Resultados sobre el rezago académico todavía no se usan para cambiar la realidad en el salón de clase

A la salida de la Escuela Santiago Veve Calzada, en Fajardo, una estudiante de noveno grado camina junto a su madre. Es mediodía y hay cambio de turnos para las tres escuelas que operan en este plantel en interlocking. La joven tomó la prueba diagnóstica Línea Base, que busca medir el rezago académico de los estudiantes. Cuando se le pregunta por el proceso, la joven simplemente comienza a mover la cabeza, como diciendo que no. La madre le pide que hable y describa la experiencia. 

“Un revolú”, exclama, y pide que no se le identifique.

A Talk with Víctor Fajardo 20 Years After His Exit from the Department of Education

Víctor Fajardo is having coffee somewhere in the Guaynabo metropolitan area. Before taking a sip, the former official of the Pedro Rosselló González administration warns that he has kept away from the media since his release from prison in 2013. “For the family,” he says. He spent 10 years behind bars at a federal prison and two under conditional supervision in his home for being involved in a million-dollar corruption scheme in the Department of Education (DE). He agreed to talk about the Teacher Track program and the Community Schools, both part of the Educational Reform that he implemented (1993-1999).

Teacher Track: Unending Run of Broken Promises and Millions Owed to Teachers

Ada Nilda Montalvo González, a teacher in the Segunda Unidad de Cuchillas, in   Moca, a town in the western region, says that she will have to continue teaching this year because the money is not enough to live on if she chooses retirement. She tells her story from a classroom in a school that is not where she usually teaches. She is working during the summer to make “a little extra money.”

She is 64 years old, has dedicated 20 of service in the Department of Education (DE) and 27 to teaching in public and private schools. At the Patria Latorre Ramírez High School, in nearby San Sebastián, the educator sits at a desk and says she is old enough to retire but does not have the years of public service that would “guarantee” her some financial stability (30 years). “It’s hard for me at this age.

Conversación con Víctor Fajardo a 20 años de su salida del Departamento de Educación

Víctor Fajardo toma un café en algún rincón del área metropolitana. Antes del cortadito, el exfuncionario de la administración de Pedro Rosselló González advierte que ha estado apartado de los medios desde su salida de la cárcel en el 2013. “Por la familia”, dice. Cumplió diez años tras las rejas a nivel federal y dos bajo supervisión condicionada por estar involucrado en un millonario esquema de corrupción en el Departamento de Educación (DE). Vino para hablar del programa de la Carrera Magisterial y las Escuelas de la Comunidad, ambos parte de la Reforma Educativa que implantó (1993-1999).

Camarero Racetrack: A Money Machine that Runs on Injured and Abused Horses

It’s Friday and it’s payday. Abuelo says that it’s good to bet a few dollars from time to time “to try your luck.” That’s why we are in a horse racing betting agency putting together a lineup, wearing a mask, our hands sticky from the hand sanitizer and a few “hints” on the table. I want to bet on a horse that hasn’t run for five years. His name is Cachupito and he is number 11 of the sixth race.

Hipódromo Camarero: una máquina de dinero que corre con caballos lastimados y maltratados

Es viernes y es día de cobro. Abuelo dice que de vez en cuando es bueno apostar unos pesitos “para probar la suerte”. Por eso estamos en una agencia hípica preparando un cuadrito, con mascarilla puesta, las manos pegajosas por el hand sanitizer y unas cuantas “orejitas” sobre la mesa. Quiero jugarle a un caballo que hace cinco años no corre. Se llama Cachupito y es el número once de la sexta carrera.