Sobre l'exili del magisteri republicà (1936-39) : reflexions i suggeriments = The exile of the republican teachers (1936-39) : reflections and suggestions

Abstract

This article presents the exile of the republican teachers due to the revolution against the republican government and civil war in Spain. It follows teachers from Valencia and Catalonia, many of whom migrated to France due to the proximity of Catalonia to the French border. It is estimated that more than 10% of teachers that were working in Catalonia and many others coming from war zones migrated to France. This paper describes social, political, and professional aspects of their life in the exile; as well as their first educational work carried while in the exile in the French concentration camps, cultural shelters, and finally in other European and American countries, like Mexico and Venezuela. Exiled republican teachers contributed significantly in the educational system of these countries, while the dictatorship of Franco diminished the quality of education in Spain, both intellectually and methodologically. Catalan teachers in Mexico taught Catalan to sons and daughters of the exiled thinking they would return to Catalonia after the Second World War. There is also a reference to the cultural work of the Generalitat (the Catalan government) in the exile. Finally, this paper includes a section about issues encountered while researching the subject and the fact that it mainly relied on oral interviews and memories of those who lived the events. It also presents leads to be considered for future research.