The Cursillos de selección profesional public examinations in Segovia (1931-1936). Development, reception and controversies in the pedagogical press

Abstract

The “Cursillos de selección professional” were one of the most emblematic initiatives in teacher training in Spain during the 20th century. Their implementation, undertaken during the Second Republic, provided an alternative to the traditional competitive examination system, aiming to streamline and assess new generations of teachers in Spain in a more formative manner. However, although their introduction was generally well received, it was not without reservations, difficulties, and strong criticism. This study focuses on examining how this process was experienced in the province of Segovia (Castilla y León). To do so, we conducted a systematic analysis of the province’s pedagogical press published between 1931 and 1936, sourced from the Archive of the National Library and the General Archive of the Administration (Spain). Additionally, information collected from the University of Valladolid Archive has been used. The results allow us to assert that the management and development of this teacher training and selection system was a highly debated issue in the province’s major newspapers. Notably, criticisms were directed at its pedagogical value, the behavior of the evaluation committees, and the challenges faced by interim teachers concerns that were also shared regarding the previous system of accessing the teaching profession through competitive examinations.