Yesterday, Thursday, June 30, I visited a private Catholic school names Casa de Jesus. There I was amazed by the beauty of the building. It was originally established in 1874 (same as my sorority Gamma Phi Beta!!!) and refurbished in 1904. Needless to say it was beautiful.
I met a teacher, Rosario, and entered her classroom. They said a prayer together and then proceeded with my "interrogation". I love the questions they have for me. The best part is when I tell them that we do not kiss people we meet for the first time. They all look at my in disbelief!! I visited a second class of approximately 55 students. Needless to say, the expectations of teachers for student behavior are very different than in the schools I have been in (or attended!). Students are typically a bit more talkative and more "rowdy". Being in a room without carpet and with so many students talking at once sent my ears into overload! But, as they say "when in Greece do as the Greek do", so when in Argentina, do as the Argentines do. I did my best to just go with the flow as their teachers were doing.
In the afternoon, I visited Colegio Belgrano Uno once more. This time I visited the Kindergarten classes (in a separate building). I met Carina and her assistant Manuela in the first classroom. I could not believe they had 27 students!! They have their work cut out for them (these were 4yr old students). I was permitted to read a story and do some songs. I was so excited to see them follow along and sing with me (5 Little Monkeys and If you're Happy and you know it). I loved it! I also got to see them rehearse "Peter Pan"!
Today was a "short" day for "work". Margarita and I had lunch at the cafe next to the flat that where I am staying and then took a bus to Estaban de Luca No 1 D.E. 6. This is a state school in the barrio of "Once" (eleven). This is where I get my inspiration for this entry's title. The state funded schools are usually in dire need of renovation and materials. Although teachers manage and children learn, it is hard for me to imagine being happy in this environment. Like I said in my title "we are so spoiled". During my visits, I have noticed that our state/government funded schools have more materials than all of the private or state schools I have visited. I hope some of my fellow teachers are seeing these pictures and can see just how fortunate we really are!
It was interesting to find out that the teachers in (this) state school do not hand in daily/weekly lesson plans. I spoke to a teacher, Macarena - who visited Kansas with the R.I.T.E. program, and learned that teachers turn in a general yearly overview and then a quarterly plan with more details. Teachers typically have their own daily plans but these are not usually viewed by the headmaster. There is an English supervisor who will come to observe the English teacher's classroom and view lesson plans, but this may happen once a school year due to the enormous case load he/she may have.
This was painted on the school. "We have a right to an education".
Agreed.
Here's an extra picture with no educational relevance. You've heard the phase "As American as apple pie"....well, not according to the cafe I visited today! As a joke to hearing me speak, he gave me a piece of pie with the Argentina flag on it (and the American flag on the piece for Margarita!
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