Law 1.420

The School of Teachers of Córdoba, founded during the government of Julio Argentino Roca as part of his educational policies

The Law 1.420 is a historically relevant law in Argentina, which came into effect in July 8, 1884 during the government of Julio Argentino Roca.

This law established the mandatory primary education for all children from 6 to 14 years old. It ensured that all children would have access to a school nearby and that they would acquire important knowledge for their formation. It also established its gratuity and secularism

The Law 1.420 was also advanced in matters of gender equality, thanks to the influence of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's ideas, who defended equal access to education by both men and women and Juana Manso, whose work promoting women's access to education was crucial.

It also contributed to the separation of common education from religious education, which was an important step towards secular education.

The law was created in a time of consolidation of the Argentine State after years of civil wars and division. It made Argentina specially advanced compared to other Latin American countries (analogous laws were created in Chile and Bolivia in 1920, Brazil in 1934 and in Peru in 1941).

The Law 1.420 had an important effect in the reduction of illiteracy in the country. The statistics showed that before the law, over half of the population did not know how to read and write. The law also caused a great increase in school attendance.

Historical and political context

European immigrants arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the Great European immigration wave to Argentina

Although the Law 1.420 was a project created by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, the law was issued during the government of Julio Argentino Roca, a firm defender of the separation of the Church and the State. There was great turmoil among the most traditionalist and conservative sectors of Argentine society due to the replacement of the Catholic Church, which used to provide services such as education.

During the late 19th century, a massive wave of european immigrants arrived to Argentina. They had diverse origins, religions and languages, the public education system of Argentina is considered to have been essential to diminish the conflicts between the many ethnic groups that made up the country. The public schools taught the immigrants' children, the same values, history and new identity, and succesfully formed the incipient country's culture.

See also

• Education in Argentina
• History of Argentina