Our first day at CETLALIC was very exciting. I am sure most of us were quite eager to meet the staff and our professors. The first thing I noticed was the incredibly friendly environment we were welcomed into.
After being presented to the staff and having a wonderful introduction, we went off to our designated groups for our first day of classes. I am sure, like myself, everyone found the professors to be extremely helpful and very energetic. While everyone's experience was different based on which group they were in, our first day was off to a great start.
After classes were done, we talked about the culture of this area, Mexican culture, and great tips on how to be safe in Cuernavaca. Jorge was helpful in helping many of us who are strangers to the Mexican culture feel more comfortable. Topics discussed ranged from having long conversations during meals, how to dispose of certain hygienic products in the washroom, basic greetings and signs of respect, as well as tips on how to be safe in Mexico, such as how much money to carry around, going in groups, keeping in contact with host families, etc.
We returned later for our Charla on la sistema educativo en México, which was established in 1905. Here are some important facts to remember:
-School is mandatory from la Educación Inicial to la Secundaria.
-CENDI (Centro Nacional de Desarrollo Infantil) is from 3 months to 3 years old.
-Educacion Inicial- "kinder" or "preescolar). From 3-5 years old. Usually from 9am-12pm. Cost is about 360 pesos a year.
-Educacion Basica- Consists of Primaria and Secundaria.
-Primaria- From age 6-12. Each child's tuition is about 250 pesos a year, when its supposed to be free?
-DIF- school where children who are under certain circumstances, such as their parents cannot pay for their tuition or take care of the child, are sent to.
-School calender begins around August 20 and ends July 6. (2012)
-Mario gave example where one of his children attends a 3rd grade primaria school with 45 students in a classroom with one teacher.
-There are 2 "school shifts" or turnos. (1) Turno Matutino: 8am-1pm and (2) Turno Vespertino: 1:30-6pm
-Grading scale or calificaciones occur every 2 months. The scale is from 5-10, 10 being the highest a student can attain.
-Secundaria- age 12-15. Same school shifts as primaria.
-Preparatoria- age 15-18. Focuses on Ciencias Sociales and Naturales.
-Bachiller- alternative to preparatoria. Students receive technical education in agriculture and industry.
-Entrance exam required for both Preparatoria and Bachiller. If a student does not pass this exam, they have to wait for the following year to retake the exam.
-Sindicato Trabajadores de la Educacion- comprised of about 1 million teachers.
-Currently around 33 million students attending school in Mexico.
We also had a great discussion on the similarities in privatization of the school system in both the United States and Mexico.
Overall, a great first day of classes! Looking forward to whats ahead!!!
Simon Rodriguez Jr.
Undergraduate, History/Social Sciences Education
Illinois State University, Class of 2013
"At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality..."
-Ernesto "Che" Guevara
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