Comments on: An Early End to Classes in Honduras http://latamthought.org/2009/10/18/an-early-end-to-classes-in-honduras/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:49:18 -0700 hourly 1 By: Eliot Brockner http://latamthought.org/2009/10/18/an-early-end-to-classes-in-honduras/comment-page-1/#comment-9820 Eliot Brockner Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:12:53 +0000 http://latamthought.org/?p=132#comment-9820 Lars: Thanks for your comments. They confirmed a sneaking suspicion I had while researching and writing the post. What initially made me wary of whether the teachers union was really concerned about teaching and education was the flip-flop in their stance on teaching (first a refusal to go to class followed by a refusal to leave). Correa's approach is an interesting, and seems to me, based on the bit I've been following the story, a practical one. The UNE and CONAIE are in some ways traditionally allies with his government. Playing on this and making efforts to include them in decision-making (at least ostensibly with the comissions involving the government, unions, and Minister of Education) and the unwavering commitment to dialogue to resolve differences is one that politically and diplomatically seems to make a lot of sense. I want to know if there is a back story to this though - maybe where the opposition factors in. Eliot Lars:

Thanks for your comments.

They confirmed a sneaking suspicion I had while researching and writing the post. What initially made me wary of whether the teachers union was really concerned about teaching and education was the flip-flop in their stance on teaching (first a refusal to go to class followed by a refusal to leave).

Correa’s approach is an interesting, and seems to me, based on the bit I’ve been following the story, a practical one. The UNE and CONAIE are in some ways traditionally allies with his government. Playing on this and making efforts to include them in decision-making (at least ostensibly with the comissions involving the government, unions, and Minister of Education) and the unwavering commitment to dialogue to resolve differences is one that politically and diplomatically seems to make a lot of sense. I want to know if there is a back story to this though – maybe where the opposition factors in.

Eliot

]]> By: Tambopaxi http://latamthought.org/2009/10/18/an-early-end-to-classes-in-honduras/comment-page-1/#comment-9813 Tambopaxi Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:57:28 +0000 http://latamthought.org/?p=132#comment-9813 Elliot, I just came across your posting about education in Honduras, a country where I lived for over seven years (in 70's and again in the 80's and 90's. The teachers' union in Honduras has been a stone in the shoe of decent public education for decades (to use a Latin metaphor). Teachers' unions throughout LA are pretty much like the Honduran one; highly politicized and patronage driven. It's who know, who you ****, and how much you pay to get the job, and how much you pay union leaders (and sometimes, political parties; see my comments on the Ecuadorian teachers' union and Correa, over at La Gringa's Blogcito from ayer, at the posting, "Shannon clarifies the Accord...") to keep the job over the years. My own experience in LA, in various countries has been that the unions are interested in their members' paychecks and not/not the quality of education for the kids.... This is unfortunate, to say the least. I don't have any more time to comment right now, but I recommend that you check out what Rafael Correa and his Minister of Education have been doing here in Ecuador to tame the teachers' union... Saludos, Lars Klassen, Quito, Ecuador Elliot,

I just came across your posting about education in Honduras, a country where I lived for over seven years (in 70’s and again in the 80’s and 90’s. The teachers’ union in Honduras has been a stone in the shoe of decent public education for decades (to use a Latin metaphor).

Teachers’ unions throughout LA are pretty much like the Honduran one; highly politicized and patronage driven. It’s who know, who you ****, and how much you pay to get the job, and how much you pay union leaders (and sometimes, political parties; see my comments on the Ecuadorian teachers’ union and Correa, over at La Gringa’s Blogcito from ayer, at the posting, “Shannon clarifies the Accord…”) to keep the job over the years.

My own experience in LA, in various countries has been that the unions are interested in their members’ paychecks and not/not the quality of education for the kids…. This is unfortunate, to say the least. I don’t have any more time to comment right now, but I recommend that you check out what Rafael Correa and his Minister of Education have been doing here in Ecuador to tame the teachers’ union… Saludos, Lars Klassen, Quito, Ecuador

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