"You, who were students of Professor Marquez... know how good he was, and how much he loved children." "He knew yesterday that he would be leaving us." "He passed on his final advice to you and left the place sobbing." "He left with the assurance that he'd never see you again." "His memory will remain etched in our memory... and on the rocks and desks in our school... which he helped build with his intelligence... and with his own hands." "Children, may you never forget him." "¤ CHILD'S HEART ¤" "This is a special day in the life of our school." "I know we are all shocked." "I've seen almost all of you turning your heads to look at these blackboards... where the hand of the one who drew the maps and these diagrams seems still alive." "Today we won't hold a class because it would be too difficult for us." "You can go wherever you want, but do not linger on the playground or in the school hallway... so you won't distract the other classes." "Also, I'd like to recommend paying attention to the bus passing by, so to welcome your new teacher." "~ And how do we recognize him?" "~ You'll know who he is." "And what's his name, sir?" "Almeida Ezequiel." "You can leave." "~ Who wants to play football?" "~ Me!" "~ Don't you?" "~ Not today." "~ Why not?" "I feel blue." "Come on along, we're going to go shoot some birds." "We're getting close to town, Professor." "Yes, I see." "Let me help you, Professor." "No, no, I don't want to be a bother." "It's no trouble." "We're all here to serve you, Professor." "Thank you." "Those are your guys, Professor." "I'll drop your bag at the school, Professor." "Yes, thank you." "You see them playing there." "Maybe you'll get to know them better by watching them play." "He is Agustín Valencia,... who lives with his grandfather because his mother she went to work in the city quite a while ago." "The goalie is Gabriel Osuna, who's the most diligent." "He's the son of Don Anselmo, the potter." "That's Pepe Azcona, the owner of the ball and team captain." "That other is the class's rich kid, Amado Linares." "That there's Juanito Cordero." "His father's the village blacksmith." "That other is Beto, his father left some years ago to be a day laborer in the US... but he's never heard from him." "Agustín Romo, Anacleto González, and Luis Gómez go off hunting birds." "~ You nailed him, brother!" "~ I'm good!" "What are you good at, causing evil for no reason at all?" "What's the point in killing that poor bird?" "Give me that slingshot, and your one others, too." "Who are you, and why is it any of your business?" "I care about my business, which is to educate you." "I'm your new teacher." "Hand over that slingshot." "And you, too." "And very careful about shopping for new ones." "~ You're Atilano Ramírez." "~ At your service, teacher." "~ Were you the one who carried the suitcase upstairs?" "~ Yes, teacher." "~ Isn't it too heavy for you?" "~ I'm pretty strong, teacher." "Thanks, Atilano." "~ Master Robles." "~ Professor Almeida!" "Since I see it, I have to believe it." "I never figured you'd leave your position within the Secretariat... to come to replace teacher Marquez." "It's a rather long history." "It's actually a letter from teacher Márquez which made me come." "~ A letter?" "~ Yes, this." "It was written shortly before his death." "He asks me to be the one who personally takes care of his children when he died." "An appeal very difficult to meet, because of what you're leaving up in Mexico City." "Well, I was born here." "Marquez was the teacher who raised me,... and gave me the vocation to be a teacher." "You yourself know how difficult it is to comply, but how beautiful, too." "Very difficult." "If I'm honest, I felt like I was reborn in this first contact... which I've had with children once again." "Anyway, this sudden change will be very hard for you." "Well, for the moment you must get settled in." "In the same house as teacher Marquez... in his letter he bequeaths it to me,... and asks me to live in it." "It's the same, or nearly the same as I remembered,... only now it seems smaller and poorer." "I also was standing there at the door, like you, Atilano,... a little shy, a little respectful." "Come on in." "You'll have to help me locate the items teacher Marquez... has bequeathed to each of you." "What do you say?" "The letter contains this list." "It's the first thing Atilano and I have to do." "I'll leave, and we'll see you tomorrow." "Right." "Thanks for everything." "Teacher Marquez..." "Well, look at what was his vocation and his life!" "While living he worried about giving everything... with no time left to accumulate wealth or riches." "Well, let's start with our list, you and me." ""For Beto, the bricklayer,..." ""my bedside lamp." ""For Gabriel Osuna, my globe, which he admires so