ABSTRACT
The present Basque autonomous community (BAC) of Spain is only a part of the historic Basque homeland spread over four provinces in north east Spain and three more in south west France. The current situation, viewed as the initial system of privilege and underclass is discussed both from the perspectives of the Basques and the "new" minorities in the region past and present. Just as Franco viewed the educational system as the means to assimilate the Basques into the national culture, the Basques view it as the major focus of their efforts to accommodate to their unique indigenous language and culture. This chapter examines the efforts in terms of curriculum, access, teacher preparation and selection, and then summarizes accomplishments and look at the resistance by some of the "new" minorities. By the third year of EGB Spanish as second language is introduced.
