Ideología y educación religiosa en los libros de lectura de la escuela de la Restauración española (1875-1902)

Abstract

We propose to study how Roman Catholic ideology was transmitted to children through school readers dating from the period of the Spanish Restoration (1875-1902). The principal concepts dealt with are religion, faith, hope, charity and God. This last received the greatest attention, touching on multiple facets: existence, presence, divine attibutes and the relationship of man to God through love and adoration. In this respect great importance is given to prayer: children are constantly being called upon to pray, as this is a necessary step in the search for God as well as being a means to gaining eternal salvation. It is also clearly indicated that religious education must be given in the home as well as at school. Whereas the school is in charge of religious instruction and the cultivation of certain practices, it falls to the parents to nurture religious values through dialogue, guidance and their own actions.