Plotino Rhodakanaty’s educational dream in Mexico

Abstract

In the present writing the author tries to expose the educational attempts, in Mexico, of the Greek Plotino Constantino Rhodakanaty. A doctor by profession, and well versed in socialism, he arrived at the coast of Veracruz at the beginning of February, 1861. His arrival in the country responded to the presidential decrees of Ignacio Comonfort, who hoped to attract the attention of foreigners to populate the most abandoned and inhospitable regions of Mexico. The Hellene, faithful to the doctrines he professed, appeared on the political scene with several proposals for social change, being education one of the most important vectors he tried to develop. The objective of the present article is to break down this history in order to make known the bases of the first socialist educational project in Mexico; nevertheless, we seek to solve a fundamental problem: Rhodakanaty did not bequeath a curriculum that reflected his concrete desires, but his manuscripts are full of educational commentaries. In order to reconstruct his pedagogical dream, writings of Rhodakanaty’s own authorship will be used, adding also references of the authors who influenced him and journalistic notes that confirm his proselytism.