Arturo Montori Céspedes

Dignified personality of Cuban teaching. Doctor in Pedagogy. Literary critic. Director and researcher in the field of education.

Assistant Professor at the School of Pedagogy. Pedagogue and literary critic, he was a professor by opposition of the chair of Grammar, Composition, Spanish and Cuban Literature at the Normal School for Teachers of La Habana, where he even came to hold its directorship. He was a precursor of the so-called "New School" and promoter of secular education.

Upon returning from Spain, he obtained a position as a teacher in a rural classroom in Batabanó and became inspector of the Bejucal district. He gave lectures at summer schools in different subjects and locations throughout the country. A trainer of teachers. He taught at both primary and secondary levels. He fought against private schools and racial segregation.

Between the years 1905 and 1913 he wrote a series of articles on the teaching of drawing that place him within the Spencerian and paidological current.

He defines drawing as the combination of hand training and the education of imagination and good taste.

From his article published in the Revista Cuba Pedagógica on December 30, 1911, comes the following statement regarding the teaching of Drawing "...its great educational scope and its countless practical applications are increasingly better appreciated and at present, there is no exaggeration in saying that it is placed among those that should merit preferential attention on the part of the teacher".

In primary education, Drawing is given special importance at that time, which draws attention for its level of depth.

Publications
He wrote textbooks, some in collaboration with Ramiro Guerra, such as the Fourth Book and Fifth Book of Reading.
He also figured among the editors of the Libro de Cuba.
Director with Ramiro Guerra of the magazine Cuba Pedagógica.
He also collaborated in Letras, Nuestro Siglo, Revista Bimestre Cubana and Carteles.