Francisco Ferrer Guardia, a Barcelonan born in Alila in 1859 and known by many historians as a “radical thinker, militant anarchist, and innovative teacher,” was tried and sentenced to death for being “the author and leader of the military rebellion.” … It was completed in Barcelona during the tragic week. He was shot on October 13, 1909 at Montjuïc Castle. For some time now, the actor and director Jose Luis Gomez On one of his frequent trips to Brussels (Welva, 1940), he saw “the statue dedicated to the memory of Ferrer Guardia in front of the Free University of Brussels” and admired it. He quickly learned that Jean-Claude EddyWho knew him because of his involvement with the philosopher Michael Onfray In the Popular Theater Universities – an initiative aimed at making philosophical theater accessible to the public through free reading performances – he wrote a play about Ferrer Guardia. It will be shown next Thursday in Spain, specifically at the La Abadia Theater. Francisco Ferrer, “Long Live the Modern School!”directed by Gomez and with an ensemble cast Ernesto Arias -Who embodies Ferrer-, Jesús Barranco, David Luque and Lydia Otton.
What strikes Gomez most is his personality Ferrer Guardia It was “his integrity that went hand in hand with his determination and fundamental commitment to secular education and critical thinking.” His model of the modern school dates back to 1901 and was highly innovative, convinced that free and critical education could transform society; Freedom, non-dogmatism and based on values such as solidarity and social justice. The director of Huelva emphasizes that he shares “deeply this conviction: education plays a decisive role in becoming a citizen, in becoming a person.”
This is neither the first nor the second time that José Luis Gomez has shown episodes from our history on stage. “I have always been concerned about our historical and democratic memory which I understand is necessary to know: since the ‘Benicarlo Evening’ AthaniaEven the ordeal of Ferrer Guardia. He adds that everything comes from afar, “since my youth in Germany, when I returned to my rented room and watched on television long sessions of German historical memory after World War II.” Ferrer is part of this need to remember, the academic insists, to recover moments and figures from the past that help glimpse a future and a more just society. Ferrer and his model of the modern school still have much to tell us.
Lydia Otton, David Luque, Ernesto Arias, and Jesús Barranco
Knowing the past has become increasingly necessary to learn from it, says José Luis Gomez. “Certainly: we have to know and learn from the past so that the mistakes we made are not repeated. The past is part of our present, and it has shaped us. He does not believe he is being manipulated politically; “What is more, in our Spanish case in particular, it is necessary that there are political ways to recover a part of the past that has certainly been left aside for a long time. Take, for example, the experiment that this work partly recreates: it has not been officially abolished yet! It is my humble opinion on this matter as a theatrical man who tries, from culture, from theatre, to contribute even an iota to not forgetting the past and to defend again and again democratic values and human values. Theater is equal parts artistic and political work. This was clear to me from the beginning, with montages such as ‘The Resistant Ascension by Arturo Uy, by Brecht».
“It is not only important to look back without anger, it is necessary to do so. This should be possible if there is consensus as a society that our values are democratic and we defend human rights without exception.”
When asked if it was possible to look back without anger, he said: “It is not only important, but necessary to do so. It must be possible if there is a consensus as a society that our values are democratic and we defend human rights, without exception. It is true that in our Spanish case we are witnessing a ‘brutal’ war, but now, when we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the process towards democracy, it is more necessary than ever. In some cases, we are too late to look back, and it has happened” It is not possible to leave anyone behind Regarding issues of memory, in my opinion there is an over-confrontation, yes, but perhaps more in politics than in society, and in this sense also it is fundamental again: education…”
He insists on his belief that education is the basic foundation for building a better society. “Education and respect. Ferrer Guardia preached both. It seems to me that the modern school is a model in this sense. Ferrer himself has noted that “[the modern school]will excite, develop and direct the abilities of each student, so that with the totality of his or her individual worth, he or she will not only be a useful member of society but, in consequence, proportionately raise the value of society.”
“Francisco Ferrer: Long Live the Modern School” premiered on November 14, 2024 in Le Public Theater de Brussels (Belgium). It’s obviously a job where the text is very dense, but Gomez wanted to do a montage where the feeling is there as well. “We are body too, not just spirit. “I have always leaned towards the holistic, both professionally and personally: we have to take care of our intellectual development as well as our physical and emotional development.”
About The Author
