José Miguel Gallardo

José Miguel Gallardo (September 29, 1897 – July 18, 1976) was a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and two-time acting governor of Puerto Rico. He and his wife, fellow professor Ida Gallardo, lived most of their adult lives in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.

José Miguel Gallardo
Acting Governor of Puerto Rico
In office July 24, 1941 – September 19, 1941
Preceded by	Guy J. Swope (acting)
Succeeded by	Rexford Tugwell
In office November 28, 1940 – February 3, 1941
Preceded by	William D. Leahy
Succeeded by	Guy J. Swope (acting)
Personal details
Born	(1897-09-29)September 29, 1897 San Germán, Puerto Rico
Died	July 18, 1976(1976-07-18) (aged 79) Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Political party	Democratic
Education	Park University (BA) Pennsylvania State University, University Park (MA) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (PhD) University of Puerto Rico School of Law (LLB)

Graduated from with a Bachelors in Arts from Park College. Received his M.A. degree at Pennsylvania State University.

He is most remembered today as a strong proponent of bilingual education, and he was appointed as Commissioner of Education in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His first task on taking the office was to increase the teaching of English in schools, in preference over Spanish. The intention was that while students would be taught in elementary school in Spanish, they would gradually be taught increasingly in English through high school. His revised education policies were reversed in 1942.

In 1941, he put the island on "war alert" after the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

External links

• The Political Side of Bilingual Education
• Some remembrances of him written by his nephew.