much." ""Agustín Valencia, my piggy bank." ""To José Azcona, the bicycle pump I had, to inflate his ball with." ""For Enrique Bonilla, my alarm clock."" "Well, now, be quiet, please." "Well, now that we have met the first wish of your teacher Márquez... we can begin to fulfill the second,... which is to study thoroughly through your last year of primary school." "Let's see, Gabriel, what did you study in your last class?" "The bones of the cranial vault, teacher,... like Professor Marquez drew there." "Right." "Step to the blackboard to list them aloud." "The bones of the cranial vault are:" "frontal, occipital, two parietal, the two temporal." "Forgive me if I'm interrupting." "Be seated." "Professor Almeida." "Messrs. Linares and Cordero." "~ Nice to meet you." "~ A pleasure." "They are the parents of Amado and Juanito." "Yes, Mr. Cordero and I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday." "The gentlemen were cited today by Professor Marquez... at the request of Mr. Linares himself." "Yes, professor, because I want to give my son a lesson." "Please do." "Can you call our boys up here?" "Linares and Cordero, come here, please." "You all know that the other day my son insulted Mr. Cordero and Juanito... by calling him "son of filth"." "I want to ask Mr. Cordero and Juanito to forgive my son,... and you, Amado, to ask them for forgiveness in the presence of all your classmates." "~ Me, Dad?" "~ Ask forgiveness, you Mr. Nobody!" "And get to know that work doesn't make you dirty, but it ennobles one." "Shake their hands and ask their forgiveness." "Forgive me, Juanito." "And you, sir, for what I said about you." "My dad and I forgive you." "It embarrasses me that Juanito comes dirty like a blacksmith... since he helps me at work,... but since my wife died, we're alone, and..." "Mr. Linares said it best:... work doesn't make one dirty, it ennobles." "Thank you, Professor." "And now, a plea:... please have Amado and Juanito sit together for the rest of the year." "It will be done, sir." "We'll take no more of your time." "Good morning, children." "~ Good morning." "~ Goodbye." "Be seated." "Alberto, you switch with Amado." "Surely this lesson we just received... will be one of the year's best." "Hey, watch out for that truck!" "Pepe, Pepe!" "I see you're all missing someone." "The doctors are doing everything possible so that Pepe won't be crippled for life... since the devastation in his foot suffered is very serious." "Amado Linares, what do you think about this disaster for your classmate?" "Well...that Pepe will no longer be the football champion." "Well, it's one way of thinking." "And you, Agustín." "I think that if Pepe weren't so brave, Luisito would be dead." "Right." "And you, Gabriel?" "I think Pepe is a hero, teacher." "Gabriel has nailed it." "Pepe's act risking his own life without considering the consequences... to save another helpless child is a heroic act." "In honor of Pepe we'll read today... a beautiful story about a hero of our history." "It's called "The Little Watcher"." "The action takes place in the year 1862,... when our country was fighting for its freedom against the invading forces... the ambitious Emperor Napoleon III, called "Little Napoleon."" "Gabriel, if you'd be so kind as to read for us." "On page 52." ""Since the dawn of that fine morning of May 5,..." ""advanced invading forces marched toward Puebla de Los Angeles." ""A Mexican detachment was assigned to drive them off." ""José Juan, a small child from Zacapoaxtla, was wandering about in the area."" "Stop!" "Sergeant, take positions at will in these ruins, behind walls,.." "and ask a volunteer to climb a tree... to spot the enemy positions." "Otherwise we'll be caught in a trap." "Yes, Colonel." "Pick your own positions in the ruins." "Move!" "What are you doing here?" "'" "I'm looking for my father, sir, he's a soldier." "And why didn't you stay at home?" "They burned the hut so I went to look for my father." "Your father is doing his duty as a Mexican." "Yes sir, that's also why I have this knife to fight like my father." "~ Have you eaten?" "~ No." "Here." "Report." "We can't see anything from the wall, Sergeant." "What's with the wall?" "I said from a tree." "Well, I wanted to climb up, but the branches kept breaking." "Right, so nobody will be able to climb!" "Hey, I can, Mister Soldier." "You?" "You're young, very young." "But I climb to harvest fruit." "You're right." "Go on!" "Hold this." "Climb as high as you can." "Yes." "Ready, soldier?" "Yes, Mister Soldier!" "Look far away." "What do you see?" "Over there I can see the straight up towers." "Those belong to the Cathedral of Puebla." "Look back over there now." "There's a big glare there, headed this way." "The bayonets of the Zouaves advancing from the east." "Keep