! University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan

discovery of general scientific principles common to all
the disciplines, they were then applied as guides to human
conduct and as the basis of social organization. The social
aspect of positivism was stressed in Mexico with the confi­
dence that it would bring the aspired goals of order and
peace; individuals were to be taught to submit to the social
well-being so that Mexico could also make material and
industrial progress.
The education proposed by Barreda in 1870 was to
start with all the positive sciences, beginning with mathe­
matics, and from this discipline advancing to the natural
sciences in the following order: cosmography and physics,
geography and chemistry, botany and zoology. Taught with
these sciences was the study of the living languages, such
as French, English and German. Latin was left until last
because the living languages served as a link with contem­
porary countries in the world; this would serve to acquaint
them with progressive ideas and movements. Spanish was not
to be studied until the third year, when students were con­
scious of its importance and utility; logic was left for
the end. This was a new approach to education, especially
in its emphasis on sciences and its neglect of Latin and
i • l2 *
logic.
lU Ibid., 122.