Southern Exposure for Teachers: Experiencing the Mexican Economy and Culture

1. Southern Exposure for Teachers:Experiencing the Mexican Economy and Culture

2. The Need • Hispanic movement into Northwest Arkansas • Misunderstanding of NAFTA

3. Addressing the Need • Two Week Workshop • Universidad de las Americas – Cholula, Puebla, Mexico

4. Funding • $1000 to 12 teachers • Participants paid - $200 deposit - Airfare $10,000 Grant

5. Recruitment and Selection • Mail and Email • Selection Criteria: 1) impact on community 2) variety of subjects and grade levels 3) rationale for participating • Selected - 12 teachers - 5 districts - taught: Social Studies, Biz Ed, ESL, English, Gifted Ed, Administration

6. The Program • Briefing for the Study Tour • Understanding the Economy of Mexico • Appreciating the Culture of Mexico

7. Evaluation • Formal Evaluation • Impact on Teaching

8. Some Evaluation Comments • I have a much broader understanding in vastly greater depth than ever before, about Mexico’s history and culture. • I have a better awareness and appreciation of the background of the families and children I serve. I have a lot of information and plans for activities that I can do with my staff on Mexican culture and Economics. • I have a more positive sense of Mexican children here in our schools. A better feeling of what they can contribute to other students. • I feel as though I have learned so much from this trip, not only from the tours, lectures, etc., but also from other people on this trip. I have a new found respect for the Mexican culture and its people, and I will be able to pass that on to my students in the future. • It has become so apparent that before you can teach work ethics and instill the American work ethic into Hispanic students or workers, you have to have an understanding of their culture.

9. Some Evaluation Comments (continued) • The study tour was an invaluable experience that opened my eyes and my heart to the cultural and economy of the Mexican people. • A soulful experience, a unique opportunity to discover Mexico’s seemingly timeless economic & cultural evolution. An opportunity to rediscover the threads that bind all cultures, family, work, religion, etc. • Combination of economics and culture. We saw how Mexico is spreading into the commercialization of cultural items. The diversification in their manufacturing, i.e. a family making rugs to a new ceramic factory with computer and web site, to robotic production at VW. • Our visit to a furniture factory impressed me with the effect of NAFTA on the traditional Mexican industry. The company executive, also an MBA graduate, explained that for the past seven years they have strived to keep the “artsy” Mexican craft look while meeting the quality demand of a global economy. They now alter sizes and fit through narrow European doorways, match colors and finish for their Arab customer, and fax invoices all over the world as requested. If this factory represents others, Mexico is a market driven economy.

10. Classroom Courtyard

11. Monte Alban

12. Mitla, a mezcal factory Marcia tries her hand at bargaining Allison “attempts” to spin yarn for rugs

13. Teotitlan del Valle (producing rugs)

14. Talavera Santa Fe

15. Talavera Sante Fe

16. Maquiladora

17. San Bartolo Cayotepec Black Pottery

18. Culture