DOCUMENT RESOR2 ED 088 984 OD 014 113 AUTHOR' Moran, Roberto E., Ed. TITLE Proceedings of the Conference on Ecological and Cultural Factors Related to Emotional Disturbances in Puerto Rican Children and Youth, Barranquitas, Fuerto Rico, December 8-10, 1971. INSTITUTION Puerto Rico Univ., Rio Piedras. Coll. cf Education. SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, C.C. Div. of Handicapped Children and Youth. PUB DATE Dec 71 NOTE 161p. EDRS PRICE MP-S0.75 HC-S7.80 DESCRIPTORS Community Characteristics; Conference Reports; conferences; *Cultural Factors; *Curriculum Development; Disadvantaged Youth; Ecological Factors; *Emotionally Disturbed Children; Environmental Influences; Family Characteristics; Family Influence; Puerto Rican Culture; Puerto Ricans; Social Influences IDENTIFIERS Puerto Rico ABSTRACT The Conference on Ecological and Cultural Factcrs Related to Emotional Disturbance in Puerto Rican Children and Youth was the primary attempt to bring together a group of behavioral scientists, medical doctors, and educators, so that the scientific findings of the foraer--behavioral and medical scientists--may be used by the latter--educators--in the designing and implementation of a curriculum plan for the education of emotionally disturbed children in Puerto Rico. All participants at the Conference were Fuerto Ricans actually engaged in dealing with emotionally disturbed children in el Puerto Rico. Contents include the following papers: "Introduction," Roberto E. Moran; "Machismo versus Monism in Puerto Rico," Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo; "The Puerto Rican Child with Emotional Disturbances," Nectar R. de Torregrosa; "The Emotionally Disturbed Child in the Classroom," Alba N. Lebron de Ayala; "Experiences with Emotionally Disturbed Children at the Day Care Center, Psychiatric Hospital, Puerto Rican School of Medicine," Cira V. Romera de Uriarte; The Puerto Rican Family: Psychological Approach," Antonio Martinez- Monfort; "Social Structure and Child Development," Raul A. Munoz; "The Impact of the Family on the Child's Emotional Development," Estelia Munoz de Lopez de Victoria; "The Fuerto Rican Community: Sociological Approach," Juan J. Raunez; "The Impact of Some Factors of the Puerto Rican Community on the Development cf Our Children," Guillermo Santiago; and, "Summary of Group Reports," Aida S. Candelas. (Author/JR) a PROCEEDINGS OF' I'llE CONFERENCE ON ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS REL ATED TO EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES IN ruEwro RICAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH S OF PRT4FIFFT OF F.El.T14 OtiCA ',0,v144.11.,F *40.1 ,0, .MST IT ull OF (01,[T Mr, ..f'.. g g December 840, 1971 Barranquitas, Puerto Rico itoberto E. Moran Editor PROCEEDINGS REST COPY AVAILABLE of the CONFERENCE ON ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS RELATED TO EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES IN PUERTO RICAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH December 8-10, 1971 Barranquitas, Puerto Rico Roberto E. Morin Editor Jointly organized and carried out by the Program: MENTAL RETARDATION, College of Education, University of Puerto Rico, and the Division of Education of Handicapped Children and Youth, Puerto Rican Depart- ment of Education. The Conference presented or reportedherein was per- formed pursuant to Public Law91-230T4-D, Grant from the Division of HandicappedChildren and Youth. U. S. Office of Education, Departmentof Health. Education and Welfare. However, the opinions expressedherein do not necessary reflect theposition or policy of the U. S. Office of Education and noofficial endorsement by the U. S. Office ofEducation should be inferred. tkit,0\-1 ii THE PUERTO RICAN FAMILY: ITS IMPACT ON THE EMOTIONAL GROWTH OF PUERTO RICAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH The Puerto Rican Family: Psychological Approach 64 Antonio Martinez-Monfort, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Social Structure and Child Development 74 Raul A. Muftoz, M.A. Social Science Researcher University of Puerto Rico The Impact of the Family on the Child's Emotional Development 105 Estelia Mufloz de Lopez de Victoria, M.A. Family Orientation Specialist Department of Social Services Puerto Rico THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY: ITS IMPACT ON THE EMOTIONAL. DEVELOPMENT OF PUERTO RICAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH The Puerto Rican Community: Sociological Approach 124 Juan J. Maunez, Ed.D. Professor of Sociology University of Puerto Rico The Impact of Some Factors of the Puerto Rican Community on the Development of our Children 138 Guillermo Santiago, M.D. Child Psychiatrist Medical Center University of Puerto Rico BEST COPYAVARABLf iii SUMMARY OF GROUP REPORTS Aida S. Candelas, Fd.D. 151 Director Department of Program and Teaching University of Puerto Rico TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION 5 Roberto