Between pencil, paper and faith: female participation in Methodism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Mexico

The case of educational institutions

Abstract

The arrival of the Methodist Mission from the United States to Mexico sought to attract believers to the new Chistian faith. Several strategies were launched such as the creation of charitable works: construction of hospital and schools. Methodist schools were well equipped with modern buildings and a curriculum that include English and religion. During the Porfiriato the schools established by the goverment had precarious conditions, poorly paid and poorly prepared teachers, absent students and parents with Little willingness to send their offspring to clases. This article analyzes the intervention that Methodist women had in school life in Mexico. It is also shown that since the Porfirian era, Methodist women had a solid participation in different fields of action. without a doubt, the education granted in his denomination helped to improve his academic and social performance and, at the same time, to teach. The intention behind the curtains, finally, is to demonstrate that the educational institutions for Methodist women promoted a formation of greater scope with respect to the educational institutions established by the government in turn.