Rafael Hernández National College
Encyclopedia
The Colegio Nacional Rafael Hernández is one of the four public high schools that are part of the National University of La Plata, in the City of La Plata
, Argentina
. The Colegio Nacional aegis denotes a school belonging to the system of national secondary schools. The other constituent high schools associated with this University are the Víctor Mercante Lyceum, the "Bachillerato de Bellas Artes" (High School for the Fine Arts) and the Inchausti School for Agricultural Education.
The school, usually referred to as the "Colegio Nacional La Plata" (CNLP, National High School of La Plata), occupies a large block centred at the crossing of 1st and 49th streets in La Plata
, at the edge of "El Bosque", La Plata’s main park. The large engraving at the old building's entrance reads simply "Universidad Nacional, Colegio" ("National University, High School").
Originally, the college, founded by Joaquín V. González
, was reserved for boys, whereas the Victor Mercante Lyceum was a girls-only school. The link of these schools with the University allowed them to pioneer innovations in curricula, since many University professors and teaching assistants were among its faculty. In its inception, the college functioned as a classic British boarding school
, where students and professors lived together for extended periods of time. Admission into the school was free (i.e., no fees), although very limited and required approving strict entrance examinations. Until the 1970s, alumni from the school were automatically admitted into the University of La Plata. From the educational point of view, it was originally structured as a European gymnasium
. It is considered one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Argentina.
. A boys-only school is created in 1885, the "Provincial High School", associated with the National College of Buenos Aires
; classes began on April 1, 1885. The federal government converted the school into the National College of La Plata on July 1887; its first rector was Dr. Matías Calandrelli. The high school became affiliated with the National University of La Plata in 1905.
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The Colegio Nacional aegis denotes a school belonging to the system of national secondary schools. The other constituent high schools associated with this University are the Víctor Mercante Lyceum, the "Bachillerato de Bellas Artes" (High School for the Fine Arts) and the Inchausti School for Agricultural Education.
The school, usually referred to as the "Colegio Nacional La Plata" (CNLP, National High School of La Plata), occupies a large block centred at the crossing of 1st and 49th streets in La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, at the edge of "El Bosque", La Plata’s main park. The large engraving at the old building's entrance reads simply "Universidad Nacional, Colegio" ("National University, High School").
Originally, the college, founded by Joaquín V. González
Joaquín V. González
Joaquín Víctor González was an Argentine educator, political scientist, writer, magistrate, and politician.- Early life :...
, was reserved for boys, whereas the Victor Mercante Lyceum was a girls-only school. The link of these schools with the University allowed them to pioneer innovations in curricula, since many University professors and teaching assistants were among its faculty. In its inception, the college functioned as a classic British boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, where students and professors lived together for extended periods of time. Admission into the school was free (i.e., no fees), although very limited and required approving strict entrance examinations. Until the 1970s, alumni from the school were automatically admitted into the University of La Plata. From the educational point of view, it was originally structured as a European gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. It is considered one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Argentina.
The Beginnings
The city of La Plata was founded in 1882, as the new capital for the Province of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
. A boys-only school is created in 1885, the "Provincial High School", associated with the National College of Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Argentina...
; classes began on April 1, 1885. The federal government converted the school into the National College of La Plata on July 1887; its first rector was Dr. Matías Calandrelli. The high school became affiliated with the National University of La Plata in 1905.
Locations
- Classes began at a temporary location at the corner of 9th and 47th streets.
- In 1886, the college was moved to a provincial building at the corner of 17th Street and 51st Avenue.
- Between 1907 and 1910, the highschool was located at the present site of the "Escuela Provincial Nº 1" and "Escuela Normal Nº 3", at the corner of 8th and 57th streets.
- In 1905, the national government granted lots for the new (and definitive) placement of the school. The land originally assigned to the college were much larger, and covered areas that are assigned today to other facilities of the University of La Plata.
- The college building was officially inaugurated in September 1910; it was known simply as "Colegio Nacional de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata". The instruction was inspired in a classic English boarding school; it included nearby residences for students and professors, the so-called “Greek Temple” gymnasium behind the school, and access to yachting at the central channel of the Port of La Plata. Its building, recently restored, has been named a heritage site.
- The school was later named after Rafael Hernández, a journalist, agricultural engineer, soldier, and politician who spearheaded the founding of the City and Port of La Plata, as well as its University. He was the younger brother of José Hernández, the author of the epic poem Martín FierroMartín FierroMartín Fierro is a 2,316 line epic poem by the Argentine writer José Hernández. The poem was originally published in two parts, El Gaucho Martín Fierro and La Vuelta de Martín Fierro . The poem is, in part, a protest against the modernist tendencies of Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento...