E. Moran, Ph.D. Director, Program Education of Oandicapped Children University of Puerto Rico THE MENTALLY DISTURBED CHILD IN PUERTO RICO Machismo versus Momism in Puerto Rico l7 Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo, Ph.D. Social Psychologist Professor of Psychology University of Puerto Rico The Puerto Rican Child with Emotional Disturbances 26 Nectar R. de Torregrosa, M.D. Child Psychiatrist School of Medicine University of Puerto Rico The Emotionally Disturbed Child in the Classroom 38 Alba N. Lebron de Ayala, M.A. Professor Special Education University. of Puerto Rico Experiences with Emotionally Disturbed Children at the Day Care Center, Psychiatric Hospital. Puerto Rican School of Medicine 51 Cira V. Romero de Uriarte, M.A. Education Specialist Department of Education Puerto Rico 1 PREFACE The Conference on Ecological and Cultural Factors Related to Emotional Disturbance in Puerto Rican Children and Youth is the fruit of thought and action of various per- sons concerned with educational problems and their solutions in Puerto Rico. The initial idea for such a Conference and its subsequent financial backing can be directly contributed to Dr. Bruce Balow and his staff at the Division of the Handi- capped, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washing- ton, D. C. In conversations with this writer and his staff, and with Mrs. Hilda Grana de Bonilla, Director of the Division of Education of Handicapped Children, Department of Education, Puerto Rico, and her staff, Dr. Below expressed his concern for the future development and implementation of Teacher Pre- paration Programs in Puerto Rico, especially in the Area of Special Education. It was suggested that since most key persons in Special Education receive their preparation in American Colleges or Universities, they might introduce inadvertently into the Puerto Rican education system, concepts and misconceptsbor- rowed from United States educatcrs. r 2 PuertoJtico is just beginning to carry out an Island- wide program covering all areas of spedial education; itis therefore in the unique position of being able to benefit from experiences gleaned from ungoing programson the main- land. Many of these programs, undoubtedly, have provided impressive models for the education of exceptional children. Others are based in,tenuous evidence and their contribution to special education is challenged. The majority of programs are undergoing constant refinement. All programs (innovative or traditional, experience-baied or performance-based) are designed to meet the specific needs of North American chil- dren, and, are influenced by such variables as the history, culture, politics, sociology and psychology of the North American people. These variables, it would seam are unique, peculiar and applicable mainly to North American.society. Dr. Below, thus, questionned the desirability of trans- planting U. S. models to a Puerto Rican educational system, especially in the area of special education. Puerto Rican educators, he felt, should analyze their culture and ecology, and design their curricula to meet the specific needs of Puerto Rican children and youth. The ideas of Dr. Balow and staff were converted into action, by convening a Conference,on Cultural and Ecological Factors Related to Emotional Disturbance in Puerto Rican Chil- dren and Youth. All participants at the Conference were Puer- to Ricans actually enga4ed in idealing with emotionally dis- turbed children in Puerto Rico. (The only exception was the outside observer Dr. Stanley Lichtenstein, Consultant).) The entire Conference was conducted, and all papers were read and later written in Spanish. The proceedings are, there- fore, the English version of these papers. Admittedly some liberty has been taken in making these translations for which the editor bears full responsibility. He sincerely hopes that by so doing he has enhanced the understanding of Puerto Rican culture: by the English-speaking readers. We, the Staff of the Program, Education of Handicapped. Children, College of Education, Obiversity of Puerto Rico, are most grateful to Dr. Bruce Below and his staff forthpir en- couragement and financial support of the Conference,. The editor wishes to acknowledge his sincere and personal gratitude to those persons who contributed their time andef- forts and their knowledge to make the Conference apossible 4 landmark in the education of Puerto Rico: Dr. Jose A. Cficeres, -0 Dean, College of Education, University of Puerto iti.co, who offered invaluable suggestions: Dr. Aida S. Candelas, Director, Department-of Programs and Teaching, University of Puerto Rico, for her interest and support: Mrs Hilda Grana de Bonilla, Director, Division of Education of the Handicapped, Puerto Rico Department of Education, and Co:Director of the Conference: Mrs. Migdalia Argote, .translator: Dr. Margaret J. Shephard, Professor Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia Univer- sity, for reading