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Ace almost 50 years, When I was a novel Professor of Sociology at the Law Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the following happened; I remember it very well, although I did not take note of it and I lack more details.
The event occurred in a large classroom occupied by more than 40 students from the first degree. A young man of the group, whom I am unable to identify by face and name, captured the attention of all present; In the understanding that since the beginning of my teaching I have sought approach with my students, I like to listen to them and ask, especially when I see them restless, disoriented, annoying …
More words, words less, said the interested party: “It is not called the right, I am here to give my parents like, as for obligation. My dad is a lawyer, my mom is a graduate of this faculty, my older brother studied law, my family has a law firm, and now I have had to study the career; but I can’t, I don’t want.” I saw it disgusted, to say at least. How pain!
I went to the grain: companion, then, what would he like to devote? (I asked ceremonially, in the way of the Faculty of Law, talking about you, although I had no more years than him, maybe 25 versus 18). He soon answered, spontaneously said: “I want to be a bullfighter” and the countenance changed him. Surely, some of his companions, he or I, we add something, but that was not the fundamental, so much that I do not remember. The important thing came later.
That morning I got restless of the class, the matter seemed worrying, worthy of reflection. A few weeks earlier, on Wednesday, January 28, 1976, he had been published in El Periódico Excélsior A splendid article (I still keep the cut, almost 50 years) by Enrique Maza, who, from his column, made important contributions to my personal training. The text is titled Parable. Audacity or fear of being free (page 6 and 8, in case someone is interested in locating it easily). And freedom and respect is what the aspiring bullfighter demanded clearly.
Neither late or lazy, I took the newspaper, went to the stationery close to home and made a photocopy of the article that, of course, went to the student. The next day (the class was daily, from Monday to Saturday) I arrived with the document to the session, I looked for a moment, and I delivered it in public, with a simple observation: “Companion, hopefully the reflections of this letter are served.” And that was all; After a “thank you”, the class continued its course.
Before continuing, I take the freedom to transcribe some paragraphs of Enrique Maza’s extensive text, he has no waste, and great validity. The author expresses: “Security runs the risk of drowning man… Freedom displaces… roads acquire importance. And risk… freedom is made to wake up. To shake ourselves. It does not offer us solutions made, because that would be to despise man. Freedom is, first of all, shock… it is born to man inside… there are those who are afraid of freedom… freedom is the risk of open paths … herself … fear chains … there are many who prefer their jail;
What happened to that student later? I have no answer. The truth is that I never saw it again. He did not return to the class, his teammates either knew him. From that moment, the only thing I still want is that it has become the bullfighter of his dreams or found, with full freedom and pleasure, a good path of personal fulfillment.
At that time I had no knowledge of Freinet. I had listened to my father to express, yes, that Paulo Freire pronounced against bank education, for the sake of a liberating education, and although I did not understand the scope of these teachings, they produced in me a concern that continues to grow to date.
Over the years, and after having noted the reflections of the previous paragraphs, I conclude that in my impulsive proceed – nobody never claimed it, a few people had told it – it was accurate. Without having an idea of what they mean for Freinet, in education and in life, risk, freedom, trust and good sense, I certainly approached them; I proceeded in the way that Freinet later explained to me, with the richness of his books and the greatness of his school practice.
Without a doubt, my procedure was risky, of course making the decision scared me, I had a great responsibility for the eyes; I armed myself with value, I proceeded in good sense, with sense; I trusted life, me and the student; I valued both of them, I defeated the fear that made me doubt, and invited the young man to take the reins of his life. Seeing it well, I think it was a moment of lucidity. All this was part of my score of those moments.
Freinet writes a book to refer, from his own experience, what precisely calls “experimental tante” (sensitive psychology and education). And the tanteo translates into a permanent search for the human being to find successful exit to the problems that are presented to him. Graduated tantes where, of course, irrigation is always present to the mistake. And if I am wrong, I confirm that I am human, destined to correct, to continue looking, to continue tantling.
My proceeding and that of the bullfighter student occurred in the field of scoring that crossed, because he also, to confess his disgust for having to study law, went through an experimental tanto period with doubts, dislikes and even suffering.
Coletilla: Sometimes, walking along the sidewalks of the nurseries of Coyoacán, when they reach the central space where some people rehearse bullfighting passes, with a cape, sword and a cardboard bull head, ole! I remember that sobering moment of my teaching youth.
Let’s look at the education!
* Professor at UNAM
