The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 49
401 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Educational Eforts in San Fernando.
every teacher of this period complained of the non-attendance of
pupils and gave to the ayuntamiento long lists of parents who were
remiss in sending their children or in paying the voluntary sub-
scriptions they had pledged. These contributions were to be paid
in three equal installments during the year, but there seems to have
been no regularity displayed in complying with this rule. Mention
has already been made of the most important individual gift--that
of Dofia Gertrudis Perez. Another of moment was that of twenty-
seven copies of a life of Saint Peter, to be used as rewards for the
pupils. After careful inspectioi by the curate and a special com-
mittee to determine if the work was of suitable character, these
were accepted with thanks. It is unfortunate that the name of the
donor of this latter gift comes down to us in the records simply
as "George Nixon's clerk." After taking up so much space in the
discussion of his gift, it certainly seems that the ayuntamiento
might have thought his name worthy of mention.
Only during the two visits to the school made while Buchetti was
master, did the inspection committee find the work progressing with
any degree of satisfaction. At all other times they spoke regret-
fully of the few pupils in attendance and the many children run-
ning loose in the streets. Threatened pains and penalties did not
seem to terrify the indifferent parents." According to the statis-
tical report for the year 1832, there were in the city of San Fer-
nando de Bexar 297 boys and young men and 334 girls and young
women between the ages of seven and twenty-five. For the follow-
ing year these numbers were 296 and 334, respectively.2 For the
former year Buchetti reports an enrollment of 100 and for the
latter, Huizar reports 60. Further comment upon these figures is
unnecessary. In his report on Texas in 1834, Almonte remarks
concerning schools:
"In Bexar there exists one supported by that ayuntamiento; but,
as it appears, its funds have become so reduced that not even this
useful establishment has been able to survive. What will be the
lot of those unfortunate Mexicans who live in the midst of barba-
rians, without hope of civilization ?"3
'Report and minutes as above, passim.
'Messages of governor of State for 1833 and 1834. Bexar Archives.
'Report of Almonte in Documentos Para la Historia de Mexico, 4th
Series, V 40. Biblioteca Nacional, Mexico. This report was published in
1835.
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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/m1/53/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.