In my last conversation
with Fany, she shared that one of her professional goals is to get a masters in
pedagogy, she plans to start it on August 2013, because right now her husband
is about to finish his, and they cannot afford to pay for transportation for the
two of them, the masters, and the baby sitter for her 2 year old daughter. The
SEP offers grants to those who want to study a master and the student has to
propose a project that focuses on one of the current issues in the field, Fany
wants to do it this way and is still thinking on the issue she would like to
focus. Another benefit she has is that the SEP allows teachers to be out of the
kindergarten classroom for maximum 2 years, so they can focus on the master.
During these 2 years the teachers get their regular paid, as if they were working
in the classroom, while a substitute teacher takes her position, and the
teacher can resume it when she finishes the master.
A dream she has is to be
transferred to a kindergarten in the city where she lives in, because she is
currently working in a community and it takes her about 2 hours to get there
from her house. She told me that many other teachers want to work in the city,
and not in other communities, because the transportation is expensive. She
would like to work in a specific kindergarten, which is considered the best in
the city, despite she is aware of how demanding the director is, but she says
that is because of the commitment that the director asks the teachers to have
towards the program, that it has the positive reputation, which it has hold it
since I was still doing my bachelors.
One of the issues they
are facing in her kindergarten is that there are not enough children to serve
this coming school year. Up to date, they have only 40 children enrolled and
they need to have more than 50 in order to open 2 classrooms, other ways the
program will open only one classroom, with one teacher. This fact means that either Fany of the other
teacher may lose their job. Just in case this happens, Fany would start the
masters this month.
Throughout these blog assignments and my
conversations with Fany, I had the opportunity to learn about the current
situation of the early childhood field in my native country, which sadly is not
as optimal as I wish, but I am sure that with committed professionals like Fany
and the opportunities the SEP is offering, some positive changes would come.
Hi Caty
ReplyDeleteFany sounds like a committed educator who will be able to actualize her hopes and dreams. Her two hour commute to work each day and her desire to continue her education, demonstrates her commitment to the children in her care. It is also good to hear that she has a vision of where she wants to go in the future and realizes that the high standards at the city kindergarten is the goal that she wants to obtain. Ideally, she could try to implement some of those standards in her own current practices. The ratio of forty children to one teacher was discouraging to hear about and it is unfortunate to hear that they would not maintain two classrooms with twenty children per class.
Carolyn
Yes Carolyn, Fany is an educator who wants to do her best in her practice. It is good to know that, despite the challenges, therea are still committed educators in the field.
DeleteCaty,
ReplyDeleteFany has had to overcome a lot of obstacles to be in the profession she obviously has a passion for. I remember in another of your blogs she spoke of the challenge of making that long commute. Hopefully, she will be able to get that kindergarten position near to her home and gets the SEP grant so she can receive pay while working on her Master's. Thank you for linking us with a first hand look at early childhood, internationally.
Suzanne,
DeleteLong commutes are usually the first reason why teachers don't like to work in comunities different than their own, not only because of the time, but also because the tickets are expensive.
Caty,
ReplyDeleteYou were fortunate to have such a great international contact, who communicated openly.and was willing to let us understand and shed some light into her professional world.
I like Suzannne and Carolyn, wish only the best for Fany. She has quite a few obstacles which make her job even more difficult, the long commute and the unknown of whether or not she will be employed. I too was fascinated with how if Fany works on her Masters she will still be be receiving her regular pay!
Caty, I enjoyed your post!!
Millie,
DeleteWhen Fany told me that teachers are able to still get their paid while working on their masters, y was amazed too, because this benefit did not exist five yeasrs ago, when I was teaching in Mexico. I feel happy for the new opportunities that teachers can have access to, because i think that positive changes, like this one, is what the field needs the most.
Caty,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about the siuation in your home country. However, it is good that you have the opportunity to talk with someone you can relate to. I see that you have learned alot about teaching in this environment. I too have learned from your posts. Good job and keep sharing.
Tammy,
DeleteI was lucky to get in touch with a professional who was willing to share her personal and professional experiences, and I feel happy to see that her experiences helped all of us too.
Thanks Tammy!