Our very first visit was to Colegio
Americano in Baranquilla. Eduction is
the prime goal of Presbytery of North Coast, and we have had the opportunity to
visit most of the efforts to replicate their supreme model. Administrators and teachers have generously
given us their time and been open to our questions. It was clear to us that the Colegio Americano
model for elementary and secondary schooling and now the consolidation of a
university program on the same campus is seen by members and clergy of this
Presbytery as the major platform in their Christian ministry.. The other two foci of Presbytery energy,
Diakonia [Service] are ordinarily viewed in the framework of the Education
goal, and sometimes must compete for resources.
Presbyterians have historically
emphasized the importance of education for both training of clergy and for an
educated citizenry. There is obviously
great pride in Education accomplishments in Baranquilla and the extent to which
Colegio is contributing to those Presbyterian goals. Recently celebrating its 125th
Anniversary, Colegio reflects a number of
important values which contrast with Roman Catholic parochial school. Several of these values include co-education,
open admission to Jews, Muslims as well
as Protestant and Roman Catholic children [although there is a clear focus on
reformed protestant thematic material in relation to all subject matter.] Many of the teachers and administrators are
graduates of the Theology Major in the University – although we had difficulty
in determining just how large a proportion of the staff would fit this.
We were also very interested in additional
visits to Nazaret Colegio and also Mega Colegio and New Horizon School which are
operated under contract to 1st Presbyterian. There seems to be a clear effort to follow as
much of the Colegio Americano model in the others schools as possible. But the differences in facilities and
equipment were dramatic. Some classrooms
at Colegio Americano are [digitally equipped] while New Horizon had some dirt
floors and one teacher has had to teach her class under a tree for two and a
half years.
Questions about the financial
aspects of the schools made it clear that in addition to being a ¨Christian
ministry¨ the schools provide significant income for the congregations and give
them opportunity for distribution of several hundred salaried positions. In the case of the ´contract´ schools, there
has been concern that there is often uncertainty about continuation and lack of
adequate financial reserve to cover months of salary and other expenses while waiting
for reimbursement by the city.
We felt that one of the biggest
problems not recognized by the schools is the inbreeding that has resulted and
the lack of systematic evaluation. It
does not appear that critique is welcomed.
They are convinced they are doing things in the “right way” and should
continue largely in that way.
In the last couple of
years, a new planning effort has been
advanced and is in process. We report on
that effort in Reformed Education -- Part II
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