Un Acto Cívico...

Author's Note: Just like Rich, the leader of ABL-International and this week in El Salvador, I apologize in advance for posting thoughts that might be factually questionable. I'll certainly never post like that intentionally and, if I do, will always return to the scene of the crime to set the record straight. I do want to absorb as much as I can - speak/ask less, listen/observe more - and put down my thoughts as they start to coalesce in my mind.

Today was our first full working day in El Salvador. We hit the ground running at 6am, meeting at the ConTextos office, which was for me a reunion with some beloved people. It's becoming apparent that there are more folks here that are going to wind up being beloved by me as well. There's a conviviality among their staff that almost belies the sense of purpose and love of education they all hold so tightly to their core.

We went to Apopo, to visit Ingeniero Guillermo Borja Nathan. Named after an engineer (ingeniero) who gave the land for the school, this complex has students from grades pre-K to 12, with 10th, 11th and 12th on the other side of a locked gate.

The classrooms are housed in different buildings, all surrounding a large, hanger-like area where the entire school gathers. Like today, for Acto Cívico - a civic act.

Apparently, this is done once a month by different grades. It was the 1st graders who led the event this morning. For Americans, try to imagine the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing the National Anthem at your favorite ballpark, and putting together a school assembly. Mix that in with homily on  civic duty and humility and you'd come close to what we experienced today. 

After the 1st grade color guard came out (unbelievably cute picture below), the national anthem was sung, and a national pledge spoken. Then, various members of the 1st grade took the microphone to talk about the different aspects of 'humildad' or humility. The sub-director (vice- or assistant principal, shown in this photo), also spoke about regarding the different ways humility can manifest itself. What jumped out most was his depiction of humility as being grounded. This was followed by a talk regarding civic responsibility, including how littering chips away at society.

If you think this is anywhere near boring, imagine hearing all of this while hundreds of students are standing and listening with respect. Then imagine a group of 1st graders that not only knew their speeches backwards and forwards, but also knew how to present themselves as speakers and thought-leaders. Then, if you can, imagine that this is all done to help nurture and grow children as responsible citizens. Yeah - I don't think it's even remotely boring either.

As an American, it's challenging for me to think of our own Pledge of Allegiance and the culture wars that come from it. As an educator, it's fascinating to hear values (including and especially Christian values) being openly advocated in a public school. As someone who loves children and the limitless potential they bring to their world, I'm enchanted at the thought of showing them what responsibility looks and sounds like.

We are told by the a good deal of the media that El Salvador is a "failed state", a entity that is eating itself from within. I came to this country with as open a mind as I could and I still had those thoughts in reserve. And there is a truth to the multitude of problems this country faces. However, there's nothing "failed" or broken here.

Children learning to be better people, through civic responsibility and reading and playing (with a little music thrown in hopefully) fills me with hope. I can't wait to see what they teach me next.