The Right to LEARN: A History of Education in South Texas

By Sandy Pollock, MOSTHistory Communications Officer

This fall, the Museum of South Texas History will open a powerful new exhibition, The Right to LEARN: A History of Education in South Texas. The exhibition explores how generations of South Texans fought for access to education, highlighting the people, policies, and pivotal moments that shaped the classroom experience and learning across the region.

Education in South Texas has always been more than textbooks and desks. From Spanish colonial missions to rural ranch schools, from escuelitas to fully developed public districts, families believed in the promise of an education. Yet that promise was not always evenly shared. Through artifacts, photographs, and oral histories, the exhibit brings forward stories of struggle and determination, showing how communities worked to open doors once closed.

Visitors will encounter landmark court cases that set up new precedents, including the voices of students and parents who challenged unequal systems. Displays will spotlight the pioneers of bilingual education and the rise of programs that recognized the cultural and linguistic heritage of students from South Texas. Higher education also plays a central role, tracing the growth of local colleges and universities that became engines of opportunity.

A special section will honor Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, who represented Texas’s 15th District in Washington for two decades. Known as a champion of education, Hinojosa secured funding and support for countless initiatives, from financial aid programs to resources for underserved schools. His legacy continues to shape the lives of students across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

Curated with care by Jenarae Bautista and presented with support from H-E-B, The Right to LEARN connects local stories to national conversations about equity, leadership, and the power of education to transform lives.

CEO Dr. Francisco Guajardo said, “When you study the history of education in South Texas, you uncover a story of resilience. Families here believed that learning was a right worth fighting for.”

The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, September 19, 2025.

By tracing the past and honoring those who refused to give up on the idea of a better education, The Right to LEARN invites all of us to consider what it truly means to learn, to teach, and to lead.