School of the Environment

Government school

The local primary schools around here are few and far between - some kids don't even go to school. The  government schools  that do exist are ugly and basic - they  have four concrete walls and bars over the  doors and windows. That’s about the extent  of the school. Dario and Nicola, the owners of the  permaculture farm, have set up an alternative school. This is made out of  bamboo, like most buildings  around here. It doesn't have walls to keep the kids in, just a roof to keep the rain off. 

Environmental school

There are only four teachers for seven age groups, so several age groups are taught the same subject at  the same time, but at  different levels within one class. They all do physical exercise before classes start  every day, they cover the same syllabus as  the government school, but they also have a heavy focus on the environment. They are taught permaculture methods of  farming, how to recognise trees and plants, what is good for eating and where their food comes from. They have fruit trees  and veg gardens in the school, and they get to visit the farm once a week and other farms or schools once a month. Most of  this  is paid for by the contribution of volunteers on the farm.

This has been going for about 15 years now, and the kids who graduate from this school compare  favourably with those at  the government school, they are also generally fitter and have knowledge of and respect for Mother Earth - Pachamama or  Madre Tierra as it is known around here. Some former kids now work at the farm whilst others go  to college in a town 20km from here.

It's so good to see that two people have spotted a problem with their society and have gone about making it better (and  doing it very successfully in my opinion). I think about the Conservative's notion of  Big Society in Britain and wonder if  something like this will ever happen back home. I truly hope so.