the reality of life here hit me in the face again today and what i experienced is more about poverty than just honduras. there is a school here that a few young men that i know attend. it is a school that teaches a trade/skill alongside a high school education. it is funded to a large degree by the USAID. well today was the day they gave out the first grades of the school year (runs from feb.-nov.) and i was asked to go and get them. the procedure was that first, us parents (or whoever was there to pick up the grades), had to attend an assembly that included a short talent show, a raffle, and some announcements and instructions. this lasted about an hour. then we could go to the students homeroom and get their grades. in each room, they had drinks and snacks. a celebration of sorts. i was there representing two boys so i had to go to two classes. each of us parenal types had to sign a piece of paper next to the students name for whom we were there and our relationship to them. we also had a chance to listen to the teachers talk about the classes and how things were going, etc. it was like an open house.
none of this seems too strange, but here's the thing. about half the parents needed help reading their kids name on the list. if their student didn't show them, they were unable to find the correct place to sign. they couldn't read it. the reality of a place like this is that there are so many adults who have little or no education. i am sure this is true in some of the poorest communities in the states also, but this was the first time i saw it to this extent. one of the parents in in their 40's and is attending 5th grade classes. she is tying to get her degree. a few thoughts came to my mind......
.... no wonder school is so hard for so many kids. they have little or no help at home. not because parents won't help (which i saw in the states) but because they can't.
.... illiteracy probably plagues more than half the adult population here in honduras.
.... what can be done to help?
.... how difficult would it be go through life unable to read?
.... no wonder it is so difficult to get better work.
.... the lack of education makes it impossible to "progress".
none of this seems too strange, but here's the thing. about half the parents needed help reading their kids name on the list. if their student didn't show them, they were unable to find the correct place to sign. they couldn't read it. the reality of a place like this is that there are so many adults who have little or no education. i am sure this is true in some of the poorest communities in the states also, but this was the first time i saw it to this extent. one of the parents in in their 40's and is attending 5th grade classes. she is tying to get her degree. a few thoughts came to my mind......
.... no wonder school is so hard for so many kids. they have little or no help at home. not because parents won't help (which i saw in the states) but because they can't.
.... illiteracy probably plagues more than half the adult population here in honduras.
.... what can be done to help?
.... how difficult would it be go through life unable to read?
.... no wonder it is so difficult to get better work.
.... the lack of education makes it impossible to "progress".
posted by Mark at 12:44 AM
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