Julio 24, 2006
Jaime Escalante Speaks
Name a famous Bolivian, who is not a sports figure or past/present President. If luck is on your side, you may scramble to come up with Jaime Escalante. He was made famous in the U.S. as a result of the movie Stand and Deliver starring Edward James Olmos. The teacher spent much of his professional career in the U.S., but he also has spent time in Bolivia, as I would frequently spot him at one of the salteñarias along El Prado in Cochabamba.
The debate over educational reform has been considered a failure, not only because of the failed conference, in which Education Minister Felix Patzi has sent mixed messages about religious education, but also because of a perceived lack of focus. Valuing native languages and requiring students and teachers to learn quechua, aymara or guarani is much different. Escalante was recently asked about the current educational debate, and he believes that this emphasis on native language could take away much needed time to teach the students to compete on a global level.
OH! What should the new reform accomplish?
The reform should improve, not reverse it 500 years. Studying languages or talking too much about indigenous groups will not get us anywhere. We must be up-to-date with current global technology. We must instruct the students how to study in order to advance to the next grade level. Currently, they are not ready and it is evident when they take university entrance exams. When they don’t pass, they end up crucifying themselves or enter a hunger strike. There is no quality education.
It is obvious that professors do not know how to evaluate the students’ capabilities. There are no bad students, but they are traumatized into thinking that they cannot pass. That’s why they run to the psychologists.
The adminstration must also be concerned with keeping the professors up to date. I’m worried that they continue to teach Baldor, which came out 50 years ago. If they don’t change all that, the new reform will also be a failure.
Posted by eduardo at Julio 24, 2006 07:43 PM
Comments
Everyone keeps talking about Jaime's program, but what did the students who passed all of those AP exams go on to do. What was their success rate, what kind of jobs do they have, how can THEY inspire the students of today?
Posted by: KMK at Julio 26, 2006 10:42 PM
Does anyone know how I can get in touch with him? I've been told that he is living in Cochabamba. We have two New York Times Bestsellers and would like to honor him in our next book and talk to him. Hopefully we can bring his shinning example back to the forefront to make some waves in the education system. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
James Russell
jrussell@vitalsmarts.com
801.765.9600
USA
Posted by: James Russell at Agosto 2, 2006 01:41 PM