.
- The building underwent extensive restoration on the occasion of its centennial in 2005, supported by the President of Argentina at the time, the late Néstor KirchnerNéstor KirchnerNéstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, whose family is among the alumni.
Famous alumni
- 1897: Julieta LanteriJulieta LanteriJulieta Lanteri was an Italian Argentine physician, leading freethinker, and activist for women's rights in Argentina as well as for social reform generally.-Life and times:...
(physician, first woman to enroll in and graduate from the institution) - 1928: Ernesto SábatoErnesto SabatoErnesto Sabato , was an Argentine writer, painter and physicist. According to the BBC he "won some of the most prestigious prizes in Hispanic literature" and "became very influential in the literary world throughout Latin America"...
(novelist) - 1937: Horacio Etchegoyen (psychoanalyst)
- 1941: René FavaloroRené FavaloroDr. René Gerónimo Favaloro was an Argentine cardiac surgeon who created the technique for coronary bypass surgery....
(physician, first surgeon to perform bypass surgeryCoronary artery bypass surgeryCoronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
on a patient suffering from coronary artery disease, and a key contributor to the modern surgical technique.) - 1959: David GraiverDavid GraiverDavid Graiver was an Argentine businessman and banker whose business interests would become the focus of investigations and intrigue during his short life, as well as since his death.-Early life and career:...
(financier) - 1983: Fernando Belazaras (architect and musician)
List of School Headmasters ("Rectors")
| 1885–1888 | Dr. Matías Calandrelli |
| 1888–1891 | Dr. Jacob Larrain |
| 1891–1896 | Dr. Mariano Paunero |
| 1896–1904 | Prof. Benigno Díaz |
| 1904–1905 | Dr. Pedro Delheye |
| 1905–1920 | Dr. Donato González Litardo |
| 1920 | Prof. Abel Díaz |
| 1920 | Prof. Edelmiro Calvo |
| 1920–1921 | Dr. Saúl A. Taborda |
| 1921 | Prof. Luis Siri |
| 1921–1922 | Adriano Díaz Cisneros |
| 1922–1928 | Dr. Luis Sommariva |
| 1928 | Dr. Luis Bergez |
| 1928–1932 | Prof. Rafael Arrieta |
| 1932–1934 | Dr. José Serra Renon |
| 1934–1936 | Dr. Alfredo Calcagno |
| 1936–1937 | Dr. Luis Sommariva |
| 1937 | Dr. Alfredo Calcagno |
| 1938–1944 | Dr. Carlos Teobaldo |
| 1944–1945 | Dr. Luis Bergez |
| 1945–1946 | Ing. Gabriel Del Mazo |
| 1946 | Dr. Vicente Bertini |
| 1947–1949 | Dr. Vicente Bertini |
| 1950-1950 | Dr. Armando Secco Villalba |
| 1950–1952 | Prof. Remigio Fuente |
| 1952–1953 | Prof. Obdulio Ferrari |
| 1953–1954 | Prof. Pedro Copello |
| 1954–1955 | Prof. Ezequiel Zuloaga |
| 1955 | Prof. Sebastián Pérez |
| 1955–1956 | Ing. Ángel Morosi |
| 1956–1957 | Dr. Ataúlfo Pérez Aznar |
| 1957–1958 | Prof. Ángel Márquez |
| 1958 | Prof. Julio Panceira |
| 1959 | Prof. Segundo Tri |
| 1959–1961 | Prof. Julio Panceira |
| 1961–1964 | Prof. Lázaro Seigelschifer |
| 1964–1966 | Prof. Jorge Crespi |
| 1966–1967 | Ing. Ángel Argenti |
| 1967–1973 | Prof. Rafael Carassatorre |
| 1973–1974 | Ing. Adolfo Pallaro |
| 1974 | Prof. Raúl Tierno |
| 1975–1976 | Dr. Juan Carlos Bruni |
| 1976–1977 | Prof. Horacio Picco |
| 1978–1979 | Prof. Hugo Satas |
| 1979 | Prof. Ángel Fernández de Liger |
| 1979–1983 | Arq. Jorge Carlos Sica |
| 1983–1992 | Prof. Graciela Teresa Ibarra |
| 1992–1995 | Prof. Graciela Merino |
| 1996–1998 | Prof. Sara Pérez de Vargas |
| 1998–2001 | Dr. Fabián Salvioli |
| 2001–2004 | Prof. María Elena Aramburú |
| 2004–2008 | Dr. Gustavo Oliva |