Dolores Jimenez y Muro

19th century Mexican educator who founded the first public girls' school in Mexico City

Dolores Jiménez y Muro (1822–1893) pioneered women's education in Mexico during a time when girls were largely excluded from formal schooling. A visionary teacher from Guanajuato, she established the Escuela de Niñas de México in 1856 - the first state-funded girls' school in Mexico City. Her progressive curriculum included mathematics, literature, and science, challenging traditional gender roles. She later founded the Colegio Nacional de Señoritas, which became a model for modern girls' education systems. Jiménez y Muro's advocacy led to the 1871 law requiring primary education for girls, a landmark achievement in Latin America.

Her pedagogical innovations included introducing practical subjects like bookkeeping and hygiene, preparing girls for both domestic and professional roles. She wrote influential textbooks such as Manual de Instrucción Primaria, still referenced in education studies. Despite opposition from conservative elites, she trained hundreds of female teachers who spread her methods across the country. The Mexican Secretariat of Education now honors her with annual awards recognizing educational innovation.