^ Encyclopedia Puerto Rico
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