Alvaro Obregon came to power in 1920 after an armed struggle and then overwhelming support in an election. Obregon realized that the key to Mexico’s future would be the unity of its people. He realized that Mexico’s education system was fractured, with people using it to take advantage of the autonomy that had been granted to them. Obregon realized that reforming the educational system, as well as the arts, would be key to a strong concept. That of “Mexico for Mexicans.” Obregon created the “Education Secretariat” in 1921. The government believed that by federalizing Mexico’s education system, that they could then control the peoples’ futures. People largely supported Obregon’s efforts, with the exception of the people in Yaqui and Tarahumara…show more content… Mexico’s congress supported Obregon’s efforts and allotted the needed funds as well as extra support (Text Pg 248). Large amounts of schools were built, and teachers hired to instruct. The government needed people on the ground to support this new direction in education. Teachers, or maestros, were given the power to help guide the people. Teachers not only helped educate the people, but they became like mayors as well. Teachers would commonly deal with local politics, drive social reforms, mediated disputes, and ensured that the federalized educational system would help guide the people to unity. One of the problems standing in the way to true centralization of education was the autonomy given to that of that native peoples in Mexico. To combat this, Moises Saenz helped implement the new educational system in the more rural areas of the country. A new policy called “indigenismo” was enacted to integrate the indigenous people into Mexican society. Bilingual teachers were trained and then sent out to help bring the natives into line with mainstream beliefs. It was believed that once the indigenous people fell into line, that a new “raza cosmica,” or cosmic race, would be the
