The Spanish welfare state enjoys a number of salient features: its historically late modernization from the 70's onwards (gathering momentum at a point in time when the existing Keynesian reference models of the continental and Northern European countries entered in crisis); the continued importance of traditional social institutions such as the family and the church; and the weak role and decreasing significance of the central government in providing social policies. Embedded in a description of the general macro-economic development - which could be described as stalled public spending despite the economic expansion in recent years - the main policy changes affecting the teaching profession will be outlined. To date, especially teachers lack the autonomy necessary to confront an ever demanding and encompassing educational practice. Overall, this part of the symposium will provide a comprehensive overview of the history of teacher's profession in the Spanish welfare system from the 1960s onwards.