looking, boy!" "There's another glare near by." "They've spotted you." "Get down!" "Wait, Sergeant, I'm not scared!" "Get the fuck down from there!" "To that side it looks like a coffee serape, huge, which moves!" "Foucault's cavalry!" "Careful!" "You get down from there!" "Enough, soldier!" "Get down right away!" "And down there are some red spots that move." "Get off, I say!" "Sergeant, you heard the enemy positions." "In the evening we'll launch a surprise and attack them from the rear." "Got it?" "Yes, Colonel." "Colonel, should I give the child a burial?" "No, we'll bury him with full military honors, after the battle." "Ready...aim...!" "Fire!" ""Such was the dawn of that May 5, 1862,..." ""the same day that General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French." ""President Benito Juarez gave the following speech:" ""'The national arms have been covered with glory.'"" "~ Goodbye, brother." "~ See you." "Again you're short --- the boss Don Anselmo will be pissed." "Well, yes." "He says if you don't fulfill the contract to deliver every week,... he'll have to hire someone else." "So what's going on?" "Just that my eyes are tired,... and my hand trembles." "Just look at how much unpainted backlog there is." "And my back hurts." "We'll see how you do by next week when it comes time to deliver." "Don't worry." "I'll get more done." "I'm home, Dad." "~ How did it go, my son?" "~ Fine." "Can I help you, Dad?" "Thanks, son, but it's be better to devote yourself to your studies." "OK." "Are you on your own?" "~ Enrique!" "~ Yeah, Mom!" "~ Come on down for dinner." "~ I'm coming." "Go on, Anselmo, quit worrying,... we'll get by on what you earn,... it's enough already that you've worked your whole life for us." "You know that's not enough to make ends meet." "Look at Lucila with that torn dress." "When did you last buy her one?" "Where are you going?" "Back to work." "You don't even want dinner?" "I'm not hungry." "I have two items of good news for you:... the doctor will allow us from tomorrow... to visit Pepe like you've have asked me." "Another thing:" "Pepe yesterday gave me his ball to be given over to you." "He knows you can't play without it." "He wants to be Atilano the one to take charge of the ball." "Great!" "Atilano!" "Atilano, come collect the ball." "Bravo!" "~ Can I say one thing?" "~ Sure." "Guys, I propose that I no longer be team captain." "We should name Pepe as the team captain in perpetuity." "Great!" "Penalty." "What penalty?" "What penalty!" "?" "~ It was a penalty." "~ That was a trap." "~ It was a penalty." "Give me the ball." "Walk the 11 steps by the rules." "Goal!" "~ That goal shouldn't count!" "~ It does!" "~ One - nil!" "~ The referee is Pepe!" "You'll learn who you're messing with in due time!" "~ Now you'll see!" "~ What is it?" "~ Romo, don't mess with the little ones!" "~ Mind your own business!" "You'll see, old squeaky!" "What's going on here?" "What caused this problem?" "Back to your places." "Sit." "Stand up whoever caused this dispute." "It wasn't you." "Sit down." "I don't like cowards." "Who was it?" "Out of rage, Anacleto cut my shirt because I scored a goal,... and I flung the ink because he wanted to beat me up." "Anacleto, come here." "First: turn around to face the class." "You're benched there for a month, so that all your classmates can see you who were afraid to face up to things." "Second, after school, you'll clean up that stain." "And third, tomorrow you'll pay for the destroyed shirt." "Today we'll talk about the three great movements... involving social, political, and economic factors which have shaped our country." "First: the independence revolution in 1810,... second one: the reform culminating in the 1857 constitution,... and third: the 1910 revolution." "It is very important to know these three struggles,... because on our own efforts depend the future and the greatness of our country." "It is important that you know... that one of the greatest achievements of our 1910 revolution... was the distribution of land,... which was held by just a few hands." "Giving the land to those who work, i.e. the farmer,... was the cry of Emiliano Zapata, our apostle of agriculture reform." "As a symbolic act, we will divide the land into small plots today... which you'll cultivate with your own hands." "I want you to love the land." "Only through the work and the fruits of your efforts will be born this love of the land." "Begin to measure off and mark each plot." "Each of you grab a stake there." "Frogs are very numerous." "Currently there are over 1,000 known species." "They were the first animals in the zoological hierarchy... which are adapted to living out of water." "They are classified into three groups:..." "Apods, Urodelans, and Anurans." "Apods, as the name implies, have no