Free Education Institution (ILE): Shaping Modern Spain
ILE
The Free Education Institution (Institución Libre de Enseñanza or ILE) was a significant pedagogical endeavor in Spain, inspired by the philosophy of Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (Krausismo). It profoundly impacted the nation’s intellectual life, playing a central role in its renewal. Founded in 1876 by professors Francisco Giner de los Ríos, Gumersindo Azcárate, Teodoro Sainz Rueda, and Nicolás Salmerón, among others, the ILE emerged when these educators were compelled to continue their work outside the state system. They established a secular private educational institution, initially focusing on university education and later expanding to primary and secondary levels.
Starting in 1881, the ILE began training its own teachers, including Manuel Bartolomé Cossio (who succeeded Giner as head of the institution), Ricardo Rubio, Pedro Blanco, Ángel do Rego, José Ontañón, and Pedro Jiménez-Landi. Their work consolidated the project and ensured its future. Until the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the ILE was a beacon of Spanish culture and a channel for introducing advanced scientific and pedagogical theories from abroad. Through a network of associated institutes, including the Center for Historical Studies led by renowned Hispanic philologist Ramón Menéndez Pidal, research on Spanish history flourished. The Generation of ’27 emerged from this vibrant intellectual environment. The ILE also fostered cultural and scientific cooperation with Europe, a modernization effort tragically cut short by the Civil War.
The ILE’s influence was vital in prompting government reforms in legal, educational, and social spheres. Institutions like the National Museum of Education and the Board for Further Studies (Junta para Ampliación de Estudios), which sent scholarship students abroad, were established due to its impact.
Francisco Giner de los Ríos
Born in Ronda, Francisco Giner de los Ríos studied philosophy in Barcelona and Granada before moving to Madrid in 1863. There, he encountered Professor Julián Sanz del Río, who introduced Krausist ideas to Spain. These ideas profoundly influenced Giner de los Ríos’s thought and work.
Pedagogical Renewal (1907-1936)
The ILE spearheaded pedagogical renewal through initiatives like pioneering schools, school vacation colonies, the International Summer University, and educational missions (Misiones Pedagógicas) under the Second Republic. These missions aimed to disseminate culture throughout Spain, reaching even remote areas. After Giner de los Ríos’s death in 1915, the foundation bearing his name was created in 1916 to preserve the ILE’s assets and continue its educational mission.
ILE’s Mission and Philosophy
The ILE’s core mission was to create a “new man,” individuals embodying the Krausist ideal, capable of addressing Spain’s moral degradation. In 1876, Giner de los Ríos, along with Azcárate and Salmerón, established the ILE as a private educational institution due to legal constraints on educational freedom. The ILE aimed to provide students with a broad, general education, preparing them for various fields and fostering their ability to pursue ideals.
Krausism
Krausism advocated tolerance and academic freedom, contrasting with Spanish dogmatism. It was a political doctrine within liberalism that sought national regeneration and encompassed a spiritual dimension.
Pedagogical Principles
Giner’s pedagogy resembled a Socratic school, where teachers influenced students through knowledge and wisdom rather than authority. The student-teacher relationship was intimate and close, fostering students’ conscience development. The ILE emphasized practical learning, with students keeping notebooks for their work. Rote memorization and examinations were eschewed in favor of frequent trips to museums, factories, the countryside, and even extended journeys, like the memorable walk from Madrid to Lisbon, fondly recalled by many former students.