Brazil – Day 3

I’ve only got five more days to write about, so will have to get a move on!! I’m back in the UK now, so obviously much of what I write now will be reflective!! (Gene would be so proud). Day 3 gave me the most fantastic opportunities to experience a part of Brazilian culture (the High Life to be exact), and also the chance to look at planes being made. I got a chance to see how planes were made, and also looked at a school in a town called Campos do Jordão.

After another breakfast of cake, we made a fairly long trip to the headquarters of Embraer, a company that makes aeroplanes, and what aeroplanes … after a brief presentation during which we all decided we wanted an executive jet we had a moment of realisation that they were probably out of our price range (but look at what they look like)! After that moment of realisation, we learnt about how the company was sponsoring and running a school called the Colegio Eng Juavez Wanderley. This is a school with three guiding principles – academic excellence, cultural, social and environmental education and professional guidance. The school selects students from an entrance exam and then sponsors them through their school life. Their aim seems to me to be raising the aspirations of people from poorer communities. They provide transport, food and uniforms for the students, as well as books. Students are only allowed to apply if they have attended public schools for the previous 4 years.

As people will know, I’m a little sceptical of selection by any means, but my perspective has shifted slightly – in a country where an opportunity to attend a good school is so limited, should we stand in the way of offering one to the few?? I guess while I’d like every student to have the Juavez Wanderley experience, I should be pleased that those that have it embrace it and make what seems to be outstanding progress. Thanks to swine flu (it’s everywhere), we weren’t able to visit the school, and that was a shame.

However, this did mean that we could visit the aeroplane factory. We were like kids in a sweet shop!! The size and appearance of planes in their ‘mint’ form was just amazing! Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take any pictures, (so that we didn’t sell any secrets to MI5 I suppose), but it was tremendous fun. The trip to Embraer also yielded something else – something very exciting that I’m quite proud of, and of which you will hear more later in the diaries (Embraer, Brazil is the birthplace of FC Schwanke) …

Here are some views we got on the way up to Campos do Jordão … (which is apparently a city on a par with Aspen in terms of tourism). The city is very high up in the mountains, and Paulo (as we shall see) has a home even higher up!

After another mammoth lunch (Brazilians know how to eat), we met Paulo Bilyk, who is one of the founders of a company called Rio Bravo Investments. He also has involvement in several more altrustic projects, one of which is Ame Campos, community project which works on social and cultural advancement in the city. When I was looking at links, I notice that they have written a report on our visit to the school. I wish I could understand it – I have decided to learn Portugese! Anyway, we visited the school and had the opportunity to ask questions of Brazilian teachers. The school is called Escola Estadual Theodoro Corrêa Cintra but is known more simply (and preferably for those of that don’t speak Portugese) TCC. The school is supported by Ame Campos as well as an organisation called Parceiros da Educacao (Partners with Education). This partnership has enabled the school to start addressing some of their performance issues as well as consolidating and improving their infrastructure. We were shown some pictures of the improvements that they had made and I was particularly struck by a slide that highlighted the progress that was being made, and also a target board (read more later)! The scheme aims to involve 400 schools by 2015.

Here are some pictures of the school environment, including the computer room and library. This includes a picture of me demonstrating my school’s virtual learning environment to a gentleman called Rodrigo (who runs the computer room) and two students. Notice how Darren is also looking in to steal information for his school in Grimsby ;). We were all really struck by how bare the school was, there’s nothing on the walls. Can you imagine that in the UK? I was also made aware of just how much we take for granted. At my school, we have nearly 400 computers. At this school they have a room of about 20, that students can use when they wish. They don’t teach discrete ICT, and only around 150 students made access to the room (out of 2500). I think we probably don’t appreciate how much we’ve got and maybe it’s time for us to start focussing on the student experience rather than measuring and ticking everything! Don’t get me wrong, I know we need to measure and have targets, but I wonder whether or not or focus has shifted away from the heart of teaching to the cold matter of statistics and league tables. As people will know, I’m big on targets and I’d never lose them, I’d just like to see more heart around school’s motivation.

Having just moaned about targets, one thing I am convinced of is the need for Brazil to use targets in its public schools. As they form a more coherent education system, they MUST measure to raise those standards. This is a picture of Paulo translating the ‘target’ board at TCC – they measure things like ICT access etc. Also, lessons taught by teachers who are supposed to teach the class. Staff absenteeism is a big issue in Brazil. We moan when we have to cover a lesson – in Brazil loads of lessons don’t have teachers as they simply don’t turn up!

I should mention, that this day was my opportunity to be ‘co-leader.’ Leaders’ Quest have a thing where participants have to help lead a visit. I had to co-lead the visit to TCC and then to Paulo’s house. I quite liked being translated in Portugese for the teachers at the school!

Then, after we’d finished at the school, we went up to Paulo Bilyk’s house – and up is the word! The house was at the end of a twisty, turny mountain path. It was amazing. We really enjoyed the hospitality, the surroundings, the generosity. We were treated to a traditional Brazilian feast, together with local beer. Here’s something interesting … I don’t really like beer, but the beer in Brazil tasted much lighter, and I found myself getting more of a taste for it! Maybe there’s hope for me yet … The house was amazing too, aesthetically pleasing and really sensitively designed. After the dinner, we had a piano recital from two young men - Lucas Thomazinho and Flávio Lago. It was really beautiful, and I spent so much of the night reflecting on just how lucky I was to be there!!

Paulo accepting a gift from Leader’s Quest

After dinner we went to bed – no small feat. We were staying in the stable area away from the house (in fact, it was a bus ride away!!). There was a little confusion, but we ended up staying in a room at one end of the stable. There was a picture on the wall that kept us chuckling for hours, and I mean hours … See if you can tell what it is …

In the morning, we woke up and saw … (I’ll tell you on Day 4)

Most important thing from Day 3 – Appreciating Brazilian hospitality and having the chance to think about how well resourced and lucky we are in the UK education system. Also, the realisation that we need heart as well as numbers in the UK!