Page:Historia Verdadera del Mexico profundo.djvu/95

 which were called divine songs; for this they used paintings of the codices. Also taught them the days count, the book of dreams  and the years book." (Florentine Codex)

As is known, all ancient grandparents’ activities were intimately related to the religious aspects of their culture. Education was not the exception. Students combined academic study, with productivity, religion, sport and art. But fundamentally it was meant to exalt and strengthen their moral and ethical values. The principles of community service, while maintaining their religious practices, traditions and customs, obedience to parents, teachers and officials. Character temperance, self-control, body strength and conviction that ideals learnt young people at the education system, was proportional and a reflection of the great cultural feats made by the Anahuac civilization through their various cultures in time and space.

The ancient word.

Among preserved texts on children education we have the so-called "Huehuetlahtolli" or the ancient word, which was transmitted and jealously saved from generation to generation. Many of these speeches are still in the heart of the peoples of the indigenous Mexico and somehow survive in customs and traditions of the mestizo peoples. Following is a fragment of the speech of a father to his daughter:

"Well now, my girl. Listen good, look calmly; here is your mother, your lady, from whose bosom and guts you were created, you came out; as a little plant, as a grass you grew, you grew leaves, you flourished; as if you had been sleeping and woke up.

''Look, listen, understand, such are things on earth. Don’t just live anyhow, don’t just go anywhere. How you shall live, where shall''