Writing Prompt 3

Now that you have experienced the cultural heritage of Belize, what have you learned that gives you insight into the children and families you are working with?


One thing I have learned while staying here in San Pedro is that students have a lot of freedom. Students are allowed to walk to and from school without adults and go wherever they want in town without adults. I was surprised to see students leave school for lunch each day and return at the appropriate time. Students are also allowed to walk around school and use the restroom without asking. This is a big cultural difference and something that I really had to get used to when I began teaching. Students in America are constantly monitored in class and have little freedom in what they are allowed to do on their own. Here in San Pedro the students are allowed to do everything without supervision. On the first day that I toured the school many of the classes did not have teachers in them when we visited. This is a cultural practice that is expected here. After becoming accustomed to this I realized that it is something that starts at an early age in the Belizean culture. When I participated in the Easter camp students who were as young as 6 came and left camp every day on their own. At first this custom made me very nervous because I did not like the idea of students wandering the streets alone but after a while I got used to the idea and began to see the benefits of it. If students are allowed to be independent they will learn that area in all aspects of life and ultimately it could lead to their maturity at an earlier age, which is something I have seen here among the students. I have also noticed that they have more respect from adults and are treated more like smaller adults rather than children. It is a neat dynamic to see and is something that I have grown to appreciate.