The Constitution of the teaching profession (development of the teaching figure)

Abstract

Pre-Hispanic education underwent a series of changes upon the arrival of the Spanish in Mesoamerican territory in 1519. Formerly there were four types of schools Ichpochcalli, Cuicacalli, Calmecac and Tepochcalli, the latter two being the most important. The role of the teacher was of great weight within this society, in the same way he was a respected and appreciated character by them. However, in the colony these schools disappeared and were replaced by schools where religious doctrine was taught. Likewise, the vision of the professor throughout these three centuries changed radically. In the first century, a teacher can be seen who teaches catechism to indigenous children by memorizing and repeating the imposed prayers. As well as the respectable figure of these, it can also be said that the friars were the sole center of education. There were also other types of teachers, including teachers of the noble art of reading and writing. These had to meet certain requirements, including being Spanish, knowing how to read and write in its different letters, among others. In the same way there were private teachers and the teacher called "the friend" her role was to teach the letters from the syllabary. Higher-level educational institutions boomed at this time, such as the Escuela de Cirugía, Academia de Bellas Artes, Jardín Botánico and the Colegio de Minería.