Getting to Know Your International Contacts--Part 2

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Getting to Know Your International Contacts--Part 2

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is providing international leadership to countries seeking to create or improve early care and education. (UNESCO, n.d.). “Implementation should be carefully planned based upon each country’s culture….early childhood care and education should be holistic, relevant, involving the whole body” (Teachers College, Columbia University, 2009, p. 16). The countries highlighted are striving to engage parents in safe, nurturing and stimulating care and education of young children with attention to indigenous culture, health and nutrition. After reviewing the worldwide examples on early care and education, I reflected on the struggles outlined by my international contact in Guatemala.

Madariaga (personal communication, October 1, 2012) shared that the indigenous Mayan people living in villages exist in a system of oppression and discrimination. People don’t respect the ethnic or cultural diversity and the racism promotes social inequalities. Madariaga (personal communication, October 1, 2012) went on to say that the inequity creates problems for Mayan children who suffer from psychological fears borne of the lack of communication in the national language of Spanish; the fear causes school absenteeism. Poverty is severe and as a result the parents of Mayan children obligate them to work at an early age to help support the family; hence, restricting their involvement in education.

How does a beautiful country rich in cultural history come to such a desperate state? To get additional background I searched for an organization involved in humanitarian work in Guatemala. The Peace Corp has been working in Guatemala since 1963, with periods of inactivity during violent unrest (Peace Corps, n.d.). I was able to capture a glimpse of daily life from blog entries of Peace Corp Volunteers that have worked in the country over the past three years. Although, the Ministry of Education of Guatemala has set goals to encourage early education and learning in indigenous language and culture, progress is slow; I was touched by the following observations:

“On that day, the symbols of poverty that I’d learned as a child suddenly connected to everything I’ve learned here as an adult. It’s not the poor state of Frankie’s shoes; it’s what they stand for. I saw intellectual poverty, a lack of life opportunity, restrictive gender roles, poor access to health services, and the plague of alcoholism stretching out before those exposed, dusty toes. It just broke my heart that Frankie is such a good kid who deserves so much more, and all I could promise him was a carrot.” (Fanjoy, 2010a)

“The Q’anjob’al (Maya) are fighting this constant struggle to maintain their culture. But it’s not a fight against conquistadores, or oppressive government troops, or even zealous missionaries. It’s become a fight against television, fancy imports, and their very own children. Being Maya isn’t “cool”, the clothes aren’t trendy, the beliefs seem quaint compared to the technology they encounter in school.” (Fanjoy, 2010b)

“We encountered a tremendously happy and bright 3 year old girl who insisted that we take pictures of everything so she could scream in excitement as I showed them to her (many children, due to malnutrition, basically look like zombies with minimal facial recognition or interaction with the world, same as the adults. It is an extreme pleasure to witness a child that has interest in her world).” (Reed, 2012)

References

Fanjoy, E. R. (2010, July, 23). The grand finale. Newspaper Articles. Retrieved from http://www.jfanjoy.com/blog/?p=4165

Fanjoy, J. (2010, February 27). The Mayan blessing. Jim’s Guatemala. Retrieved from http://www.http://www.jfanjoy.com/blog/?p=3114

Peace Corps (n.d.). Guatemala. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com//photos/peacecorps/sets/72157626350403862/show/

Reed, J. E. (2012, February 3). The most difficult decision. Peace Corps Guatemala. Retrieved from http://jaronelizabethreed.blogspot.com/2012/02/most-difficult-decision.html

Teachers College, Columbia University. (2009). Early childhood care and education: Worldwide challenges and progress. Current Issues in Comparative Education, 11, 1-44. Retrieved from http://www.tc.columbia.educ/cice/Issues/11.00/PDFs/11_Complete_Issue.pdf

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (n.d.) Education: How we work. Retrieved from the UNESCO website http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/about-us/how-we-work/mission/

2 comments:

