Promoting Education
The school opened April 17, 2008, with two kindergarten and one first grade class. La Escuela los Algarrobos teaches basics from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education-required curriculum. Approved as an "experimental" school, the method of teaching this curriculum is left to the school. We are working to use more modern and proven methods of early childhood education. English is taught as a second language by volunteer teachers. We are the only elementary school in the area with computers for the students. We also teach basic health practices and environmental education as part of our core curriculum.
The parents are very active in the school. Monthly meetings of the Comité des Padres (the equivalent of the PTA) are well attended. At the first meeting, Jovanny Moncayo was elected president. In his address to the parents, he said, "...the school is not here to raise our children, but to give them the opportunities we did not have. It is our responsibility to raise our children and to set an example for them." The parents organize projects at the school and assess fines for parents who do not participate and for teachers who arrive late for meetings.
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