Santorum to Puerto Rico: Speak English if you want statehood

[Redford]

96. English used to be taught in the public schools in PR but it was removed in the early 50"s

Why? Because Puerto Ricans that could speak English were more likely to move to the states for job and education opportunities. It is why there are more Puerto Ricans in New York than in PR today. When American corporations built factories over in PR (they did not have to pay tax on goods produced there) they needed a captured workforce. So the governor, Luis Munoz Marin, took English out of the public schools so they people were less likely to leave thus insuring the the workforce. There is a great book on the subject titled "Isla Verde". The tax loophole was closed up a few years ago and the corporations shuttered up factories are everywhere.

I lived there for three years in the early 2000's and my kids attended private school taught in English with the children of the very wealthy Puerto Ricans. The rich make sure their kids their kids speak fluent English.