What School Should Be - Day 3 - Sanare - Jeanina

Today we went to a high school called Bolivando La Pastora. Of all the schools we went to this one effected me the most. We divided into groups and got a feel for what they do in their school. The students I spoke with were in their 5th year of school. I learned that the time bC (before Chavez), education wasn’t offered as it is now because schools were only in the main cities, so for those who couldn’t get there worked. La Pastora has been open for 5 years and is about to have their first graduating class. I was taken by the way that the students are appreciative of school. At the same time it makes sense to me because they actually learn things that they can relate to, things that benefit their community. One of the students told me that the parents teachers and students congregate and work out schedules and the material they will be learning. Mostly they learn things about there land, how to take care of it and how to love and take care of each other. I never liked school but if my school was like this I would be all for it. Besides that, I reflected on my self and how much effort I put into what I do. I feel like kids should start taking school more seriously because even though it should be, its not free for everybody. Education is a gift that everybody deserves. The funny thing is people associate education with an actual building. Knowledge isn’t visual. What would be wrong with going outside sitting in a circle with notebooks?...could you not gain the same amount of education with out textbooks and projectors?

Jeanina Ward - April 1, 2009