Its not the best system, but its our system

I´ve now completed two weeks of school down here in Granada and can mention some of my impressions. School here is quite unlike elementary school in the United States. All the five classrooms in my school have open doors that are connected by a courtyard area through which the kids are seemingly free to roam at any time. If kids feel like walking out of class, to play games, beat up their friends or even walk home, there is little that the teachers can or are willing to do to stop them. When the kids stay in the classroom they are a more well behaved but only slightly more well focused on schoolwork. That is, there really isn´t much learning happening. The schools strive for attendance and not much further. Its impossible to blame the kids for the state of affairs when they have gone to school with low expectations their whole life.

From what I have heard, those families with even a small amount of wealth will do whatever they can to send their kids to a private school. Those who cannot go to puclic school where only 30% of Nicaraguan students complete elementary school. Our program works in 6 public schools in a rural area making some families´ situations even worse. But that is why we are there. When we arrive each morning and ask our respective teachers who we can work with for the next half hour or so all the kids in class scream and beg to work with the gringo ¨Profe¨s. The kids want to learn, they are just hindered by their school and its administrators. For example, on Tuesday, school ended at 10 a.m. because teachers came from a number of surrouding school to, drumroll please, plan mother´s day festivities! It was april 13th, mother´s day is may 13th and they cancelled school for half the day to plan what the kids might do that day a month in advance. Not to take away from mother´s day but that seems a bit excessive.

Anyway, the kids are awesome for the most part. A few bad additudes here and there, but that happens everywhere. More later about the futbol league that we are trying to start!
Peace!

written by

mls12 on April 16, 2010 from Granada, Nicaragua

from the travel blog: Volunteering with La Esperanza Granada in Granada, Nicaragua

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Hey Matt,

Sounds like you are really getting into the teaching. Keep up the good work and know that this is a great opportunity that does not come along for everyone. Also know that you are doing something great. Hang in there and stay safe.

Love, Aunt Anne

written by Anne O'Connor on April 16, 2010

hmmm.... very insightful.

I misses you.

written by ju9 on April 19, 2010