I began the day with “ceremonía” at 8:20 this morning, after 1st hour and during the beginning of 2nd. The students were all lined up in their groups, almost all wearing a uniform. Those who don’t wear a uniform say that it is because they cannot afford one; a teacher told me, however, that the government now issues the uniform in addition to other basic supplies for no charge. Some of the students wear uniform warm-up suits with an emblem on the chest. The rest wear a traditional uniform – plaid on the bottom, solid on top. The girls’ skirts and the boys’ pants have the same grey background checkered with thin green, brown and white stripes. The girls’ skirts sit just above their knees and their white socks are pulled tightly to just below their knees. The girls wear black shoes with a strap that reaches across the foot, the opening revealing their white socks. The boys wear black dress shoes. Both boys and girls wear white collared dress shirts and a green sweater – either a sleeveless V-neck, long sleeve V-neck or button down with a white striped band around the left upper arm. The uniforms differ for each school, and all schools require students to wear one.
For physical education class, many students change into different clothes like shorts and gym shoes. As I sit in the teachers’ room, I am watching a P.E. class run around in a small oval, around the “courtyard” – the opening between the two buildings that face each other. I am on the edge of my seat, studying a boy running with a sucker in his mouth. In the U.S. we are so driven by rules, guidelines and the fear of lawsuits that we have to be aware of and take care of anything that may harm a child, physically or emotionally. It seems a bit more laid back here.
