Luci is a bright 14-year-old girl who lives in a village about an hour´s drive from Oaxaca, capital of one of the poorest states in Mexico. While Oaxaca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for pre-Hispanic ruins, colonial construction, museum, galleries, quaint craft villages and cuisine, it has a reputation for public education of questionable quality. Ongoing struggles between the state government and Section 22, the Oaxaca division of the federal government teachers’ union, have contributed to issues impacting schools and learning. But Luci’s unfolding story reveals a positive side to public education in Oaxaca.
Lucinda Martina Cruz Aragón: Background Deserving of a Break
Lucinda Martina Cruz Aragón resides in San Marcos Tlapazola, just beyond the district capital of Tlacolula de Matamoros. She lives with her older brother, her mother and her aunt. The family’s main source of income is derived from making terra cotta pottery and selling it in the Sunday marketplace in Tlacolula.
Luci has always helped her family with all aspects of their primitive pottery making workshop. She also assists her aunt Gloria who makes and sells tejate, the pre – Hispanic cacao and corn based beverage. And on top of all this she makes jewelry which she sells in the market. Yet she has always achieved top grades at school. In early July, 2011, she graduated junior high with a 9.4 grade point average.
Luci’s graduation from junior high school in Tlacolula was particularly significant because August 10, 2011, she enters preparatoria, high school; not in Tlacolula where most others from San Marcos Tlapazola attend. She begins a baccalaureate program in nearby Santa Ana del Valle, in a publicly funded high school system with a reputation for excellence.
Luci has been accepted into COBAO (El Colegio de Bachilleres de Oaxaca).
COBAO Orientation Illustrates a Oaxacan Public School System Which Takes Education Seriously
COBAO is not subject to teacher work stoppages which are occasioned in most Oaxaca public schools as a consequence of striking Section 22 members. This in and of itself suggests a better education is in store for Luci and her COBAO schoolmates. But the July 27th orientation at the school in Santa Ana del Valle, formally referred to as COBAO Plantel No. 46 Tlacolula, provided as positive a foreshadowing as possible of Luci's education to come in the ensuring years.
The mere fact that a child’s parent or guardian attending the two hour orientation is a prerequisite for the student beginning the school year is remarkable. Luci attended with her mother. How often does one encounter a Canadian or American public high school with orientation exercises, let alone requiring attendance?
Upon entering a classroom for the orientation, staff gave each family a certificate of attendance, an enrolment form, and a double sided sheet of paper detailing the school’s mission statement, objectives and dimensions of its curriculum; student rights; student obligations; and levels of sanction for breach.
A school administrator, Licenciado Pedro [the term “Licenciado” or simply “Lic.” signifies a university degree, used much the same as when we refer to someone as “Doctor” or “Dr.”], addressed attendees with a power point presentation as well as the assistance of a blackboard. But the session was interactive. Lic. Pedro asked individual students to read aloud key sections of the printed literature, specifically relating to rights and obligations. In this way the most important points were hammered home. He drew three intersecting circles on the board to illustrate how each is interrelated and how they together impact academic success. The circles represented contributions of the student, of his or her family, and of teachers. He explained why each is an integral part of the system and how combined they constitute a recipe for success.
Lic. Pedro outlined the academic curriculum in detail. He explained the importance of selecting extra – curricular activities, while at the same time cautioned against students spreading themselves too thin by not devoting sufficient time to academe.
This was serious business, no time for levity. No one cracked a smile, least of whom Lic. Pedro. Each listened attentively, and many took notes, in particular respecting the costs involved in attending COBAO and the due date for payment of each expense: inscription fees, school uniform, syllabus, textbooks.
There was an opportunity to ask questions throughout the session, and again at the very end. Lic. Pedro didn't want to leave any lingering doubts or questions unanswered. His singular role was to do his best, before the commencement of the freshman school year, to ensure that each student would be in the best position possible to thrive and achieve his or her potential; whether the goal would become graduating and then entering a trade or office environment, or continuing on to university.
Luci’s Future Beyond COBAO
Luci is uncertain about her future beyond COBAO. She has a gift in fine arts. But at 14 years of age, and with the support of family and direction from the Oaxaca public education system, at least COBAO, she’s would be wise to just take one semester at a time and keep her options open. In the meantime she’ll continue to help her mother and aunt eke out the family’s modest existence, always cognizant that they have been and will continue to be responsible for providing her with the gift of opportunity.
Alvin Starkman - Alvin Starkman runs Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. He is a paid contributing writer for Mexico Today (http://www.mexicotoday.org).
