La escuela fusilada

The 14th of April of 1931 brings to Spain the possibility of an unprecedented change. The Second Republic represents the most profoundly democratic test of its history and aims to introduce the country into the modern world. Education becomes the spearhead of the reformist ideology, striving to make citizens rather than servants. "The republic will be saved by the school" proclaimed its theorists. On the 18th of July of 1936 all those hopes are dashed. The military uprising focused specially on teachers. Seventy years later, history did not dare yet to give a number of teachers killed. But it was not the only coup to school. Franco began a process of purification that was extended until the 1960’s and in which 6,000 teachers were expelled from education. The purge acted on the entire teaching staff. The procedure was the usual in the regime: everyone had to prove their innocence. On the 20th of November of 1975 Franco dies. Some republican teachers return to their job position at the school. After 40 years, those who remained faithful to the law, are amnestied. The Spanish society proves that freedom is possible without anger. Will it be possible without memory?