Alfredo Betancourt facts for kids

Álvaro Alfredo Betancourt Blanco (born October 26, 1914, in Atiquizaya, El Salvador; died August 30, 2013, in Moraira, Spain) was an important writer and educator from El Salvador. He dedicated his life to teaching, writing, and helping his country's culture and education grow.

Who Was Alfredo Betancourt?

Alfredo Betancourt was born in a town called Atiquizaya in El Salvador. When he was 14 years old, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to study at a famous teacher training school in San Salvador called La Escuela Normal. He studied there for six years. In November 1934, he officially became a primary school teacher, which is called "profesor de instruccion primaria" in Spanish.

Early Career and Love for Books

After finishing his studies, Alfredo went back to his home area of Santa Ana. He taught in different government and private schools until 1948. During this time, he developed a strong love for books and ideas. He also started his writing career. He became the first editor of a respected cultural magazine called "Simiente."

Leading Educational Magazines

In January 1949, Alfredo became the Director of the "Escuela Normal Alberto Masferrer" in San Salvador. This was another important school for training teachers. He held this job until the end of 1956. During these years, he also took on more editing roles. He edited "Ateneo," a magazine for a cultural group, and "22 de junio," which focused on ideas and practices in education. He also worked on "Masferrer," another magazine about education.

A Role in Government

In 1952, people in his hometown recognized his contributions. Alfredo was chosen to be a Deputy for the Ahuachapan area. This meant he served in the government of President Oscar Osorio. Because he was known as a great educator, he received another important job in 1956. He was appointed as "Jefe de la Seccion Tecnica y Planificacion del Ministerio de Cultura." This was a high position in the government's culture department in El Salvador. He held this job until the government changed in 1960.

Honored by Language Academies

In 1970, Alfredo was elected to join the El Salvador "Real Academia de la Lengua Espanola." This group is connected to the Royal Academy in Madrid, Spain, which is very important for the Spanish language. In 1972, he became a full member of the El Salvador Academy. He even represented El Salvador in Spain to help create the 1976 edition of the "Diccionario de la Lengua Espanola," which is a very important Spanish dictionary.

A Street Named After Him

On December 4, 2008, Alfredo received the highest honor from his hometown of Atiquizaya. He was named "Hijo Meritissimo," which means "Most Meritorious Son." The street where he was born and where his family home was, 3a Calle Oriente and Poniente, was officially renamed "Calle Alfredo Betancourt" in his honor.

Alfredo had four children. His wife passed away in July 2008. He later moved to live by the sea in Spain, where he passed away on August 30, 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Alfredo Betancourt para niños