Try link to:Similars in:
Once the Mexican Revolution transformed the Mexican political institutions, the relations between elementary school curriculum and nationalism were reinforced. Forjando patria [forging a country] (Gamio, 1916; Dawson, 2004) was the leitmotiv of schools. Despite a scarcity of resources, substantial school building efforts were undertaken in the 1920s and 30s (and since) that ultimately have allowed practically all Mexican children access to at least elementary school education (grades 1-6). Since secundaria (middle school; grades 7-9) became compulsory in 1992, most Mexican children have attended those additional years of school as well. Even if Mexican schools have experienced deep changes over these one hundred years, today, they continue reproducing this nationalistic character with very little contestation (Rippberger and Staudt, 2002; Zúñiga, 1999). A core obligation of the Mexican public education is to teach Mexicanness, to teach love and respect for the country which is related to preparing children to navigate Mexico successfully as adults.