"MY SON, THE DOCTOR: A CENTRAL CHARACTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STREET"

Abstract

The University of the Street (UDELAC) was part of the thoughts and beliefs of the main part of the Argentine society during an age that can be placed in the last two decades of the XIX century and the first seven decades of the XX century. At the beginning of that time, the first or second generations of European immigrants located in the "Pampa Gringa", had learnt different trades from other people´s experience withouth studing at any institution, but making great efforts to have success. They believed that the key instrument to secure social promotion to their children avoiding poverty and suffering was to study at a free public university. It was clearly shown in the famous theatre play "M´HIJO EL DOTOR" ("My Son, the Doctor"), by Florencio Sánchez, which reinforced that belief. The most attractive option in the social landscape of those times were the "doctors", especially physicians and lawyers. There was a possibility of being successful and having economic welfare without the support of a family fortune. That belief of the necessity of social promotion by studying liberal professions still continues in poor rural areas that have asymmetric social structures and more Creole population.
Gradually, the mechanisms and strategies of the University of the Street, that were originally defined and understood as an undoubtedly contrast to the formal university, were taking many aspects from the essence of the university system.
This piece of work is written appealing to some resources of both thought and action systems in order to take into account the aim of achieving an appropriate integration according to the present university system.