Rosa Smester Marrero

Rosa Smester Marrero (August 30, 1874 - February 15, 1945) was a Dominican teacher, feminist, writer, and defender of Dominican nationalism. She collaborated in the foundation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the "Lover of Light" Library, the first public library in the nation. She gave lectures in her country, the Dominican Republic and abroad, on literary and feminist topics, defending women's rights.

She was the educator of former President Joaquín Balaguer.

Rosa Smester
Born	Rosa Smester Marrero August 30, 1874 Santiago de los Caballeros
Died	February 15, 1945 Santiago de los Caballeros
Nationality	Dominican
Spouse	Juan Grullon

Early life

She was born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on August 30, 1874. Daughter of Paul Emmanuel (Pablo) Smester and Dolores Trinidad ( Dada) Marrero.

Rosa Smester received from her mother, the first vestiges of education, who taught her tenths of Juan Antonio Alix, and then she recited publicly for sweets and money. Years later, she started at all girls school in Santiago, receiving guidance from Socorro Sánchez and Jaguar Rodríguez. As a teenager, she received training from Italian teacher Salvador Cucurullo.

Smerter Marrero began her teaching work in 1897, at home teaching French to children. By 1900 she became an assistant teacher at the high school of ladies of Santiago, while she held a private school. A year later she confirmed herself as a teacher at this institute, in the subjects syntax, literature, history and French. By 1911 she opened a private school in Montecristi that bore the same name as the one previously founded in Santiago. In this city she was also a teacher of the Abnormal Higher School, .

In 1916 she was awarded the title of Normal Master.

As a teacher of the Higher Normal School of Montecristi, she prepared the first group of Normal Teachers and directed the Higher School of Ladies of Montecristi.

In 1922 he founded the San Vicente de Paul Society and was the supporter of the auspices of 1923 that bore the same name.

She lived in Paris, from 1927 to 1937, accompanying her son to study in the European country, where she also ran a lady's institute and gave private lessons. Upon her return to the Dominican Republic, 1934, she held the position of teacher at the Liceo Ullises Francisco Spaillat until 1939.

When the American Marines occupied the Dominican Republic, in 1916-1924, Rosa Smester wrote in the national press her entire opposition to the occupation. She was also part of the Patriotic Board of Ladies, which demanded the departure of foreign forces on Dominican soil. She refused to speak English as another form of resistance, claiming that if she spoke that language the Americans would also have occupied her mind.

She demonstrated opposition to the American intervention of 1916 through harsh journalistic works published in literary magazines in Santiago and Barcelona, gave lectures in Monte Cristi at the Ateneos Amantes de la luz; in the Renovación Society of Puerto Plata; in the women's action of Barcelona and in the union of French women. She was a member of these last two groups.

Recognition

In Santo Domingo there is a street that bears his name. It is born on Eugenio Deschamps Street to Aída Cartagena Portalatín Street, among its parallels, Olof Palme Street and Mercedes Mota.

In the city of Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, on Avenida Benito Monción # 33 is the Rosa Smester Basic School.

References

1. "ROSA SMESTER (MASTER OF TEACHERS)".
2. "General Archive of the Nation honors 12 illustrious Dominicans - El Nacional". elnacional.com.do. Accessed on March 23, 2019.
3. "Family tree of Rosa SMESTER MARRERO". Geneanet (in English). Accessed on May 7, 2019
4. https://www.1411.com.do/educacion/colegios-y-escuelas/escuela-basica-rosa-smester-5503.html
5. Rosa Smester (Maestra de Maestras) - IMAH-RD