Chilean Education: 1920-1958 Reforms & Compulsory Act
Compulsory Primary Education Act 1920
Chile entered a period of political crisis. Several projects failed to be approved, leading to the output of power. The application of this law fell to the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.
This law:
- Sets compulsory primary education attendance for children aged 7 to 15.
- Places the responsibility of compliance on the parents.
- Incorporates the compulsory condition into the constitution of 1925.
- Ensures free education for both sexes.
- Assigns responsibility to the Ministry of Public Instruction and supervision to the Board of Primary Education.
The law maintained a classification into different types of establishments:
- Prosecutors: State-funded.
- Higher (first class): 6 years, 3 cycles, with an added voluntary vocational cycle (1 to 3 years).
- Elementary (2nd class): 4 years, mostly located in rural areas (established in fields, hamlets, and villages focused on farming and related industries).
- Community: Maintained by the municipality. Status varied based on the town’s needs.
- Private.
In addition, there were 2 other types led by the working class:
- Voluntary creation: Set up by corporate profits and private individuals.
- By voluntary creation: Maintained by landowners, industrialists, or mining companies for the children of their staff.
1927: General Direction in Secondary Education
Created to monitor the performance of high schools and promote a scientific approach in education. Implemented under the first government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo. The state assumed the role of benefactor and financed secondary education.
Under the same concept, the government promoted:
1871: Establishment of a normal school for tutors based on the German model, emphasizing the understanding of child psychology.
The main problem with these colleges was the content, which had little or no teaching pedagogy. Subjects were taught, but not how to “teach to educate.” The method was still dominated by “the rod and spoil.”
Teaching Physical Education in the Late 19th Century
Physical education was difficult to integrate into the Chilean education system, mainly due to the church’s heavy censorship of the body.
German and Swedish colonies in colonial establishments instituted physical education. It was built in 1854, demanded in 1866, and mandatory from 1889.
Physical education was directed to state requirements; children were formed into battalions and marched in uniform, as part of military training.
1883: New Regulation for Primary Education
Elementary and high:
- New curriculum was taught.
- Detailed school performance in organization of time and space, entrance requirements, and curriculum.
- Specified requirements for tutors, aides, and monitors.
- Established rules for qualification, governing the qualification and certification of studies.
- Regulated admission to colleges, ensuring continuity of education through certification exams.
Education in Chile from 1920 to 1958 saw a period of change and crisis due to the formation of 33, and the acquisition of new power.
Arturo Palma Alessandri
- Addressed the needs of the working class.
- The unions of the working class created their own forms of learning, but they had great coverage.
Reform of 1928
The state was tasked with promoting development.
Ibanez stated that the state auditor’s task was to act as the main engine of development. This promoted economic development activities and a program of industrialization.
To accomplish this industrialization, the welfare state had to provide education and health to have a “live” and qualified workforce.
From this, the idea of career technical education was born, as it was necessary to generate a medium-grade workforce to promote industrialization.