Rafael Cordero (educator)
Encyclopedia
Rafael Cordero known as "The Father of Public Education
in Puerto Rico", was a self-educated Puerto Rican who provided free schooling to children regardless of their race or social standing.
into a poor family, his father was a poor man who worked in the tobacco
fields. Cordero, who was of African ancestry
, was self-educated. His love of literature
and his determination to teach and educate himself helped him to develop the skills and preparation to teach primary school. Cordero, a devout Catholic
, received the rite
of Confirmation at fourteen years old from Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
(1760–1814), the first Puerto Rican to be consecrated Bishop in San Juan.
, mathematics and Catholic
instruction. Among the distinguished alumni who attended Cordero's school were Román Baldorioty de Castro
, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
and José Julián Acosta
. He proved that racial and economic integration could be possible and accepted.
He was awarded the Premio de Virtud by La Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, an economic club whose members were friends of Puerto Rico. He was given 100 peso
s, which he in turn gave away to those in need. He used half of the money (50 pesos) to buy books and clothes for his students and the other half was given to the homeless.
The people's love and respect for Cordero was evidenced by the fact that more than 2,000 people attended his funeral in 1868. The Catholic Church plans to search for Cordero’s remains which were buried at the old city’s cemetery, although the exact location is unknown.
Puerto Rican poet José Gualberto Padilla
published a poem titled "El maestro Rafael" honoring the educator. In 1890, Rafael Cordero was immortalized in a painting titled La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero by the artist Francisco Oller
which can be seen in the Puerto Rican Athenaeum
.
The house in Luna Street, where Rafael Cordero taught, was remodeled by the Government of Puerto Rico
and is registered as a historical site in the National Register of Historical Places. There is a plaque on the outside that states the historical significance of the building and its relation to Rafael Cordero. The Teachers' Association of Puerto Rico (Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico) annually awards the teacher who has distinguished himself or herself in the field of public or private education with the National Medal Rafael Cordero. There are various schools named after him, among them a high school in San Juan, an elementary school in Aguadilla, an elementary school in Jersey City, New Jersey
and a Jr. High School in Brooklyn
, New York City
.
In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church
, upon the request of San Juan Archbishop Roberto González Nieves
, began the process of Cordero's beatification
. This is the first step on the road to canonization
.
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
in Puerto Rico", was a self-educated Puerto Rican who provided free schooling to children regardless of their race or social standing.
Early years
Cordero was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
into a poor family, his father was a poor man who worked in the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
fields. Cordero, who was of African ancestry
African immigration to Puerto Rico
The history of African people in Puerto Rico begins with the immigration of African free men who accompanied the invading Spanish Conquistadors. The Spaniards enslaved the Taínos , and many of them died as a result of Spaniards' oppressive colonization efforts...
, was self-educated. His love of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and his determination to teach and educate himself helped him to develop the skills and preparation to teach primary school. Cordero, a devout Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, received the rite
Rite
A rite is an established, ceremonious, usually religious act. Rites in this sense fall into three major categories:* rites of passage, generally changing an individual's social status, such as marriage, baptism, or graduation....
of Confirmation at fourteen years old from Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi was a patriot and the first Puerto Rican to be consecrated Bishop.-Early years:...
(1760–1814), the first Puerto Rican to be consecrated Bishop in San Juan.
Educator
At the beginning of the 19th century Rafael Cordero established, in his house, a free school for all children, regardless of race, who were unable to afford an education otherwise. Cordero maintained his educational center for 58 years at Luna Street in San Juan. There he taught reading, calligraphyCalligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
, mathematics and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
instruction. Among the distinguished alumni who attended Cordero's school were Román Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro distinguished himself as one of Puerto Rico's foremost abolitionists and spokesman for the island's right to self-determination...
, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
Alejandro Tapia y Rivera was a Puerto Rican poet, dramaturg, essayist and writer. Tapia is considered to be the father of Puerto Rican literature and as the person who has contributed the most to the cultural advancement of Puerto Rico's literature...
and José Julián Acosta
José Julián Acosta
José Julián Acosta Calbo , born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a distinguished journalist and a fervent advocate of the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
. He proved that racial and economic integration could be possible and accepted.
He was awarded the Premio de Virtud by La Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, an economic club whose members were friends of Puerto Rico. He was given 100 peso
Peso
The word peso was the name of a coin that originated in Spain and became of immense importance internationally...
s, which he in turn gave away to those in need. He used half of the money (50 pesos) to buy books and clothes for his students and the other half was given to the homeless.
The people's love and respect for Cordero was evidenced by the fact that more than 2,000 people attended his funeral in 1868. The Catholic Church plans to search for Cordero’s remains which were buried at the old city’s cemetery, although the exact location is unknown.
Honors and recognitions
José Gualberto Padilla
Dr. José Gualberto Padilla , also known as "El Caribe", was a poet, physician, journalist, politician and an advocate for Puerto Rico's independence...
published a poem titled "El maestro Rafael" honoring the educator. In 1890, Rafael Cordero was immortalized in a painting titled La Escuela del Maestro Rafael Cordero by the artist Francisco Oller
Francisco Oller
Francisco Manuel Oller y Cestero was a Puerto Rican visual artist. Oller is considered to be the only Latin American painter to have played a role in the development of Impressionism.-Early years:...
which can be seen in the Puerto Rican Athenaeum
Puerto Rican Athenaeum
The Puerto Rican Athenaeum —or Ateneo Puertorriqueño in Spanish— is one of Puerto Rico's chief cultural institutions. It was founded in 1876.The Athenaeum serves as a museum, school, library, and performance hall for the greater Puerto Rico...
.
The house in Luna Street, where Rafael Cordero taught, was remodeled by the Government of Puerto Rico
Government of Puerto Rico
The Government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sovereignty. Its current powers are all delegated by the United States Congress and lack full protection under the United States Constitution...
and is registered as a historical site in the National Register of Historical Places. There is a plaque on the outside that states the historical significance of the building and its relation to Rafael Cordero. The Teachers' Association of Puerto Rico (Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico) annually awards the teacher who has distinguished himself or herself in the field of public or private education with the National Medal Rafael Cordero. There are various schools named after him, among them a high school in San Juan, an elementary school in Aguadilla, an elementary school in Jersey City, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and a Jr. High School in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, upon the request of San Juan Archbishop Roberto González Nieves
Roberto González Nieves
Roberto Octavio González Nieves, OFM is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Puerto Rico and the current Archbishop of San Juan.-Early life and education:...
, began the process of Cordero's beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
. This is the first step on the road to canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
.
Further reading
His contributions to society have been documented in history books and also in the following books:- "In search of maestro Rafael Cordero" (En busca del maestro Rafael Cordero) by Jack Delano - May 1994
- "Heroes of Puerto Rico" by Jay Nelson Tuck
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Ricans of African descent
- Black history in Puerto Rico