DOCUMENT RESUME SO 029 045 ED 422 221 AUTHOR Trapani, Lisa Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities in Education in the TITLE 21st Century. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1997 (Mexico). Center for International Education (ED), Washington, DC. SPONS AGENCY PUB DATE 1997-00-00 21p.; Accompanying slides are not available from EDRS. NOTE Guides Non-Classroom (055) PUB TYPE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Comparative Education; Cultural Awareness; Foreign DESCRIPTORS Countries; Global Education; *Latin American History; Latin Americans; *Mexicans; Multicultural Education; Secondary Education; Social Studies *Latin American Studies; *Mexico IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This paper introduces students to lesser known and traveled parts of Mexico. The text is intended to accompany a Power Point presentation that traces the trip a Fulbright-Hays group took through Mexico, highlighting places of cultural and historical interest. The paper includes a list of slide notes and realia for each slide to be shared with the class. (EH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Paper for Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar 1997 Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities CN1 C1 (.4 (.4 in Education in the 21st Century Lisa Trapani 19 Garden Drive Salem, NJ 08079 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND Office of Educational Research and Improvement DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) VI:his document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization rk,oscalie originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to G e_r_taisaaervi c-0 improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent 1 official OERI position or policy. My project Un viaje por Mexico is designed to introduce the lesser known and traveled parts of Mexico to the students. Through a Power Point presentation I will trace the trip that our Fulbright group took through Mexico highlighting various places of interest culturally and historically. I hope to enlighten my students about other regions and cities in Mexico besides the typical tourist areas. Through this presentation they will perspective than that come to know and understand Mexico better and to have a different which the media often presents in our country. I have included the slide that would appear on the screen and then the information the I would give as notes with the slide. I have also included the realia that I would share with the class according to each slide. I describe the video scenes that would accompany the presentation at various times. Ciudad Juarez/ El Paso Universidad de El Paso We started our trip at the University of El Paso in Texas. The University is a branch of the very large university system in Texas. It lies on the border of Texas and Mexico and its sister city in Mexico is Ciudad Juarez. The University has a special interest in border studies and even has its own center completely devoted to the study of border issues and problems. The university has a large population of Mexican students that travel from Ciudad Juarez every day to attend classes. 3 From El Paso one can walk across the border to Mexico - or drive- after going through passport/immigration controls at the bridge. It is relatively easy for U.S. citizens to go into Mexico, however the reverse is not true. Las colonias Las colonias is the word that is used in Texas and on the border to describe a public housing project. In very unpleasant terms many would call the colonias the slums or the ghetto. The mexicans and the mexican americans there live in sub human standards often without clean running water. One might say that they are in Mexico and that it is their problem. However several mexicans cross the border and work at businesses and factories in the U.S. for below minimum wage and then return to live in the colonia every day. Our business community is taking advantage of the cheap labor without being responsible or concerned about the health and welfare of its employees. La Frontera The border between the U.S. and Mexico is the Rio Grande which runs along the border of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The border area is unique in many ways. Several view the border as neither Mexico nor the U.S.. It is an area where Mexicans are not seen as "real Mexicans " due to the paramount influence of the U.S. and where the mexican americans are not viewed as Americans due to the evidence of the existence of the Mexican culture there and their attachment to that culture. They are a group of people all alone. 4 `.1 I would show the video of the University of El Paso and the border control Video areas to show them what crossing the border really means. I would then also show them the contrast between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. Chihuahua Paquime Paquime is the only archeological site of its kind in northern Mexico. The site contains up to seven story high rammed-earth walls, T-shaped doors, an inter-city potable water system which came from a nearby spring through stone-lined canals, ceremonial mounds and ball courts. Paquime has a common background with the desert cultures of what is now the southwestern U.S.. The site is dated to approximately 1150 A.D.. The original site is believed to have covered over 400 acres. During the excavation many interesting artifacts were found like sea shells, skeletons of tropical birds and ceramic pottery. Lead acheologists believe that Paquime was an important trading center for the tribes then living in what is now the southwestern U.S. and Mexico's pacific coast. Creel Creel is a very small town in the state of Chihuahua. There is one main street with several stores selling various arts and crafts made by the Tarahumara indians. While visiting Creel we traveled to the outskirts of the town to visit "las cascadas" or some of the waterfalls. We also saw several Tarahumara dwellings and spoke with them about 5 how they live in Mexico. We visited one of the schools of that rural area and we also saw one of the first missions of that area. La barranca del cobre We traveled through the copper canyon, as it is known in English, by train. The Copper canyon rivals the Grand Canyon in beauty. It is a natural wonder. We stopped in Divisidero which is a small town in about the middle of the canyon. We departed the train to enjoy the breathtaking view of the the open canyon. La casa de Pancho Villa The house of the legendary villain/hero of the Mexican Revolution is now a museum of the Mexican Revolution. The museum contains several pictures of Pancho Villa and it also traces the stages of the revolution from the early movements until the end. They display several flags and original documents and also many army pieces and weapons. The museum has the 1922 Dodge in which Pancho Villa was shot in 1923, complete with bullet holes. A guard there was nice enough to give us a personal explanation of the event and even pointed out the bullet holes to us. I have extensive video of the ruins of Paquime, Creel , the Tarahumara Indians Video and the Copper Canyon. We were not allowed to fihn in the museum but I did film outside. I will show the video after giving the information about the various places. 