EDUCATION in Latin America from the 16th to the 18th century

 

I.1. history of education in Latin America in the 16th century

 

The first historical record of education in Latin America lies in a decree by the King of Spain dating from 1503 and ordering of 'building a house or meet two times per day children in each population and that the priest learn them to read, write, and Christian doctrine with many charity' [2]. This text shows us the willingness shown by the King of Spain to treat the native with dignity.

In the 16th century, education in Latin America found its purpose in evangelism, i.e. the transmission of the Christian faith. The agents of this educational work were almost exclusively religious: Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinian, betlemites and Jesuits.

Initially, they were going to the conquerors to instruct them in the Christian faith and, in parallel, they gave elementary lessons and professional basics to the natives. In 1526, these religious created one of the first colleges of Latin America. It was the college of Saint-François in the Mexico. Here, lessons went hand in hand with catechesis. Two years later, college San Juan of the Lateran was established in Mexico City. A printing press was installed in 1539 and a University began to operate there in 1553. This spread in other countries.

Thus for example, for the formation of Indian youth, Bishop Zumarraga founded in 1536 the college of Santa Cruz at Tlaltelolco.

In 1538, general studies given in Santo Domingo received the character of University. Many existing colleges, universities in expansion and development of primary schools allowed a high degree of culture in Latin America in the 16th century. This is why Professor Pablo Martinez Arroya said during the celebration of the fourth centenary of the University of Mexico:

The 16th century New Spain remained much less proof than what is often assumed with respect to the European general culture; and lists the sent to du Nouveau Monde or taken over by the inquisition show wide intellectual interests in the colonies, which may be described as almost surprising, while they reflect that, for clerics, religion was a matter of vital but not exclusive interest for their readings [3].

This quote shows the interest that Latin Americans were already wearing intellectual culture at this time which coincided with the colonization. Professor Arroya comes by here to set the record straight at the time, at the time where clashing two opposing attitudes relating to the civilizing work of the Spain in America. Thus, depending on the angle of observation was triumphalist or negativistic; Some felt that the Spain gave everything she had in its colonies, while others denounce the almost total lack of schools in the colonies.

However, at the end of 16th century, the number of masters secular in function in the new Spain has allowed and forced the creation of the corporation of teachers, forty years before the metropolis. A signed order of the Viceroy in 1601 required the imposition of examinations; It set the necessary knowledge and the requirements for permission to open a school. This order also reveals the existence of many Amigas (friendly), whose part was learning to read to children.