Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina – “1988: El cura y su rebaño contra la maestra de Astudillo (Palencia)”
Host: Nieves Concostrina & Carla, SER Podcast
Date: September 26, 2024
Duration: Approx. 15 minutes (Content starts at 00:18)

Overview

In this compelling episode of Todo Concostrina, historian and storyteller Nieves Concostrina reveals a little-known story from 1988 in the town of Astudillo (Palencia), where a public school teacher, Marisol Varela Ferreras, was publicly vilified by the local priest and townspeople for defending secular education. The episode draws a detailed historical context of clergy-led persecution against educators since the Spanish Civil War and under Franco, emphasizing both past tragedies and contemporary echoes of intolerance even well into democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context: The Long Shadow of Clergy-Led Persecution

• Nieves provides context about the systematic violence against teachers during and after the Spanish Civil War, underlining how priests often acted not as martyrs but as "verdugos" (executioners), pointing out which teachers were to be targeted by the Francoist forces.
  • Notable quote:
    • “Los mártires fueron los maestros y las maestras, mientras que los curas actuaron como verdugos... Los curas eran los encargados de avisar a los que tenían que disparar.” (Nieves, 00:53)
  • Consequences for Teachers: Being denounced by a priest often equated to a death sentence—“Señalar a un maestro significaba que iba a recibir un tiro en la nuca.” (00:53)
• Examples from history: Nieves references documented incidents in Bañuelos de Bureba, Jerez, and Alhendín, illustrating the recurring pattern of collaboration or complicity between local priests and extreme right-wing violence against educators.
  • “El cura de Jerez... señaló en su informe al maestro Teófilo Azabal. Y nada. Tiro en la nuca y un maestro menos, gracias al cura.” (03:09)

2. Setting the Scene: 1988, Astudillo (Palencia)

• Transition to Democracy? Despite a new democratic era, old habits persisted. In 1988—thirteen years after Franco’s death—the local priest and much of the town turned on Marisol Varela, a progressive teacher advocating for the secular law to be respected in the public school.
  • “Aunque también te digo que eso seguramente estarán ahora en el Rosario de las 7 en Radio María y no se van a enterar.” (Nieves, 07:09)
• Origin of the Story: Nieves heard of this event through Roberto, a grateful former pupil of Marisol and now a judicial officer in Tenerife. He recounted childhood memories of fear and admiration for his teacher and the uproar provoked by her defense of secular schooling.
  • “Roberto quería agradecer a su maestra todo lo que hizo y lo bien que lo hizo, y sobre todo, lo valiente que fue.” (07:21)

3. Marisol Varela Ferreras’s Story

• Background: Marisol and her husband Jesús, both seasoned teachers, arrived in Astudillo (population: ~1,500) in the 1979–80 school year, bringing modern educational values and a firm commitment to secular teaching.
• Challenges and Innovations: They offered new activities—clubs, theater, female football, memory workshops, and reading groups—especially enriching life for local women.
  • “Hasta que llegaron Marisol y su marido Jesús... organizaron actividades de teatro, de danza, de música, talleres para ejercitar la memoria, montaron club de lectura, partidos de fútbol femeninos.” (07:21)
• Conflict Over Religion in School: The critical episode happens when Marisol refuses to interrupt class for religious rites (Ash Wednesday). She contacts educational authorities and successfully enforces the law prohibiting religious acts during class time in public schools.
  • “El problema es que eran tan canallas que si un niño no daba religión lo dejaban desatendido. Te quedas fuera en el pasillo, porque no hay nada que hacer.” (10:01)
  • “Aquel año de 1988, Marisol ya decidió que no, que ella no iba a interrumpir su clase, que era ilegal que sus cosas católicas las hicieran en horario fuera de clase.” (12:06)
• Community Backlash: The priest, José Antonio, incites parishioners against Marisol; the teachers are publicly insulted and threatened outside the school, yet maintain composure and dignity.
  • Notable quote:
    • “El cura José Antonio reunió al rebaño de borregos y todos juntos se fueron a la puerta del colegio público de Astudillo a gritarle a la maestra Marisol y a su... Sinvergüenzas, hija de puta... que sólo habéis venido a cargaros nuestra religión. Iros de aquí.” (12:06)
  • Marisol and Jesús walk out together, “con la cabeza alta y sin inmutarse.”

4. Reflection and Lessons

• Echoes of the Past: The episode draws a chilling parallel between the dangers teachers faced during Franco’s years and the hostility Marisol endured in a democratic era.
  • “Si lo que les ocurrió en 1988 en Astudillo hubiera ocurrido en 1936 el cura José Antonio y los vecinos... habrían llevado a Marisol y a su marido Jesús al paredón.” (14:20)
• Role of Remembrance: The story highlights both the importance of collective memory and the courage of educators who confront ingrained intolerance.
  • “Si este país ha podido crecer en democracia... ha sido gracias a maestros y maestras valientes como Marisol y Jesús.” (14:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• “Los mártires fueron los maestros... los curas eran los encargados de avisar a los que tenían que disparar.” (Nieves, 00:53)
• “Señalar a un maestro significaba que iba a recibir un tiro en la nuca y eso lo sabían los curas y lo sabía su aborregado rebaño.” (Nieves, 00:53)
• “El cura de Jerez... señaló en su informe al maestro Teófilo Azabal. Y nada. Tiro en la nuca y un maestro menos, gracias al cura.” (Nieves, 03:09)
• “Hasta que llegaron Marisol y su marido Jesús... organizaron actividades de teatro, de danza, de música, talleres para ejercitar la memoria, montaron club de lectura, partidos de fútbol femeninos.” (Nieves, 07:21)
• “El problema es que eran tan canallas que si un niño no daba religión lo dejaban desatendido. Te quedas fuera en el pasillo, porque no hay nada que hacer.” (Nieves, 10:01)
• “El cura José Antonio reunió al rebaño de borregos... todos juntos se fueron a la puerta del colegio público de Astudillo a gritarle a la maestra Marisol...” (Nieves, 12:06)
• “Si lo que les ocurrió en 1988 en Astudillo hubiera ocurrido en 1936 el cura José Antonio y los vecinos... habrían llevado a Marisol y a su marido Jesús al paredón.” (Nieves, 14:20)
• “Si este país ha podido crecer en democracia... ha sido gracias a maestros y maestras valientes como Marisol y Jesús.” (Nieves, 14:20)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:53–07:09: Historical context: Clergy persecution of teachers during Franco’s war and regime, including concrete cases and impacts.
• 07:09–10:01: Introduction of Marisol’s story via testimony of Roberto, her former pupil; the climate in Astudillo in 1988.
• 10:01–13:46: Detailed account of the religious conflict in Astudillo’s public school, Marisol’s defense of secularism, and community backlash.
• 13:46–15:15: Reflection, the iconic image of the confrontation, and closing thoughts on progress, memory, and teacher valor.

Tone and Style

Nieves maintains her signature mix of sharp historical commentary and biting irony, never shying from calling out hypocrisy or revisiting uncomfortable truths. The episode’s structure is both narrative and analytical, drawing explicit parallels between past and present, while Carla’s interjections and clarifications keep the conversation accessible and relatable.

Final Thoughts

This episode serves both as a call to memory and as a tribute to teachers who have bravely stood against oppression—reminding listeners that the fight for secular, democratic, and critical public education in Spain is neither recent nor entirely resolved.