limbs." "Urodeles: this name indicates that the tail is visible." "This group includes amphibians whose tail persists throughout their lives." "What do you have there?" "Let's see." "It's a chameleon, teacher, that I grabbed at the church for the class on amphibians." "And do you think that a chameleon is a frog?" "Sure!" "Who knows what kind of creature a chameleon is?" "You, Gómez." "The chameleon belongs to the reptiles." "Why the reptiles?" "Because crawls, teacher." "And in which group?" "~ To the urudelos, teacher." "~ No." "You?" "To the lizards, teacher." "Lizards." "~ You've earned a zero in zoology." "~ Why, teacher?" "For believing that a chameleon is a frog." "And in his letter, Dad didn't say when he'll be back?" "Very soon." "Maybe this year." "How nice!" "I almost don't remember what my dad looks like." "He recalls a lot about you." "If the laborers come and go each year,... why didn't Daddy come back even after five years?" "Some stay to work more and earn more money." "And which do you prefer, money or Dad?" "Enough questions, just draw your map." "Someday the three of us will be back together again." "This function is performed by cell division,... which can be in two forms: the direct division and indirect division." "Direct division is the simpler cell reproduction,... where the cell contracts in the middle with the nucleus splitting in two." "Bonilla!" "~ Yes, professor." "~ Bonilla!" "Repeat what I was saying." "For days you've been nodding off in class." "You don't care to learn what I'm talking about?" "Yes, professor." "~ Don't you sleep well at home?" "~ Yes, professor, all night." "~ Are you sick then?" "~ No, Professor." "That's the last time I'll let you sleep in class." "Remain standing so you don't fall asleep." "Yes, Professor." "Let's see your cigar." "~ What cigar, teacher?" "~ That one you're smoking." "It's just some dry ice, I'm thirsty." "How about this?" "~ It's chocolate!" "~ Oh, really?" "Come on, eat it." "~ Good afternoon, Atilano." "~ Professor!" "Come in, feel at home." "I just came to see how your mother is." "Very bad, professor, so I couldn't go to school." "~ I can see her?" "~ Sure, come on in." "Mommy, the teacher's here to see you." "Let him come in." "~ Come on in, Professor." "~ Thank you." "Who sells firewood here?" "~ Good afternoon, ma'am." "~ Good afternoon." "How do you do?" "Very bad, I can tell you." "I came to see how I can help or serve you." "You can look after my son when I die." "Don't think like that!" "It's what has me worried,... leaving my little boy all alone!" "He won't be alone, ma'am, we all love him." "God and you have to watch over him." "~ Cordero, Juan." "~ Present." "~ Osuna, Gabriel." "~ Present." "Ramírez, Atilano." "Atilano didn't attend class today because... he's gone to bury his mother, who died last night." "Nothing is more painful in life than when one loses his mother." "Those who still have one, love her, nurture and respect her." "Come in, Atilano." "I couldn't stay alone in the house so I preferred to come." "You did well." "You know we all love you here." "Sit." "Today we'll study the circulatory system." "You, Atilano." "What is the heart?" "The heart is the main organ of the circulatory system." "It's a muscle composed of hollow fibers." "Cry, Atilano." "Don't be ashamed to mourn among us." "The tears cried on the day a man loses his mother are the most noble,... and most virile." "The heart is the most noble organ of human beings,... a symbol of love and tenderness." "How much have you got?" "12 pesos 40 cents." "And with 9.20?" "12 and 9...21.60!" "And the piggy bank Professor Marquez left me." "Oh, really, go get it!" "And do you know where to look for her?" "Yes, one of her letters came with the return address where she works." "She's a children's nanny." "You'll get lost, Agustín." "You'll be new to town, son." "It's very large." "He won't get lost." "You'll tell the teacher, like we said." "Yes, Agustín, don't worry." "Keep counting." "That was very wrong, Atilano!" "He didn't want anyone to know." "It's your lack of confidence in your teacher that causes this reproach from me." "Agustín is very small to go alone in search of his mother." "~ He took the address where she works." "~ But the city is huge!" "If you would have told me..." "Anyway... let this be the last time you show this lack of confidence in me." "Yes, teacher." "Sit quietly here and don't budge." "I'll go get dad." "Who's calling?" "~ Me." "~ Who's "me"?" "~ Augustín." "Agustín Valencia." "~ Who is Agustín Valencia?" "~ Me." "~ What do you want, kid?" "~ I'm looking for Doña Agustina, my mom." "~ She hasn't worked here for ages." "And where does she work?" "Could you tell me where she works?" "She's a children's nanny." "I don't know what's wrong." "You're not