THE EDUCATIONAL THOUGHT OF JAIME BENITEZ, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO FROM 1942 TO 1966

The study traces the development of Jaime Benitez Rexach's educational thought during the years he was Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico (1942-1966), in light of the fact that he was the most important educational leader of higher education on the island.;Findings and Conclusions. Through the analysis of Benitez' writings and speeches the author concludes that chancellor Benitez embodied the contradictions of the members of his generation, i.e., the founders of the Popular Democratic Party. For example, during his chancellorship, Benitez opposed student political activism because he believed students would fall prey to ambitious local politicians; yet he respected the faculty's political affiliations as long as professors did not use the classroom to propound their views. The analysis of Benitez' positions regarding student activism is based on speeches made during the student strike of 1942 and 1948. His position on academic freedom is evaluated in reference to his defense of the faculty during both the McCarthy Era and the Cuban Revolution.;The major controversy surrounding Benitez' general studies curriculum at the University of Puerto Rico was the issue of Puerto Rican culture. Most of his critics believed that this program overemphasized the importance of Western culture while neglecting the contributions of Puerto Rico to Western civilization. The general studies program was based on Ortega y Gassets's educational philosophy as specified in his book, Mission of the University.;Other issues studied in this dissertation are Benitez' position regarding Latin American and Puerto Rican politics and the interference of politics in the universities of Latin America and Puerto Rico.;For this study Chancellor Benitez' major writings and speeches are analyzed from a historical perspective covering three decades (1930's - 1960's). The writings of other Puerto Rican scholars and politicians are also consulted in order to compare the various political and educational currents of the island with those of Benitez.