Elbira Zipitria

Elbira Zipitria Irastorza (1906–1982) was an innovative Basque educator who pioneered home schools as a means of reviving use of the Basque language at a time when it was prohibited. On returning to San Sebastián after the Spanish Civil War she taught young children in their own homes before creating the first ikastola or home Basque-language school in 1956. In the 1960s, 71 schools were created in the towns and cities of the Southern Basque Country although they were still illegal. It was not until 1970 that official permission was granted for the opening of the Orixe Ikastola in San Sebastián. Zipitria was a member of various political and cultural organizations, including Emakume Abertzale Batza, Euskaltzaleak and Eusko Ikaskuntza.