N RuttOctober 7, 2012 at 8:04 PM
I actually had tears in my eyes over the quote you posted on Frankie. We take so much for granted and we believe there are some terrible things we see here. But to only be able to promise a child a carrot...I can't imagine.
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UnknownOctober 7, 2012 at 8:17 PM
I love your colorful pictures, of Guatemala. The pictures take you to the culture of the area. It's wonderful to see our international contacts doing so much for children, and families, thanks for sharing Wendy
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Personal Childhood Web

Joanie Peterson, my mother, was very engaged in my life from birth. I was the oldest and the only child until I was five. I was loved,my mother spent time with me by including me in whatever activities needed to be done. I remember the old tile floor in the kitchen that had to be waxed regularly. When the wax dried, my mother would give me an old towel to stand on and she would put on music and we would dance the twist until the tiles were buffed. My mother was finishing her bachelor degree in psychology and English during my first three years. I had the opportunity to meet lots of people in a community of shared values. I had time to play uninterrupted and my play was very creative and complex, with hours outside. I was read to and the value of learning was instilled in me early, but not in a competitive way, to be recognized as the best, but in a very personal way. Was I giving the task or the skill my best effort? Her approach to parenting developed intrinsic motivation in me. I am a great team player, motivated and satisfied to make sure the team does well. The measure of achievement is the level to which I tried my best. I can take a risk to take on a new challenge, because I know my mother will always love me. I value personal responsibility.

Rev. Merton Peterson, my father, was finishing seminary and pastoring his first church when I was born. I remember sitting on his lap, watching him type, helping fold bulletins, turning the handle on the old mimeograph machine, and going on home visits with him, when he needed to visit families from the church. We did not have material wealth, but I never felt poor We had enough that we could share. My did believed in me, when there was something I needed to do or learn he always spoke as though I had already mastered the task. I believe he spoke with confidence, because he has prayed for me every day of my life. Being a pastor's child means you learn manners, expectations and hospitality very early. We had lots of company. I loved giving up my bedroom and sleeping in a sleeping bag so the missionaries could have my room when they visited. I would listen to stories of their experiences in different countries and how they would help build homes and schools and grow crops wile they shared that Jesus loved them. I share my family's faith in God and the value that people are more important than things.

My extended family did not live close to me as I was growing up. But my grandmothers and aunt were prolific letter writers. We visited family every holiday, making holidays feel very special. I would listen to the adults share stories about family and friends. I knew that family were there for each other. My great-great grandparents were homesteaders. There was a strong sense of work ethic practiced. There were ranchers and there were farmers. It takes commitment and self determination to make it work. The entire family has to help to get the cattle in or harvest the crops. I remember the first time I was allowed to go on a cattle drive. I was probably seven. The strong connection to aunts, uncles and cousins as we spent the day on horseback gathering the cattle that were scattered among the trees and meadows in the foothills was exhilarating—I belonged, I was given worthwhile work. The farming family was an even stronger influence on my work ethic. When we visited the farm there was always tasks I could participate in: picking fruits and vegetables to can or freeze for my families use and when I got older picking melons or driving a tractor. It was part of being a member of my family. My family values hard work and integrity.

The church community provided a foundation of belonging and strength in conviction. Looking back I can appreciate that those families made sacrifices to make I had what I needed. The children were my friends, we could discuss the roles we were in and decisions we faced from a shared set of values. I never felt alone. As a community we looked out for each other. The community demonstrated living the values they held.

School Environment, Most people cannot imagine going to a school that houses children from kindergarten through senior high in the same building. Still the school community had enough diversity of values that it was a great place to have my values challenged and for me to exercise the decisions to stand true to my values. With only thirteen in my graduate class, but still the roles and functions of any school, there was so much opportunity to try out many different tasks. There were sports, student council officers, music, drama and clubs. I tried it all, because in a school that small everyone needs to get involved to have enough participants. My work ethic and integrity rewarded me with responsibility and opportunities. The most unusual was a flight class to learn to be a pilot, which included flight hours in a small plane. In the state I was raised, schools were the hub of activity for rural communities. Everyone came to all the events. People valued being together.

Wendy Newby - Have I asked the right question?

Saturday, October 6, 2012