The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 36
401 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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36 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
capital, wholly lacks funds for the education of the youth, as well
as for erecting edifices of public utility and adornment."1
Three years later a more lengthy comment adds that the city
is entirely without provision for public primary schools. The
ayuntamientos, under the previous regime, had now and then pro-
moted the establishment of schools, but had displayed little or no
energy in keeping them up. This fact has already been sufficiently
illustrated from the testimony of the records. The salaries of
teachers had remained unpaid, in default of funds; while their
work was still further hampered by the failure of the parents to
support them in the matter of discipline, or to cease the withdrawal
of their children from school. Such was the miserable condition
of the city that it was doubtful if the citizens could pay the
expenses of a teacher from Mexico-and they had none in their
own midst-or if they could prevail upon a teacher to stay in such
a decadent community 2
The real progress of a country, in the condition of Mexico at
the consummation of her independence, depends largely upon the
unselfish and prudent foresight of its leaders. It will be interest-
ing to note the presence or absence of that quality with regard to
the question of education, in those who controlled the destinies of
the dual State of Coahuila and Texas. The constitution of the
State, ratified March 11, 1827, required that the method of instruc-
tion should be uniform throughout the State, and that to facilitate
this, congress should form a general plan for public instruction."
There was to be a system of education, then, but this system must
be formed upon an approved plan. What this plan was to be
appeared in a later decree of the constitutional congress.4
According to this decree schools upon the Lancasterian plan were
to be established in the capital of each of the three departments
of the State. Qualified teachers, employed for three years, should
be placed in charge of these establishments, at a salary of $800 per
year, payable monthly in advance. The number of pupils in each
school was limited to 150, but if more attended, the teacher might
:Report from Sala Capitular of San Fernando, 1822. Bexar Archives.
2Saucedo to the governor of the State, 1825. Bexar Archives.
"Article 277.
'Decree No. 92, May 13, 1829. Gammel, Laws of Texas, I 237-240.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/40/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.