tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072440028440011959.post1434482473341811465..comments2024-03-20T04:06:14.857-04:00Comments on Education Outrage: Benito Juarez, Don Quixote, and Mexico City street kids; Really?Roger Schankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567989582447087635noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072440028440011959.post-21491199083720401282013-02-13T20:50:20.576-05:002013-02-13T20:50:20.576-05:00THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH, DR. SCHANK!!!
I...THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH, DR. SCHANK!!!<br /><br />I am not Mexican. I am Brazilian, but the situation here is not too different.<br /><br />The reason they teach about Benito Juarez is really two fold: 1) It's easy; and 2) It's a neutral subject (non-political) that helps to keep the powers-that-be happy. Keep in mind that most of Latin America suffered years under dictatorships, and the curriculum today reflects that.<br /><br />Ironically, this very same issue happens in the US, as you are well-aware. My wife taught high-school latino kids in the San Francisco Bay Area for many year, and she was always frustrated about the mandated curriculum which had nothing to do with the actual realities faced by the kids. So I would say it is really a cultural issue, which is very difficult to change.<br /><br />The said part (which you alluded to in your post) is that the privileged kids who actually have cash to pay for private schools are in fact getting good-quality education which is preparing them for real-life jobs. And they grow up and yes, they are the only ones who get the jobs. Just go to any office anywhere in Latin America and you will see an overwhelming majority of Caucasians in the office. Then visit any prision anywhere in Latin America and you will also see a huge majority of non-whites (blacks and indigenous-descendent). That's a DIRECT result of the education they have received.<br /><br />On the bright side, at least those kids are in the school and not selling chicklets in the streets. Believe it or not this is a big improvement, as in the past the kids schools enrollment was less than 70% (at least in Brazil), and now is probably close to 100%.<br /><br />The solution in my opinion is to create a parallel non-profit system that uses your learn-by-doing methodology to teach real skills to kids. The problem is that it would create a political issue, meeting resistance from the current powers. Not so much from the current educators (who are in their majority very idealistic, because salaries are low and they chose this profession because they really care) but mostly from politicians who don't want to be challenged.<br /><br />Please keep posting these wonderful texts, and keep it real!!<br /><br />PS: I was your former student at CMU in Silicon ValleyFelipe Albertaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11167646175899711034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072440028440011959.post-23418342422787621162013-02-13T20:49:55.434-05:002013-02-13T20:49:55.434-05:00THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH, DR. SCHANK!!!
I...THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH, DR. SCHANK!!!<br /><br />I am not Mexican. I am Brazilian, but the situation here is not too different.<br /><br />The reason they teach about Benito Juarez is really two fold: 1) It's easy; and 2) It's a neutral subject (non-political) that helps to keep the powers-that-be happy. Keep in mind that most of Latin America suffered years under dictatorships, and the curriculum today reflects that.<br /><br />Ironically, this very same issue happens in the US, as you are well-aware. My wife taught high-school latino kids in the San Francisco Bay Area for many year, and she was always frustrated about the mandated curriculum which had nothing to do with the actual realities faced by the kids. So I would say it is really a cultural issue, which is very difficult to change.<br /><br />The said part (which you alluded to in your post) is that the privileged kids who actually have cash to pay for private schools are in fact getting good-quality education which is preparing them for real-life jobs. And they grow up and yes, they are the only ones who get the jobs. Just go to any office anywhere in Latin America and you will see an overwhelming majority of Caucasians in the office. Then visit any prision anywhere in Latin America and you will also see a huge majority of non-whites (blacks and indigenous-descendent). That's a DIRECT result of the education they have received.<br /><br />On the bright side, at least those kids are in the school and not selling chicklets in the streets. Believe it or not this is a big improvement, as in the past the kids schools enrollment was less than 70% (at least in Brazil), and now is probably close to 100%.<br /><br />The solution in my opinion is to create a parallel non-profit system that uses your learn-by-doing methodology to teach real skills to kids. The problem is that it would create a political issue, meeting resistance from the current powers. Not so much from the current educators (who are in their majority very idealistic, because salaries are low and they chose this profession because they really care) but mostly from politicians who don't want to be challenged.<br /><br />Please keep posting these wonderful texts, and keep it real!!<br /><br />PS: I was your former student at CMU in Silicon ValleyFelipe Albertaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11167646175899711034noreply@blogger.com