27420: Vedrine (note): New Ways to teach CIVICS in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: E Vedrine <evedrine@hotmail.com>


New Ways to teach CIVICS in Haiti


CIVICS is probably a subject that has never been taught in Haitian schools. In 
Civics courses, students are to learn “to love their homeland” whereas in 
Haiti, most students are rather taught to hate their homeland.

Some of my suggestions in this subject:
I see that it would be better for the government (whoever is in power) to have 
activities for students in public schools on FRIDAYS rather to have them going 
to class to do jakorepèt and can’t help themselves and their country later on. 
Just take that day off and do different activities with students. For instance:

a)     Organizing fieldtrips across the country with them and have them write a 
report of what they observed /did during each fieldtrip. I would also include 
here fieldtrips to the neighboring country, the Dominican Republic where at 
least students would develop “critical thinking” comparing /contrasting the two 
countries when seeing things with their naked eyes.

b)    Engage them in activities dealing with the country’s reconstruction (if 
ever that dream become a reality - reforestation [planting trees], attending 
seminars (all types – so that they don’t just read BOOKS and know nothing in 
real life in order to help their country later), teaching them about 
AGRICULTURE (everything related to that subject), have them participate in 
road/ hospital /schools/ clinics/ dams/ bridges … construction.

c)     Teach them some Skills that they will later use in life (how work the 
land to produce better / best ways to plant / techniques to irrigate the land / 
how to type / how to use a computer, a typewriter/ how to swim / how to ride a 
bicycle, a motorcycle/  how to drive a car, a tractor…, how to survey the land…

d)    Teach them how to become responsible citizen, how to produce /create 
something that can help others and their society.

c) Practice some sports (that are already popular in Haiti). Sports connect 
everyone and it and can a way out for many young Haitians for a better life, 
help building a bicycle track that connect the whole country. At least everyone 
will be able to travel by bike if they can’t afford buying a car; cycling is 
also among the sports I practice (besides swimming, cannoning, horse riding, 
jugging)
Your ideas will be appreciated in this discussion.

patriotically,
e. w. vedrine