Alex+Brewer

Hello there! My name is obviously Alex Brewer! I am from a small town in Maine called Yamouth. My major is Communication and Rhetorical Study. I enjoy everything sports that comes from Boston (i.e. Red Sox, Celtics, Pats....). I am also a past drama geek, where I worked on sets and backstage paraphernalia. I also play music when I can, usually on guitar. I work at a supermarket....which is pretty cool I guess. In my town we have a Clam Festival...it's pretty much the coolest thing that happens within 30 miles of my town. I think that's about it for me?

Peace.

Dialogue Conversations With My Sources:

Wilson Salder Inverview:

Me: Hey Wilson, What’s going on? Wilson: Hey man! I’m good! How’s everything been with you? Me: Alright, Alright. Wanna a beer? Wilson: Sure man I’ll take 8. Me: Cool, So, what do you think about education at Safe Passage? Wilson: Well, it’s really good. We teach the kids based off a Guatemalan education, but we also teach them English. Me: Do you think it helps prepare kids for the real world? Wilson: Well, since Safe Passage is relatively new, I think its safe to say that we have no real life example of the results of the program. What I can say though, is that people have dreams that they might not have had before! One person is studying to become a pilot and has aspirations of a better life outside of the dump. Me: That’s great, but doesn’t it concern you that people are considering to leave the country? Wilson: Well, its not a concern that they are leaving the dumps. They are having a better life outside of what they know. It that means leaving Guatemala then that’s the better future we hope to give these people. Me: Well, then aren’t you concerned that the residents of Guatemala city will get upset if its viewed that you are outsourcing some of their people for jobs? Wilson: Outsourcing is an interesting word to use. I don’t think we are outsourcing anyone. In fact, we hope to grow the economy in Guatemala and promote a better educational model. We are imposing anything on them, we are merely helping them succeed in a world that is very fast pace. English is one of the keys of communication, and we feel it is important to have a basic grasp of. Me: So, what does a typical Safe Passage kid do during the day? Wilson: They attend a half day of school, and then come to us for the second half do the day. We do programs for 5-13 year olds and 12-19 year olds. The two groups come at different times during the day. Both are provided food upon coming to the building if they want it. Me: Okay Wilson, its getting to be about that time! Thanks for the information I really appreciate it! Wilson: You’re welcome man, anytime! By the way, can you get this tab for me. Me: Dude, bring a wallet next time.

MY FIRST DRAFT: Alex Brewer Draft Safe Passage Essay

Safe Passage Creating Intellectuals In this day and age, it is easy to see the benefits of educational organizations in third world countries. People with resources and knowledge step in to the country, and attempt to make a better life for the inhabitants within it. What Safe Passage does is something similar, creating a program for children within in the Guatemalan City dumps to receive a better education then the one they are receiving now. On top of that, Safe Passage also provides food and shelter for the kids that don’t that precious resource. This beneficial resource is key to the success and future of the kids in the Guatemalan City dumps. Questions, however, are raised as a result of this type of education. Does an education that is organized by an outside source have flaws in its goals? Safe Passage’s intentions are great, but the underlying consequences are can be grave. An education that is brought in from another country’s perspective could influence what the children do in the future and their perception of what is success. I am going to be analyzing the effects that Safe Passage can have on the kids it educates in terms of their perception of education as well as their future in the outside world. The program is designed as a second school program. I conducted an interview with a very active volunteer at Safe Passage and this is how he outlined at typical day for a Safe Passage Student: As for a typical day in the lives of the safe passage students it is as followed. All kids in Guatemala go to school for only half days. When they are not at school they come to safe passage. The morning kids (older mostly 12-19) arrive at 815 and are given the option to eat breakfast normally consisting of atol (local drink of oatmeal and milk served hot) and a banana. Then at 845 they go to their classes. There they will have a half hour of English taught by a volunteer and time to do their homework and other things necessary. Depending on the day we might go to the fields to play sports for an hour or so or might have computer time where they learn how to use word processing programs as well as internet ect. Then at 1130 they have lunch then leave for school at 12. At one the afternoon kids come in (younger mostly 5-13). And they do the same stuff more or less just at different times. They leave at 430. (Wilson) Safe Passage is not aiming to replace the schools in Guatalmala in anyway, but rather improve the current system that is there. A half day of education isn’t fit for someone that is going to a public school, hence Safe Passage filling in the time. This program is very well set up in terms of an educational model, because it not only encourages the teaching of important things, but also physical activity and nutrition. The main education that people are receiving at Safe Passage is a hope education, and an education that is preparing them for the future. Gramsci, a well-known writer on education, presents a concept that is commonly referred to as the “intellects”. These intellects are people that are viewed as experts in a certain sphere. What determines who is an expert is where these people are in relation to the sphere that they are in. The Safe Passage education provides a guideline that kids can be influenced into seeing as what an expert means. For example, Safe Passage teaches kids how to read, write, and speak basic English. The imposing of English can be seen as bad from some people, but to others it is essential for success in the ever-changing world. This teaching of English creates the idea that an intellect in the world knows how to speak English. Now, I personally believe that English is something that is very useful to a student, but some people may not think that way. Safe Passage is a relatively new program, which was started in 1999. It’s success is very hard to calculate, due to its very young age, so the ramifications are very unclear (Wilson). What is known, however, is that hope is being given to the kids. From an interview I did with a very active volunteer at Safe Passage, Wilson Slader told me that one kid is studying to be a pilot someday. Some kids do aspire to leave the country of Guatemala, which may destroy the infrastructure within it, but, as Wilson has told me, most kids actually do plan on staying within the country. They plan to use their knowledge and new skills to help their own families get out of poverty. This is an interesting development, and one that some people may be surprised to see. The program is actually doing the opposite of what some of these types of programs inevitably do.