6 It will especially be beneficial when explaining how the indians actually live. It is often difficult for students to imagine poverty. It will be very evident to them after seeing the video. Guadalajara Centro historico Guadalajara is Mexico's second largest city and is sometimes thought of as the most Mexican city in Mexico. Several typical Mexican traditons had their origin here including one of the most famous- el mariachi. This city is very lucky to have more than one lovely plaza. The Plaza de Armas is filled with benches and a French made iron bandstand where concerts are given on a regular basis. This plaza faces the Palacio del Gobierno which houses the famous Orozco murals. The cathedral is nearby and is unique due to the tile work on the towers. There are very few cathedrals in Latin America with this kind of work. Walking through the Plaza Libertad, another lovely square, one passes the Palacio de Justicia, the first convent in Guadalajara and then faces the Teatro Degollado a beautiful neoclassic opera house. Mercado Libertad This market is said to be one of the largest in Latin America, and it has been used as a market since the 1500's. The gigantic covered market is a great place to buy almost anything but especially leather, pottery, baskets and other typical Mexican handicrafts. The market is also full of any kind of fruit and vegetable that one could imagine. One could sit and watch all day long as the people come and go, buying and selling. 7 El Mariachi The mariachis in Guadalajara are so popular that they even have their own plaza, the Plaza de los Mariachis. Every evening the mariachis dressed in their colorful outfits stroll around the plaza playing and singing. They play for money or they will play for free. When we visited the plaza, we requested a few songs and then we also offered the marichis some money for their time and effort. They were very entertaining and enjoyable to listen to. Tlaquepaque Tlaquepaque is basically known as a shopping village. It is full of shops that produce some of the best pottery and crafts made in Mexico. There are vendors of jewelry on every corner. The town is also famous for El Parian, the circular buiding in the town center, where mariachis offer serenades to nearby cafe dwellers. I filmed extensively in Guadalajara in the city center. I also taped our tour guides Video giving us the information about the city. I have several scenes form the market, the mariachis and the village of Tlaquepaque. Guana'ato Centro historico Guanajuato is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful city in America. It owes its fame and fortune to the gold and silver that was discovered by the Spaniards many years ago. This allowed them to build the fine town houses, magnificent haciendas a and romantic plazas that populate Guanajuato. In the churches, one can see some of thc best examples of barroque and Churrigueresque architecture in the New World. Guanajuato is like Europe in many ways. The city is full of museums and lovely plazas like the ones all over Europe. One can enjoy the plaza, El jardin de la Union or La plaza de la Paz , throughout the entire year. They are surrounded by beautiful houses and colonial palaces. Universidad de Guanajuato The University of Guanajuato was founded in 1732 by the Society ofJesus, or the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order. By authorization of King Felipe V of Spain, it was officially recognized on the 20th of August in 1744. In 1867 it became a State College and in 1945 it became the University of Guanajuato. The University contains 23 different schools, 6 research institutes and 4 research centers. Approximately 18,000 students are enrolled. Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo is a small colonial town with a plaza in the center with the It also has several colonial buildings around the plaza. One cathedral facing the plaza . might ask why is it any different from any other small colonial town in Mexico. This town has a special place in Mexican history. It was from the steps of this cathedral that Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave his famous Grito de Dolores which started the 9 Mexican Revolution. He made that cry some time during the night of September 15-16, 1810 and rang the church bells to gather the villagers together. Each year at 11:00 p.m. on September 15 that cry is repeated. "Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe!" "Death to bad government!" Mexico's independence day is September 16. Fr. Hidalgo's house is in Dolores Hidalgo also. It contains many of his artifacts and many from the Revolution. Fr. Hidalgo was brutally killed by the government shortly after the revolution started. His house is now a museum which honors him and all that he accomplished for the Mexican people. Atotonilco From Dolores Hidalgo Fr. Hidalgo marched toward Mexico with his 50,000 men. On the way they stopped at Atotonilco, a small village. From the church Fr. Hidalgo took a banner of the Lady of Guadalupe to early with them throughout their journey. The banner since then has been one of the most important symbols of the revolution and of Mexico. Video I will show the video of the town of Dolores Hidalgo, the plaza , the steps and the house of Fr. Hidalgo. I will also show the church in Atotonilco. San Miguel de Allende Centro historico San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town. It was founded in 1542 and has been declared a national monument. The plaza is one of the prettiest in Mexico. Since most of the buildings date from the colonial era, the town retains a special type of charm. Many