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This day has been sponsored by : Dirk Holler

Week 6 Day 4 - "Graduation"

Children here graduate from pre-school and elementary school (6th grade) like students in other countries (e.g. the US) graduate from college / university.

Doña Sandra was so kind to invite me to the graduation ceremony of this year's students. The ceremony took place in a little church not far from the school. I arrived in the rain and was embarassed to notice that I was entirely underdressed for the ceremony. Everybody seemed to be wearing their best outfit, and some had a special hairdo for the occasion. The graduating 6th graders wore a graduate uniform.

While families were taking seats in the church, there was a ceremonious entering where the speaker called each graduate's name. After the graduates, the teachers (including myself) entered and were also introduced by the speaker. Finally, the Costa Rican flag was carried in and people were singing the National Anthem. Also, the school's flag was carried in.

After speaches, a boy (who I assume may have been an ex-student of Puente Casa) was presenting various songs on the keyboard.

First, the four graduating pre-schoolers were given their certificate by their teacher. Then Doña Ruth handed the certificates to her 6th graders. It was very moving, as every student hugged their teacher and some even were in tears. Children have a very different relationship to their teachers here, I have noticed. Especially at this school were many children come from very poor backgrounds, Doña Sandra stresses the emphasis on them needing hugs & kisses as much as education. When one of the students gave a "thank you" speech to Doña Ruth, tears were rolling down my cheeks.

I was surprised to see one of the students graduating, as I remembered working with him on his difficulties in reading and writing. I talked to Irving about it and he explained to me that for a large percentage of these kids, this is the only schooling certificate they'll ever get. And that many of them are needed by their families now to help with the income. This kid in particular had been picking coffee. He said that if the boy did not graduate, it is likely that his parents would not allow him to go back for another year and then he'd be without any certificate.

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For today's sponsor

Dirk... heute das letzte Kapitel zu Puente Casa: die feierliche Abschußzeremonie der Vorschüler und Sechstklässler. Dazu war ich in eine kleine Kirche eingeladen und alle waren festlich gekleidet... außer mir. Ich hätte eine Vorwarning gebraucht.

Es gab einen feierlichen Einmarsch der Abschlußklassen und der Lehrer (inklusive meiner Wenigkeit). Nach einigen Reden, spielte ein Junge verschiede Weihnachts- und andere Lieder auf dem Keyboard. Schließlich hatten die Schüler jeweils für ihre Lehrerin ein Abschiedsgeschenk. Dann wurden die Urkunden übergeben.

Insgesamt dauerte die Zeremonie ca. eine Stunde und während dessen flossen einige Tränen.

Ich war überrascht, einen der Schüler zu sehen, mit dem ich zuvor an seiner Schreib- und Leseschwäche gearbeitet hatte. Als ich Irving darauf ansprach, erklärte er mir, daß dieser Abschluß für sehr viele dieser Kinder der einzige Schulabschluß sei und sie von ihren Eltern nun gebraucht werden, um das Einkommen der Familie zu verbessern. Das Risiko sei hoch, da die Familie es sich nicht leisten könne, den Jungen eine "Extra-Runde" drehen zu lassen und er sonst ohne Abschluß bleiben würde.