Public Elementary Schools on Santa Cruz

June 23
Many students pay to attend private schools. However. the public schools educate most of the students. Close to my hotel are two public schools, one an elementary school, the other a high school, Colegio Nacional de Galapagos. I wanted to see what students are doing in their English classes and what technology the schools have.

First, I visited the elementary school. One the way, I passed a group of students out for their run with their teacher. In Oregon, many elementary schools do not have gym anymore because the time is needed to prepare students for state tests. At the school, Escuela San Francisco, I meet the director, Sister Maria Chavez. She tells me that there are 490 students in the school and there is one computer available. We walk past concrete block buildings that box in a paved courtyard. Students wearing brown and white uniform chase each other, kick soccer balls, and eat snacks, sitting on stone steps.

As I enter the English classroom, all the students stand and greet the Directora in unison. I am introduced to them and to the English teacher, a man with glasses and a big smile. He invites me to stay and teach vocabulary with him so I end up teaching three classes with him, helping with pronunciation of vocabulary. The students sit at desks with headphones, but they are not used. Two science lessons are about the planets, and one geography lesson is about the adventures of Federico who travels the world. The students are attentive and eager to learn, although a bit shy to talk individually. It´s time to visit the older students at the Colegio so I say goodbye. The teacher is happy with the students´performance and I am invited back to teach.