5th Grade . . .

Over coffee and pan dulce we had another conversation about education.  Blanca, Cecilia and I had gone to Corozal (a canton of Berlin about 10 miles away – an hour + truck ride).  The purpose of the meeting was to plan the two days that their partner churches’ delegation would be in the community.  It was a great meeting.  The community is waiting with anticipation! 

Part of the conversation we had with them was getting some basic information about the community.  And of course, we always ask about the schools.  This past year, Corozal had 140+ students in kindergarten through 5^th grade.  They have 3 teachers.  Do the math!!!  And then thank your lucky stars that you CAN do the math thanks to the wonderful education you received! 

The school in Corozal only goes to 5^th grade.  Then that is it for the children.   There are 3 students attending 6^th grade in a far away community called Talpetates.  There is one student in 7^th grade here in Berlin.  These four are lucky in that they have family they can stay with while they go to school.  They would not logistically be able to go otherwise.  It is a four hour walk to the nearest school that has 6^th grade and above.  There just are no closer schools.  What a travesty. 

The community had made a solicitude to the Ministry of Education but have had no response.  

If anyone from the Ministry of Education is out there reading this… my prayer is that MinEd will one day recognize the needs in the rural communities.  I personally know of 8 communities that have been soliciting the ministry for either an extra teacher or increased grade levels.  NONE have been given positive responses.  And I would bet my left arm that for the 6 schools that I personally know about - there are 100 more just like it.  And I would bet that is a conservative number.

I just don’t understand it.  Complain all you want about our (in the States) educational system … but think back or look now at your own children – they are getting a basically free education – and a GOOD one at that – up to 12^th grade.  Yes there are expenses – but if you truly have no money for school – there are programs to help families cover the expenses. 

Here … kids are lucky to get to 5^th grade.  The have to walk to attend the higher grades and that walk can be anywhere from 45 minutes to over 4 hours each way on lonely dirt roads or paths … 4 months of heavy sun.  6 months of daily rain.  (2 months of summer vacation). 

And the ministry doesn’t seem to care.  I’m sure that is not true.  I hope it is not true. 

They say there are no resources to pay these teachers or increase grade levels at schools.  So … that brings us to the government itself.  I always tell my kids – and we tell the communities – prioritize the most crucial of needs.  That is what you try to resolve first.  The most crucial of needs.

To me – education should be number one.  Or at least in the top three - employment, food/water (but the first would take care of this … if people had jobs they could feed their families) - and education would be to me – the no brainer list to address.       

My two cents.

Canton Elections

We were invited to go to Corozal this afternoon to attend (what I thought) were going to be the election of a new Directiva.

It is about an hour and a half drive when the roads are good. But what an adventure to navigate the roads today! What a muddy mess. We passed 2 BIG trucks stuck in the mud on one of the hills ... and I had to navigate around one of them on a steep hill on a curve ... and I BARELY made the skinny space. But had a cheering squad ... (the ones waiting for the truck to get un-stuck). And there were lots of areas with extremely deep and mucky mud.

But hooray for the 4x4 and knowing (a little) how to avoid getting stuck in mud.

And I'm glad we went. There was a "protest" from someone in the community regarding the new Directiva ... which is why there was going to be an election… This is not an uncommon thing – so there is no shame in what transpired today for the community … (shame perhaps on 2 or 3 individuals – but the community as a whole is not at fault – and in fact – they are to be commended for being in attendance and showing interest in and participating in the legal processes of their community!!)

So back to the reason for the ‘election re-call’ – One man said the new president came to the Pastoral House soliciting new houses for the new community down the road from them (which legally they are not supposed to do – they are only supposed to work for their own community).

But since we were there in person – representatives of the Pastoral House - WE could answer to that... Cecilia spoke up quite clearly and said that all we received was a list of names of the people now living in this new community. (They are calling themselves NEW Corozal and they have 110 families who have resettled there within the last 2 years and it is just down the street from 'old' Corozal).

Cecilia also said the new president of ‘old’ Corozal did not deliver it ... it was someone from the new community who delivered the list. And we did not receive any kind of solicitude - just the list of names for our information.

So the man was caught in a lie. Apparently he is the local trouble maker. He is maybe 30 years old... often drunk ... arbitrary... goes behind backs to stir up trouble (as in this case). And all this was verbalized in the meeting in front of everyone (with lots of nodding heads of agreement). This man had made a list of people who wanted the new Directiva out. There were 28 names on this list. But 8 of the signers were present in this meeting and they said they did now know what they were signing ... (duh... so don't sign it!!!) and that they were not in agreement to kick out the new Directiva. And some of the signers were not ‘socios’ (legal voting members of the Association known as Corozal)

Sigh. But there was MUCH more arguing and accusing that went on even after Cecilia’s words and the words of some of the signers.

But at least we could defend the poor guy who was accused falsely. And in front of the majority of the community no less. So for that especially, I am glad we made the trip out there.

And there was an InterVida guy there ... and the mayor was supposed to show up ... thankfully HE never made it to be witness to all this bickering.

Several of the community members asked forgiveness of Cecilia and me (and the InterVida guy) - apologizing that we had to be witness to all this arguing and accusing. I found it interesting to see some community dynamics in action. I don’t often get to see the actual ‘discussions.’ I usually just hear about the results later! It was interesting to be in the thick of it. And what a good thing that so many people were voicing their opinions – either way!

The InterVida guy was asked to speak about the legality of such things. InterVida is an NGO that works with the organization of communities. He said the general assembly DOES have the right to dispel a Directiva (or individual member) but only in the general assembly ... not out of one’s living room and then going to your neighbors and saying: ‘here... sign this.’ He sort of chastised them a bit... asking them to think: what institution is going to want to work with a community so divided?? They need to come together for the common good of the community.

Gee - THAT sounds familiar!!!

It really was quite interesting. Unfortunately, we had to leave because it was getting late and we didn’t want to be on the roads in the dark. We left about 4:45 and the meeting was still going strong. They might STILL be there! haha