ABSTRACT
The importance of the family in the educational development of the child might be debated; however, the fact that the family plays a major role in this development is acknowledfed by both educators and policymakers. The mother’s schooling took place in the rural schools of Arecibo. The recollection presented by her is one of an uneventful normal childhood. The children credit their mother for teaching them the Spanish language. They acknowledge that starting school was not a real problem because they knew some English before entering first grade and they learned rather quickly. The family is bilingual: each member speaks both Spanish and English. The mother has made a conscious effort to make certain her children are bilingual. In fact, the family has lived and attended schools both on the island and on the mainland. However, each individual had different attitudes towards the English and the Spanish languages.
