Ya con training y ahora ESCUELA!
Well, finally done with the final part of my training as a PCV. It started off amazing with the trip to the falls and StoveTeam Intl. but it kind of dragged for a bit....but it was absolutely amazing to be with my host family again...
PICTURES ARE UP FOR VIEWING! Also, I wanted to remind you to try to subscribe to the blog so you know when I post new things...many of you keep telling me to remind you!!
Now I am here at school! I want to take this time to talk about school here in El Salvador:
ONE: the days starts when the Director remembers or has time to ring the bell...its manual which in turn also means that every single one of my classes is a different length. Its kind of nuts.
TWO: since A/C would be expensive they have giant windows on either side of the room which means two things: 1) kids like to just look in to my class whenever they want...and stare or try to be funny. 2) its kinda of loud. Today, I taught a song called "Hi, how are you?". It was huge hit but I hope the other teachers don't hate me since I had a bit of yelling competition to get them pumped about saying the greeting.
THREE: Kids only go to school half a day with five 45 min classes and 5-10 minute breaks in between to either clean or get a snack...Yes, the kids have chores at school...mopping, toilets, the works! The reason they go half a day I guess is for a few reasons. First, their is a lack of funding to support kids all day ie. enough teacher and enough space. So, some go in the first half. Some in the second. Second, I am guessing this allows for those kids that need to be working the fields and helping at home do so. So, even if it were fully funded it would be hard to maintain attendance.
FOUR: There is a program here called Red Solidaria. It is a program that is suppose to help parents keep their kids in school and fed. If they have good attendance and go to the monthly parenting meetings they get something like $20/month for food, etc. It is a nice idea that I am sure helps some but like any other handout it definitely gets abused. The days of the money handouts are like a carnival... vendors line up to attract those parents who don't know how to save their money.
FIVE: They have Directiva which is like a school board and equally as powerful. What is cool about here is that parents, teachers, AND STUDENTS (hello, my mission at UT!) sit on that board. It is elected every 2 years. This year is an election so I am looking forward to observing how well it functions.
SIX: There aren't really any after-school activities! Can you imagine your childhood without tee-ball, soccer, or cheerleading?? I really can't. That will be part of my job. I had sign-ups for one women's soccer team this week and the demand was so overwhelming I will likely end up with at least 3.
Ok, my brain is on overload. I will try to post more on school later. I am only two days in!! Wish me luck!
PICTURES ARE UP FOR VIEWING! Also, I wanted to remind you to try to subscribe to the blog so you know when I post new things...many of you keep telling me to remind you!!
Now I am here at school! I want to take this time to talk about school here in El Salvador:
ONE: the days starts when the Director remembers or has time to ring the bell...its manual which in turn also means that every single one of my classes is a different length. Its kind of nuts.
TWO: since A/C would be expensive they have giant windows on either side of the room which means two things: 1) kids like to just look in to my class whenever they want...and stare or try to be funny. 2) its kinda of loud. Today, I taught a song called "Hi, how are you?". It was huge hit but I hope the other teachers don't hate me since I had a bit of yelling competition to get them pumped about saying the greeting.
THREE: Kids only go to school half a day with five 45 min classes and 5-10 minute breaks in between to either clean or get a snack...Yes, the kids have chores at school...mopping, toilets, the works! The reason they go half a day I guess is for a few reasons. First, their is a lack of funding to support kids all day ie. enough teacher and enough space. So, some go in the first half. Some in the second. Second, I am guessing this allows for those kids that need to be working the fields and helping at home do so. So, even if it were fully funded it would be hard to maintain attendance.
FOUR: There is a program here called Red Solidaria. It is a program that is suppose to help parents keep their kids in school and fed. If they have good attendance and go to the monthly parenting meetings they get something like $20/month for food, etc. It is a nice idea that I am sure helps some but like any other handout it definitely gets abused. The days of the money handouts are like a carnival... vendors line up to attract those parents who don't know how to save their money.
FIVE: They have Directiva which is like a school board and equally as powerful. What is cool about here is that parents, teachers, AND STUDENTS (hello, my mission at UT!) sit on that board. It is elected every 2 years. This year is an election so I am looking forward to observing how well it functions.
SIX: There aren't really any after-school activities! Can you imagine your childhood without tee-ball, soccer, or cheerleading?? I really can't. That will be part of my job. I had sign-ups for one women's soccer team this week and the demand was so overwhelming I will likely end up with at least 3.
Ok, my brain is on overload. I will try to post more on school later. I am only two days in!! Wish me luck!
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