The “Army Children” Boarding Schools In Mexico: An Alternative For The Care Of Migrant Children

Abstract

This article reconstructs the history of the “Children of the Army” boarding schools, created by the Mexican state between 1911 and 1970 as an institutional response to the demands of revolutionary veterans seeking protection for the vulnerable segment of childhood represented by their own children. Drawing on documentary sources, oral testimonies and historical press, the study analyzes the social context of their founding, their administrative evolution and the formative role they played for thousands of boys and girls. The approach combines regional historiography with the history of education and social welfare. Former students testimonies serve as a key source for reassessing these institutions, revealing how they provided educational opportunities within a structured environment, despite their militarized framework. The article concludes that, although these boarding schools have faced criticism, they fulfilled an essential role in safeguarding and developing children in vulnerable conditions.