Estela RomeroJanuary 19, 2022

"The Symbolic Migration Reaching the Farthest Schools"

Estela RomeroJanuary 19, 2022

THE VISIT

“MELCHOR OCAMPO” ELEMENTARY

“EL PUERTO” VILLAGE

“EL ROSARIO” SANCTUARY

COORDINATES: 19.5924541 -100.2918640

The Symbolic Migration suddenly got a phone call from principals of two of the most inaccessible schools at the surroundings of “El Rosario” Sanctuary, begging to receive their conservation lesson and their book donation. The Symbolic Migration considers these schools especially important since the families of the children attending these schools are guarding the most pristine Oyamel forest areas around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.

Many of our community schools have been built on land donated from local families. Their construction is financed by the state and federal authorities. Once this is accomplished, the state (Michoacán or State of México) assumes the payment and benefit of teachers until their retirement after 30 years of service.

Schools depend totally on their principal’s will and enthusiasm to demand support from local authorities for minor maintenance. This requires perseverance and good negotiation skills on the part of the principal.

Melchor Ocampo Elementary is one of the very few remaining schools that are “unigrade.” This means that students aged 6 to 12 years, in the 1st through 6th grades are taught all subjects in a single classroom by a single teacher. This teacher is also the principal of the school.

On arriving at “El Puerto” community, the loud voices of the children from the patio of their school running around in excitement could be heard. They were eager to help carry their Ambassador Butterflies into their classrooms and to attend our lesson of the season on the importance of trees.

“Yes, yes it is there! It is coming! A white-colored VW bug! There it is! Hurrah!, our paper butterflies from the north are arriving!”

“Wow, water filtering and retention, oxygen, protection, avoiding erosion, processing carbon dioxide…. “

“We can see clouds, flocks of monarchs coming down from the large, flat valley and passing by for weeks in a rush, climbing up directly to their hibernating spots in “El Rosario.”

…children shouted in excitement making the comments one after another.

“They say that our Oyamel forest nucleus is still very pristine, even compared to those neighboring communities. It is slightly colder here, but animals, mushrooms, plant varieties, everything is more abundant here.”

“Your books are fantastic! They are so well-designed for children to understand every topic, especially conservation. Many of us, teachers consider that conservation is one topic that is especially urgent and needs reinforcement in the lives of our children.”

…the principal and teacher to the enthusiastic group, expressed with special gratitude for the visit this season once again to “El Puerto” community and the elementary school bearing the same name.

At the end of the photo gallery, enjoy the beautiful and impressive landscapes at which mountains border this elementary school. There is also a photo of the school from afar, leaving the community and heading towards “El Rosario” sanctuary.