Independence primary highlights ethnic groups
All of the open days we’ve covered over the past weeks showcase the talent and skills of our high school students. Today, Jacqueline Woods and cameraman George Tillett flew to the southern community of Independence where they saw that primary school students are just as industrious as their older siblings.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
This year, Independence Primary School’s annual open day was different because the principal, staff and students decided to highlight four ethic groups: The Mestizo, The Maya, The Creole and the Garinagu.
Charles Longsworth, Principal, Independence Primary School
“Normally we come up with some topic in science we teach at school. They decided that this year we should make a little shift and do social studies. And I think it’s very nice; we are excited about the change.”
The Mestizos migrated to Belize from Southern Mexico during the War of the Castes and after the attack on Bacalar in 1849. Today, as explained by twelve-year-old Daisy Cerritos, you can find the Mestizo in almost every district.
Daisy Cerritos, 12 years old
“In the Corozal District you can find them in Corozal Town, Santa Clara and Copper Bank. In the Orange Walk District you can find them in Yo Creek, San Estevan and Carmelita. In Cayo you can find them in San Ignacio, Cristo Rey and Benque Viejo. On my right hand, you have San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker. These are only some of the places you can find them.”
Preparations for the activity started right after the Easter Holiday when parents as well got involved in the work.
Charles Longsworth
“Very much so. In fact without them I don’t know what we would have been able to do, because the parents help us with the information, they help us prepare the food, they help us with some of the materials. So it’s a good way to foster a better working relationship with the parents and the community at large.”
Some parents went out of their way to make sure that their children were dressed for the part. Twelve-year-old Yasmin Castaneda, who was dressed as a Mestizo woman, says it was her mother who helped with her costume. And her mom was on hand to encourage other parents to be active in their children’s education.
Isabel Castaneda
“Oh yes, very important. Because the children like that put more effort. We really have an role with them, that without us I don’t know what they would do, you know.”
There are three groups of Mayas in Belize: The Yucatec, Mopan and Ketchi. The Mayas came to the country in the nineteenth century. In 1986, the first Mayan Centre was established in the Stann Creek District to support the Maya culture and its people. At the centre you can find a variety of arts and craft made by Mayan women. Today, they displayed their work, including the popular slate carvings to the students of Independence.
Federica Saqui, Chair, Maya Centre Women Group
“It is the slate carvings, which really have generated so many income for us. We have the slate carvings, depicting the Mayans before, and especially the jaguars, since we are close to the Cockscomb Basin. So we have the jaguars, we have the Ixchel, which is our lady that we really look up to, and we have key-holders made from slate carvings as well. We have the deer dancer right over there and we make dishes out of it as well.”
Ninety percent of the sales go back to the women, while ten percent of the proceeds is put devoted to their children’s education.
The teachers say they did not mind the long hours of work getting the exhibition ready for the day because it is another form of learning that is both effective and lots of fun for the children.
Aldos Forman, Teacher, Independence Primary School
“I honestly believe that children learn much better when they actually have firsthand experience, where they can actually manipulate materials. And this goes way back into the culture, because it’s going to teach them for a long time to actually remember what they did today. It’s like a matter of getting from the chalk and talk situation, whereby teachers coming to the classroom and tell about the Mayas, the Garinagu. So today they get a chance to actually see it and like I said before, since they have a chance to touch, to see it will be much better because it’s gonna stick with them for a long time.”
One exhibition that was popular among the students was a display on the Creole Culture. Belizean Creoles are descendants of European and African ancestors. Lila Vernon of Punta Gorda, has used music to promote the importance of the Creole culture and language.
Lila Vernon, Singing
“I want who say Creole no got no language. I want know dah who di try get we discouraged. When the slave master mi got unu man slave inna bondage, this whole thing mi end up inna marriage. Thank you.”
Teacher and one co-ordinator of the activity, Clint Forman, says he has been impressed with the community support that made the open day a success.
Clint Forman, Teacher, Independence Primary School
“Its speechless. The work is actually excellent. And even more than the work, but the effort that the children put into their work was excellent. There is no word to describe their work other than excellent.”
Monique Rivers, 10 years old
“The Garifuna first came to Belize in 1802 and 1832. They settled mostly in the Stann Creek District in Hopkins, Seine Bight, Dangriga et cetera. They are farmers and hunters.”
The students were not graded on their presentations, but rather the activity was held to pass on important information about Belize’s diverse cultural histories. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
Independence Primary School was established in 1993 when the village’s Catholic and Anglican primary schools amalgamated. The school has an enrolment of approximately seven hundred students.
