Mobile Phys Ed Class

Today was a blast. We visited 2 schools where we took a load of Stop Hunger Now food relief, along with a crate of baseball equipment. Understand, that schools here generally have what in my teaching days we would have called "NOTHING" in the way of classroom supplies. There are a few government provided texts--and that's it. No library, no "manipulatives" no buckets of crayons or blocks or balls or puzzles or...well any stuff. Certainly no music, art or PE equipment.

So it was a very exciting day when we arrived with 3 adults and enough balls and gloves for everybody to have a turn.


In Santa Inez, the school sits about 30 feet off of the main highway--so playing ball requires lots of vigilance on the part of teachers who yell "Camioneta!" as a truck honks and kids scatter from the road's edge.

In Chimborazo, the challenge is jungle. It's pretty hard to find a flat or an open spot in the mountains around here. So once again, the road is our best bet. Chimborazo differs from Santa Inez in that it is very rural and isolated--so traffic is not an issue at all. Finding the ball when you hit it out into the jungle or into the river, however, is a whole new aspect to the game.

It was fun to watch Harvy and Jonathan teaching kids the fundamentals of catching, throwing, batting, and not getting knocked in the head by a baseball. And how serious and devoted the kids were to taking advantage of this opportunity. One teacher commented as kids paired off to throw and catch. "Listen, they are so quiet." I was impressed with how careful kids were to be sure everyone had their turn, and how honest and just they were with hunting down every single ball lost in muddy, overgrown thickets to return it to the box when it was time for us to go.

It was great to visit with teachers and hear from them what challenges they face, and what types of assistance they'd like. I'm consistently amazed that teachers here never site lack of supplies as an issue. One teacher recently shared that her biggest issue is kids who don't attend regularly due to family struggles.  Another shared she is frustrated when she feels kids are coming just so they can eat.

A really swell day. Wish you were here.  Here's some extra pictures.

oh yeah-- Teacher's a hitter!

now let the big boys show you how it's done