Emma Gamboa Alvarado

Emma Gamboa Alvarado (October 17, 1901 – December 10, 1976), was a Costa Rican educator, recognized for her contributions to pedagogy and teaching. She was declared Benemérita de la Patria (Well-deserving of the Homeland) by the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica in 1980. She was depicted on the ten thousand colones bill of 1998.

Early life Her parents were José Gamboa and María Alvarado.

As a child, she excelled in school for her speed in reading comprehension, and her ability to easily do mathematics, but not in other subjects. She possessed a fondness for reading. Originally from a family with marked economic limitations, her mother requested a scholarship for her to start her secondary education at the recently founded Escuela Normal de Costa Rica.

Education She graduated as a teacher from the Escuela Normal in 1920. She continued her studies at Ohio State University in the United States, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Education Sciences in 1939, Master of Arts in 1940, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1951.

Career In 1942, she joined the Asociación Nacional de Educadores (National Association of Educators) as a founding member, and five years later was chosen as the second president of this association. In 1947, she was appointed Dean by the Council Adviser of the Pedagogy Faculty.

Publications El nuevo silabario (1937). La función de la educación de acuerdo con la naturaleza del hombre (1946). Educación primaria en Costa Rica (1952). John Dewey y la filosofía de la libertad (1958). Defensa de la escuela de educación de la Universidad (1960). Omar Dengo (1964). El pensamiento político de Omar Dengo (1969). Educación en una sociedad libre (1976). Flor de Infancia (1978) (Posthumous).