2011 Bioregional Education Class: May Report – Margarita

Planet Drum Foundation
Bioregional Education Program
Report #1, May 2011 – English
(Click here for Spanish/Español)
Teacher: Margarita Avila Napa [aka Margarita Plager-Unger]

Margarita and her class assistant Abraham leading their Bioregionalismo students from the Genesis School. In the background, a large group of tricicleros (eco-taxi drivers) hold a weekly meeting. Photo by Clay Plager-Unger

Today is the first day of the Bioregionalism classes. We are beginning a new adventure this year. I am working with the students from the Genesis School. They are between 13 and 15 years old, so they are already adolescents. They are from two different grades at Genesis. And they are a great group! Why are they so great? They integrate into the class and they participate. They give their opinions and provide lots of suggestions.

Genesis students during class. Photo by Michelle Jensen

We begin class by introducing each student and then reading from and talking about the Bioregionalismo book that was written by Planet Drum. Then we did a “dynamic” to stretch out a bit. The students will go home thinking about everything we did in class. They are happy, curious and have a lot of enthusiasm for learning.

Margarita teaching her class with Planet Drum and Peace Corps volunteers sitting in. Photo by Clay Plager-Unger

On Friday, we waited for the group in the usual meeting place: the Mothers’ Park. Two students missed class today, one because he went to visit his father and the other because of religious classes. At the beginning of the walk, we were shocked by how much garbage we saw going up the hill to the Cross Outlook. We saw how people there throw all of their trash on the ground and even around where Planet Drum has planted trees.

Bioregionalism students walking through town on their way to La Cruz during a fieldtrip. 
Photos by Michelle Jensen
The three classes walk up to the Cruz during the first Friday of the program. Photo by Michelle Jensen

Estefano Davila commented that the people there should be more conscious of their actions. Naomi Arauz suggested coming back to do a clean-up some day in order to show them how they could live somewhere cleaner. In the meantime, we left a sign that says ‘Don’t throw trash’ in order to try and help.

Continuing the field trip, we made various stops along the way up the hill to the Cross. We saw the different places where Planet Drum has planted trees. Orlando participated by identifying all of the different kinds of trees that had been planted. From the top we could see how beautiful our bioregion is. We gave some talks to the children and they played games. It was a very nice class.

Orlando and his daughter, one of the students, pose in front of an Algarrobo tree. Photo by Michelle Jensen

Fundación Planet Drum
Bioregionalismo
Mayo 2011 –  Spanish/Español
Profesor: Margarita Avila Napa [aka Margarita Plager-Unger]

Hoy es el primer día de Bioregionalismo. Empezamos una nueva aventura este año. Estoy trabajando con los chicos del colegio Génesis. Sus edades son aproximadamente entre 13 a 15. Ellos ya son prácticamente adolescentes. Yo tengo dos cursos de Génesis a mi cargo lo de décimo año y bachillerato. Es un grupo excelente. ¿Y porqué es excelente? Porque ellos se integran en la clase, participan, opinan y dan muchas sugerencias.

Empezamos con la presentación de cada uno de nosotros y hablamos sobre el libro de Bioregionalismo entregado por la Fundación Planet Drum. Nosotros hicimos una dinámica. Todos lo que participamos en clase van a llevar a sus casas y se reflejarán. Los estudiantes tienen felicidad, curiosidad y muchas ganas de aprender.

El día viernes, esperamos al grupo en el lugar de siempre, “El Parque de las Madres”. Faltaban dos chicos, uno porque viajaba a ver su padre y el otro tenía una clase religiosa. Comenzamos el recorrido con mucha pena porque vimos que las personas alrededor de las escaleras de La Cruz botan toda su basura al piso, incluyendo alrededor de los árboles que ha sembrado Planet Drum.

Estefano Davila comentó que la gente debería tener más conciencia. Naomi Arauz opinó que podemos hacer una minga cualquier día de la semana para enseñar a los moradores ser un poco más limpios. Dejamos puesto un letrero que dice ‘No Bote Basura’ para concienciar a la gente por lo menos un poco.

A continuación del recorrido hicimos diferentes paradas para conocer los sitios sembrados por Planet Drum y pudimos ver lo hermoso que es nuestra bioregión desde arriba en la Cruz. Orlando compartió la clase mostrando todos los tipos de árboles que hemos sembrado hasta la actualidad. Dimos charlas y los estudiantes jugaron. Que linda que fue la clase.

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