La iglesia católica y la resistencia al cambio en la educación campesina, (1930-1960)

Abstract

The article analyses the position held by the Catholic Church in Mexico in order to face the changes of the post-revolutionary State, which prevented it from carrying out an active role where the education of peasants and workers was concerned. It is explained the labour developed by the Church, in a passive but resistant way, before de former horizon, which implied a possible wiping out of its educational and religious influence upon the Mexican rural areas. From this standing point we peruse the intention the Church had retaining the statu quo in the midst of all struggles and backlashes that the secularization of laws ant the general wont. Obviously, it cannot be omitted the addition to the former circumstances of other phenomena seemed to be lingering on it, as the expansion of international communism, the American Protestantism, or the so conspicuous hegemony of the Mexican State over the mass media. The response of the Church consisted in the “modernization” of its methods throughout specialized schools for peasants that educate them in the first studies, give them the specific teachings they would need in order to work in the fields and, pre-eminently, nourish them with the catholic principles. All of that aiming to prevent their desire of movement through the cities and the consequent desire of changing their social status.