ALPHA DELTA KAPPA DECEMBER 2010 - Gedung Kuning

for the next 15 years, they would
attend the same school and be in
the same building. The preschool,
elementary, middle and
high schools were simply different
sections within the building.
This is typical of a private
Mexican school.
The education system in
Mexico is complex. For example,
in the private school
where I taught, students spoke
at least two languages because
most private schools are bilingual.
Students who wanted to
get a bachelor’s degree outside
Mexico ranked in the top 10 percent
with their SAT scores. A
large number of students graduated
and went on to Ivy League
universities such as Brown,
Harvard and MIT. The rest
of the graduating class would
go on to Mexican universities
and then get master’s degrees.
Seldom did a student stop with
just a high school education, and
private education in Mexico is a
norm for those who can afford it.
There are many types of
private schools geared toward
specific needs and segments of
the population. Some are run by
different religious organizations
and others are laic (secular)
with an emphasis on science and
languages. Some are run under
the auspices of foreign countries
to insure that their co-nationals
follow the same programs and
system as they would in their native
country. Most students who
go to these schools will attend a
university in the country whose
programs the school follows.
For example, students who go to
a British school in Mexico will
try to attend a university in England.
All private schools must
also comply with the programs
set by the Mexican Education
Secretariat (SEP), and teachers
at a private school must be
authorized by the SEP.
Preschool and elementary
school teachers must have a
degree in education and be
Ever since that first day at Beverly Hills High
School, I have experienced, suffered and enjoyed
the differences of education in both countries.
credited by the SEP. Foreign unified free textbooks and are
language teachers in preschool able to translate the lessons to
and elementary school must be the local Indian languages are
authorized to work as teachers hard to find.
by the SEP, but do not need a de- Free textbooks are given
gree in second language educa- to every student nationwide,
tion. Most private schools offer a including to those in private
foreign language beginning with schools, through 6th grade.
preschool. Many middle and These books are the basis of the
high school teachers are profes- elementary school programs
sionals who give one or two and were the collaboration of
classes a day. For example, biol- many education experts. In
ogy teachers are often doctors, some areas of the country, these
but they do not have teaching books are probably the only
degrees.
books that a child may read
The school programs are and are meant to be part of the
content-based. Some subjects family’s private library. They are
are given every day while others excellent textbooks, but many
may be given twice a week. Once of the public school teachers are
a student goes into a Mexican not qualified to use them.
university, the programs focus Mexico encounters another
entirely on the chosen degree. If tremendous challenge with the
someone decides to change his/ very powerful teachers’ union,
her field of study after one year headed by a woman who is so
in college, he/she loses those politically strong that she has
credits and must start again. By the means to disrupt the com-
the time you get a bachelor’s plete Mexican public education
degree, you have completed the system. A teacher must belong
equivalent of a master’s program to this union in order to work
in the United States.
in the public school system.
One would think that if The union decides who may or
private schools must follow the may not get a teaching position.
SEP’s programs and can have Once a person has this authori-
such wonderful results, then the zation, it is practically impossible
public schools must be equally to fire him or her. The position
good, but that is not the case. As is his or hers for life.
a country, Mexico ranks quite Ever since that first day
low in reading comprehension, at Beverly Hills High School,
writing and mathematics. This I have experienced, suffered
is due to many problems within and enjoyed the differences of
the SEP. Education is central- education in both countries. I’ve
ized and is part of the federal become completely bi-cultural
government. The programs and have gained a tremendous
are designed in Mexico City at wealth of pedagogic choices,
the SEP’s headquarters. Rural which has richly enhanced my
areas have completely different teaching. I learned that there
educational needs. In many of are positive and negative aspects
these areas native Indian lan- to both educational systems.
guages are spoken and educa- Recognizing these differences
tion in these languages is just and taking advantage of the
beginning. Trained teachers more effective options helps
who know how to use the SEP’s both teachers and students.t
Excellence in Action for World Understanding
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