MEXICO WITHOUT LIES

CHAPTER 4 Why the education in México is oriented to produce low salary labor?

Why the education in México is oriented to produce low salary labor? What is the effect of forty years of teachers' lack of authority over students? Why Civic Responsibility was eliminated from elementary schools curricula in 1972? Why did México stop participating in the Industrial Revolution? Why are most industrial facilities in Mexico owned by foreigners?

SUBCULTURE OF DEFEAT

(Background/ Involvement in Mexican Culture/ Future)

BACKGROUND OF THE SUBCULTURE OF DEFEAT

The Spanish conquerors of the sixteenth century used to have many children out of wedlock.

The bastards thus born became a second class among the inhabitants of New Spain. They were not accepted by the elite of the peninsulares, criollos, and the legitimate mestizos.

In general, they could not improve economically by using their skills and effort, since they had no right to become anything other than servants.

Such a fate became the hallmark of the subculture of defeat.

The group grew in number with the natives who moved to the Spanish settlements betting on a better life.

That was the origin of the subculture of defeat, which became a provider of low-wage labor.

When Mexico became an independent nation, the government granted acceptance in the Universities to natives who were willing to be "integrated".

Against all odds, a native Zapotec became President of the Republic. Never again has such a thing been replicated.

Porfirio Diaz, the first President of the Republic who had the opportunity to implement a long term development plan, established in 1891 an educational system that reversed the growing rate of members of the culture of defeat. Diaz also promoted the publication of "México through the Centuries" (México a Través de los Siglos), a well-made set of history books that accurately documented the achievements of pre-Hispanic cultures.

Such educational system, that for eighty years taught children to think, analyze, and draw conclusions, was sabotaged in two moments.

One, in the second quarter of 20th century, when government included in the history books a twisted account of the War of the Revolution.

Two, in 1972, when the educational system became one that does not teach children to follow and achieve their personal goals.

The twisted history of the revolution helped for a long time to keep people acquiescence to the abuse of union leaders and public officials.

About the way in which the objectives of education evolved, we will now review the changes in the Mexican educational system from the 19th century to the present day.

In the 18th century, before the Industrial Revolution, Jean-Baptiste de la Salle launched in France, the first educational system designed for the people. Later, his followers developed the Simultaneous Teaching System that used the premise of de la Salle: "all men are equal and, thus, have the same learning potential".

In Europe the demand for workers grew with the Industrial Revolution. It became important to teach poor people to read and write.

Simultaneous Teaching requires small groups, so it could not meet the challenge. It was then that the English educator Joseph Lancaster promoted a system where the superior students transmitted their knowledge to the inferior students.

The educational system of Lancaster made it possible for a single teacher, with the help of monitors (students helping others), to teach two hundred children.