Advertisement
DSC00150
The front of the schoolLike elsewhere in the world, there is a choice of public and private schools in Mexico. Private schools are for those who can afford it (a few scholarships are available for those who can't) and public schools are for everyone else. But public schools are so crowded that they run on double shifts, a morning shift that's over by 1 p.m. or so and an afternoon shift that goes until 6 p.m. If you think class size in the States is a problem, classes here in public schools often average 50 students, sometimes up to 60. It's not uncommon for teachers to teach over 300 students during the course of a day. Of course, if your family is only making $3.00 a day, it's not likely your children are going to attend (they have to work for the family). Just think if they did.
During one of the lectures we attend as part of the program, we had three teachers who talked to us about the Mexican school system. The complaints about inadequate supplies, funding, student behavior, etc. were similar to what we experience in the U.S. Politics is as controversial here as elsewhere. And like back home, raising taxes
DSC00152
the name of the school was not a popular option. Even the teachers that spoke to us didn't like that idea. Apparently few people trust the government. Sound familiar? And for the teachers who are reading this, listen up. I asked how the teachers in schools are evaluated. There are no observations by administrators or anyone else. The teachers are only required to take 2 standardized tests a year to test for competency. Crazy huh? But this is the real shocker. The teacher who taught in the most prestigious private school in Cuernavaca, TEC, actually gets evaluated by her students. She does teach at the university level, but if they don't like her, for whatever reason, she's out on the street with the kids hawking necklaces. Scary. She said she has to watch how she handles them.
The pictures here are of a modest private school (PK-8) we visited whose instruction is in English in the morning and Spanish in the afternoon. The class sizes in this private school are between 10 and 15. Three of the teachers came here from the U.S. Every school, public AND private, in Mexico has to administer the same national exam. Private schools like this one are commonly
DSC00153
The sign says No Yelling. I wonder if it would work in our schools. family-owned businesses and the competition is stiff.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.282s; Tpl: 0.055s; cc: 9; qc: 58; dbt: 0.0653s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
anonymous
non-member comment
Hoi Paul, Thanks for your 3 blogs. It must be for you a very big difference between the situation in your country and what you are seeing in Mexico. A great experience for you. Allthough the poverty you are living at a family in a nice and beautiful house and surrounding. Have a great time. With kindest regards Wim