A Capital Education: Public Vibrancy and Private Excellence

Two worlds--one goal. Elefante Branco Public (yes, that would be white elephant) and Marista Private (as in Catholic Marist religious order) provide Brasilian two students with some of the best educational experiences in the capital city. Elefante Branco, a white square building (think Neimeyer) located in an area of churches and exclusive schools is facing a deteriorating infrastructure. The 2,000 students come from middle class families all over the city. Within minutes of our arrival we were talking with students in rusty Spanish and newly acquired English (Portuguese took a back seat) in the din of voices and singing. Students were creating their idea fair project boards in the common area. The director, elected by the faculty, students, and community, hastened to explain that today was not a typical day because of the altered schedule and the group work on projects. The excitement, the idea fair, and our arrival would keep us from observing the typical classroom. Darn;)

Later students shared various Spanish and English translations of the"Cup Song" from the American film "Pitch Perfect." We circled on the floor as they attempted to teach us AND their chemistry teacher the beat with red Solo cups. We joined them in another classroom where the English translation group competed with that of the Spanish class. The winner? Spanish class students all knew the lyrics and the beat, but a great male voice emerged from the English group. You vote!

Over lunch, teachers shared with us their job security, superior pay to most other teachers, and 100% pensions for twenty-five years work. They shared frustrations about student lack of motivation and also their interest in the political aspects of teaching. Cadres of teachers join together to campaign for director and assistant director of the school. Students are involved in the process and debates are conducted among the various factions. Directors are elected for a period of three years. They don't directly oversee or evaluate the teachers, but make budgetary and policy decisions for the school. Bye bye school board. A fifteen minute drive brought us to Marista Private.

I held my breath at the beauty of the gated lower level entrance to the white modern glassed-front building of the campus. The pristine area was as immaculate as the vows of French founder of the order, Jean Claude Colin. The common area was quiet and a few girls an boys lounged on the modern sofas listening to iPads. They glanced up casually as a bright, knowledgeable English speaking senior student led us into the second of two auditoriums. She and the gold-heeled, young woman in charge of public relations, joyfully explained the school's history, extracurricular activities, and successes to us. Their excitement about the upcoming World Youth Day during which Pope Francis will visit Brazil was contagious.

Marista not only has the finest facilities, but the latest in teaching practices, we observed an afternoon tutoring session with a young instructor and five students. Students gathered at a bank of computers in the airy library and the secretary proudly showed us the collection which included both Brazilian and international authors and works.

We sipped coffee and chatted with professors in the teacher's lounge. They seemed to agree that Marista is the best school in the city with conditions superior to those in other public and private schools. One man shared a horror story of an early teaching experience in a different private school where he had over 80 students in a class. To hold their attention day after day required the skills of a performer and a magician. One day he passed out from sheer exhaustion while teaching and broke his nose. After a day in the hospital he was back in the classroom. Directors at the Colegio Marista High School are selected by a board that oversees the operation of other Marista schools including the elementary across the street. The school must meet Federal mandates about curriculum just as public schools do. hmmmmm. With Brazilian Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa an alum of Elefante Branco and Marista's recognition at the iIvy League Model United Nations, Cherry Creek graduates watch out. Question for Teachers: Where would you rather teach? What makes for the best education for students?