Emilia Hernández

Chilean educator who founded Latin America's first state-funded girls' school system

Emilia Hernández (1828–1905) was a groundbreaking educator from Valparaíso who transformed Chile's education system by establishing the first government-sponsored girls' schools in 1860. Defying 19th century gender expectations, she began teaching in private homes after her father's death, eventually gaining support from President José Joaquín Pérez to create formal institutions. Her Educational Reform Act of 1865 mandated girls' education in all provincial capitals, creating 47 schools by 1880.

Hernández's innovative curriculum included science and mathematics - radical choices at a time when girls were taught only domestic skills. She developed a teacher training program that graduated 500+ female instructors, forming the backbone of Chile's educational system. Her 1872 textbook La Mujer Culta became required reading across Latin America, arguing that educated women were essential for national progress.

Despite her achievements, Hernández faced opposition from conservative groups who burned her books and petitioned against her policies. Today her legacy lives through the National Emilia Hernández Foundation and a UNESCO heritage designation for her first school building. Recent documentaries like this 2020 film explore her overlooked contributions to global education movements.