up to your usual standards." "Don't you see how I work and kill myself for the family?" "And you have no pity for me or your mother, or for your brothers." "Don't say that!" "What should I be saying, with these grades you bring home?" "If I put you in school and don't have you work, it's because you're the hope of the family." "I promise to study more and not to fall asleep in class... but don't say I'm cheating you." "You ARE cheating me, son!" "Admit it, at least." "Yes." "Go study." "I don't get it." "I don't know why he's suddenly become so slack." "Maybe he's sick." "Sick, my foot!" "Let's see if I can straighten him up with a volley of belt whips!" "It's no big deal, Anselmo." "You'll see how he improves." "And now I'm killing myself to do better in the job!" "Have you seen today's pay?" "And then this kid gets lazy, falling asleep in class!" "After all, doesn't he sleep the night away like a log here, so that you have it hard to even wake him up in the morning?" "Now go to sleep, Anselmo, get some rest." "Buy the girl a dress tomorrow." "Don't panic." "Forgive me, Dad!" "It's me the one who asks you to forgive me, instead." "Now I understand it all, my son, everything." "I did it to help, Dad." "That's what gets to me, that I hurt you so much,... while you were earning our bread." "~ Don't cry, Dad." "~ Let him cry." "What room is Mrs. Valencia in?" "Valencia..." "Valencia...in the burn ward." "Is my mom burned?" "~ Fourth Floor, 401 to 406." "~ Thank you." "This boy's looking for his mother, Mrs. Valencia." "The patient in bed five." "Here I'll leave you, kiddo." "Thank you very much, Mr. Lieutenant." "Why is my mom burned?" "They brought her from a lab that exploded." "And is she really bad?" "Yes." "It might be better that you not see her now." "Let me talk to the doctor." "Water!" "Water!" "Mommy!" "Water, son!" "My mom wants some water." "~ Teach him how to give her water." "~ Come." "Come here, so you can see how." "With this hand takes the glass and with the other one, the straw,... taking care not to hurt her lips." "I came for you, because we did not know anything about you,... neither me nor my grandfather." "Don't make her talk." "Don't tire her out." "Stay here with her and give her water as often as she asks you for it." "Thanks, my son!" "Good afternoon, Mr. Cordero." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon, Professor." "Juanito's not here?" "He went to buy something for dinner." "Did you know I want to commission a project for school?" "At your orders." "I thought that my boys should learn to raise chickens,... and they need special cages." "I thought you could make them for me." "If you tell me how." "Let's think about them between the two of us." "I have a design, but I want you to tell me if it's OK." "Once I made some for Don Ruperto's henhouse." "Yes, that's why I came, because I know you'll help me out on this." "It's you the one who helps me by entrusting me the job." "Work is so scarce lately!" "And do you really know why work doesn't seem to come your way?" "Yes, Professor." "Due to my drunkenness." "That's what I wanted to talk about." "I do this as a friend, a friend to you and Juanito." "Understood." "I know you never drank before." "Since my wife died and left us on our own." "I confess that I've felt deeply sad... to see Juanito sitting on the bench next to the bar,... waiting for you to come out to bring you home." "Have you seen him?" "Yes." "And I say this because I know you're a good man, who loves his children,... who loves his job, and who should be ashamed of being drunk every evening when you return home." "I do feel ashamed, believe me." "Well, avoid that embarrassment." "Alcohol doesn't kill the sadness, and it degrades the drinker." "I do it out of sadness for seeing them as orphans, and out of remembering her." "I know, but there are other ways." "Your work, for example." "Juanito is no longer the same in class." "He comes in fearfully,... as if he's afraid that at any moment someone could insult him... or tell him he's the son of a drunkard." "Don't go on." "I won't drink any more." "I swear." "Make an effort." "It will be difficult at first, but do it,... for yourself, for your children." "You will again be our best blacksmith." "I can promise you." "What are you up to tonight, Dad?" "Working, as you see." "It's a while since you last did it." "Let me help." "I think this is carved by hand." "It looks like a cup-and-ball toy." "What's so interesting?" "This inkwell is so odd, teacher." "I brought it to replace the one you broke." "You didn't make it, teacher?" "No, it's a gift from a student, a prisoner." "A prisoner?" "No wonder it's so ugly!" "I keep it because it's neither ugly nor beautiful, but as a token of gratitude." "Last year I taught prisoners how to