Orden social, moral e instrucción pública. Los conceptos de educación e instrucción en el Perú, 1820-1870

Abstract

This text analyses the political dimension of education and schooling concepts in Peru between 1820 and 1870. Despite the similarity of their meaning, the moral education is more important in the education concept, meanwhile the knowledge learning is more important in the schooling concept. These differences contemplated different political views on which was the most relevant to apply in the population in order to achieve the social progress and the political stability. For a sector of the political elite, the schooling was not relevant for the popular sectors because it could be a factor of political and social instability, so the best for them was the moral education in order to keep the social hierarchies. On the other hand, for another political sector, the schooling was considered essential to promote social mobility, improve the labor force and the mothering factor, although for the case of indigenous people, the education provided by work, railways and the free market was also considered necessary.