"I want to form a school of emancipation, concerned with banning from the mind whatever divides people, the false concepts of property, country, and family so as to attain the liberty and well-being which all desire. I will teach only simple truth. I will not ram dogma into their heads. I will not conceal one iota of fact. I will teach not what to think but how to think." - Francisco Ferrer

Francisco Ferrer was a Spanish teacher who was eventually slain for leading an uprising in Barcelona against the Moroccan war. Although he was not in Barcelona during the "Tragic Week" revolt, Francisco Ferrer was dubbed as the "head of the insurrection".

Ferrer created the Modern School, and opened it in Spain, in 1901. Prior to the opening of Ferrer's school, education in Spain was controlled by the church. There was only one school for each town, and they were controlled by priests, upholding Catholic dogma. Ferrer's Modern School challenged this idea.

The Modern School differed from traditional schools of the time in many ways. There were no exams, grades, rewards, or punishments. Lessons were held in places such as museums or factories as to promote practical knowledge, instead of theory.

In about 4 years, there were approximately 50 schools similar to the Modern School, throughout Spain. While a site for learning, the Modern School was also a device with which to spread propaganda and promote revolutionary activity. It was this that brought about the demise of Ferrer. On Good Friday, in 1905, Ferrer led a demonstration, along with 1799 children, for free education in Spain. This led to the governmental shutdown of all Modern Schools. Another incident, which led to Ferrer being jailed, occurred when Mateo Morral, a text translator at the Modern School and close friend of Ferrer's, had thrown a bomb at King Alfonso.

After being released from jail, Ferrer spent a few years traveling Europe, dispersing the message of the Modern School. After this, her returned to Spain. Upon returning to Spain, Ferrer was arrested and executed for the Tragic Week uprising, in 1909. Although Ferrer was dead, Modern Schools were started all over the world.