read." "One of them, he made this with his own hands, and gave it to me as a token of gratitude,... and as a token of gratitude from that man, I keep it." "And what was his name, teacher?" "No idea..." "I never knew their names, there they were just numbers." "His was # 202." "Inkwells are made to sell so he can send some money to his family." "Well, let's get to work." "~ How do you feel, ma'am?" "~ All right, doctor." "Today we'll take off the bandages." "Although you can see these scissors, don't panic." "No, doctor." "Mom!" "Son!" "My little boy of my soul!" "What are you doing here?" "I came to get you." "They told me you were her." "How long have you been here?" "Since yesterday." "I thought I was giving you water." "Son!" "Let me look at you!" "You can't imagine how much I thought about you!" "Water!" "Wait, Mom." "Let me give her some water." "Give it to her, and make her believe that you are still her child." "Water!" "Thanks, my son!" "There's no use to it anymore." "She called me her son." "At least she had this consolation:... she died believing her son gave her water." "This is teacher Silva, who kindly came from Mexico City... to rehearse the choir to sing at our awards ceremony." "I hope for the best discipline from you, so I won't have any complaints." "~ Be seated." "~ Thank you." "Do any of you know why we're missing Anacleto González, Amado Linares, and their two buddies?" "~ They're playing hooky, teacher." "~ Hooky?" "Yes, they said they were going to swim." "Go on, jump in." "~ How cold is it?" "~ Not too bad!" "Go on!" "~ And you, Anacleto, why don't you jump in?" "~ I hardly know how to swim." "Bah, you're better than all of us in this!" "Go on, man!" "You want a little more chocolate?" "Yes, teacher, thank you very much." "Will you have another tamale?" "Can I say something, teacher?" "Yes, tell me." "I am very happy to be at your home,... and I'm very proud that you've invited me to lunch." "I'm fond of you." "I've been watching you." "You're not as bad as you pretend to be." "Your antics are the product of a vivid imagination." "Yes, teacher?" "But your intelligence and imagination are misguided." "You could create enormous pleasure if you would only resolve to do good, and not evil,... especially in a manner as useless as having destroyed Beto's shirt." "Yes, teacher." "I understand that I did wrong, and I promise to change." "Well, let's see if you succeed." "I'm home, Mom." "Whose is this hat, Mom?" "Your father, who's just arrived." "~ And where is he?" "~ In the yard, washing." "~ Dad!" "~ My son!" "Son!" "Son!" "My boy, how big you are!" "When I left were this tiny,... and now you're almost a man." "Yes, daddy." "I almost couldn't remember you." "He was always wondering." "He said that if other day laborers returned each year, you were gone for five." "And you...how did you explain it?" "You were there to earn more money." "Yes, that's right, it's just..." "I didn't earn enough money, and... then it was stolen on the trip, and... and I came back empty-handed." "And what do I care about that, Dad?" "I just wanted you to come back." "Ah, but yes, I brought you a present for your school!" "Oh, look, come here!" "Come here!" "You will see what a present it is, my son." "Look." "Just look, how cool are these inkwells!" "Where did you buy these?" "No way I "bought" them!" "I made them with my own hands,... and these, they're to sell, see if you can find customers for them in school." "You don't like them, son?" "Didn't # 202 sell them to you?" "How did he know I was # 202?" "I never said anything." "Beto!" "Beto." "Six years I paid for it, day after day, night after night,... away from her and you." "Sonny, can you forgive me?" "Dad!" "Dear children:" "I'm overcome with emotion... to think that today is the last day that you're here." "You're leaving a school that has witnessed your growing up for six years." "It will never leave you." "Today you're no longer children, you're begin to be young men,... and the men of tomorrow." "I am sure that some of you will continue by studying,... others by working,... but whichever way, all you will become proper and useful men." "In the field, in the shop, in the factory,... in the profession that each labors through their own efforts." "When you say "goodbye", I want you to make an intimate promise:... to honor with a clean and generous life... all of those who have so loved you so that you could become men." "Your parents, first and foremost,... your teachers,... your school, and your country." "¤ The dark night has spread its mantle." "¤ The fog came up, the light died." "¤ And in the darkness of my sad soul,... ¤ Like a star you sprouted." "¤ Come, illuminate the barren path" "¤ where crazy illusion wanders... ¤ Give me just a hope... ¤ To fortify my heart. ¤"