World Understanding in Action

Alpha Delta Kappa sisters from Mexico and Colorado got together on a recent Saturday

for a cross-cultural look into the educational system in Mexico. The Colorado sisters in Alpha

Iota Chapter zoomed with members of Mexico’s Epsilon Chapter. Madeline Bosma of CO Alpha

Iota arranged the world understanding meeting for her chapter.  Her husband Boyd was online to help with technical issues. The Bosmas are national educators and world travellers.

The speakers from Mexico were Elizabeth Elmer, MX Epsilon President, and member Rocio Salas. A special guest was International World Understanding Chair Rachel Shankles of Arkansas. The meeting was thoroughly engaging.

Using a Q&A format, each of the attendees had the chance to ask questions submitted through the Zoom chatbox.  This format proved to be an effective way to include everyone.

Elizabeth began by sharing her experiences in private education and knowledge of the public system.  She has been director of a private English Immersion Developmental Preschool for 27 years. This school has children from 1.7 to 6 years old. One of the biggest differences in the two educational systems is that in Mexico education begins at 45 days of age. Grades are divided into the obligatory levels of preschool 1,2, and 3 (ages 3-6), elementary 1st-6th, middle school 7th -9th and optional high school 10-12th. The school system in Mexico is run by the Secretary of Education, which does staff development once a month for all teachers. There is a shortage of certified teachers there just like in the U.S., and it is possible for education students to pass a test and get a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Elizabeth said most

private schools emphasize English or are bilingual. All schools must teach some English.  No one is held back and there is no corporal punishment even though the classes in the public schools are overcrowded with 48 to 60+ per class. 

Rocio works at The American School Foundation, a large private international school

where she is a technology integrationist. She explained that public schools struggle to have

computers and modern technology in the poorer neighbourhoods, but other places where poverty

is not a problem the schools have lots of technology. Teacher pay is extremely low compared to

the U.S. In Mexico, a teacher might make $200 per month in a public school. Asked about school

libraries, Rocio said the library would consist of one shelf of books. That immediately started a

discussion between the two chapters about collecting school supplies in Colorado to send to MX Epsilon sisters to distribute to schools in need.

Thus, began a partnership between two countries facilitated by Alpha Delta

Kappa sisters. Inspired, Mexico plans to invite U.S. sisters to their meetings and use them as English conversation coaches. This is World Understanding in Action. Congratulations to CO Alpha Iota and MX Epsilon for this outstanding program. New connections and ‘Hands Across Borders.’

Submitted by Rachel Shankles, 2019-2021 International World Understanding Chair