"Conducir la escuela secundaria bonaerense" | Clase 15: Esther Levy

Education and Work: The Role of Secondary Education

Introduction to the Topic

• Ester Levi introduces herself as a Doctor in Educational Sciences and a professor at UBA, emphasizing her expertise in the subject matter.

• The discussion focuses on the importance of linking education with work, particularly in secondary education, highlighting its relevance to community and territorial aspects.

The Importance of Contextualizing Education

• Levi stresses that students are not just learners but future workers; thus, schools must prepare them for real-world challenges related to work and citizenship.

• She argues that education should encompass various objectives, including cultural formation and preparation for employment.

Challenging Common Narratives

• Levi critiques dominant discourses suggesting that schools do not adequately prepare students for the workforce, advocating instead for a broader educational perspective.

• She emphasizes that schools have multiple goals beyond merely training students for jobs.

Local Context and Student Interests

• Discussing local needs is crucial; understanding what students bring from their communities can inform educational practices.

• Recognizing student interests and vocational aspirations is essential when considering their future work opportunities.

Bridging Education with Community Needs

• Levi highlights the necessity of diagnosing local demands to effectively connect education with community needs.

• She points out that secondary education should also facilitate pathways to higher studies as part of preparing students for future careers.

Real-Life Applications: Programs in Buenos Aires

• The province of Buenos Aires has initiatives like "Coordenadas," which assess local knowledge and needs through student engagement.

• These programs aim to validate the skills students acquire outside formal education settings, recognizing their life experiences as valuable knowledge.

Understanding Diverse Knowledge Systems

• Levi discusses how everyday skills learned at home or within communities contribute significantly to a student's potential career paths.

• She illustrates this point by discussing gender roles in domestic labor, emphasizing how these skills are often undervalued despite being critical in professional contexts.

Research Insights from Local Communities

• The conversation touches on research conducted at La Plata University regarding unique local knowledge systems tied to specific industries like wine production.

Education and Work: A Political Project

The Role of Schools in Political Projects

• Emphasizes the need for a political project that supports schools, highlighting that educators alone cannot address educational challenges without collaboration with municipalities and ministries.

• Stresses the importance of working with various governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor, to recover educational initiatives.

Understanding Work Beyond Employment

• Discusses youth skepticism about education due to perceived lack of job opportunities, prompting a deeper discussion on what constitutes "work."

• Defines work as broader than just formal or informal employment; it includes diverse forms such as self-employment and cooperatives.

Hidden Forms of Labor

• Highlights the often-overlooked care work within communities, particularly during crises like the pandemic, where community support systems were crucial.

• Argues for recognizing care work as legitimate labor that sustains communities despite its feminized nature and lack of acknowledgment.

Local Knowledge and Community Engagement

• Advocates for teachers to act as political agents who help retain youth in their local areas by valuing local knowledge and projects.

• Points out that educational projects should be comprehensive actions rather than isolated events like internships; they must integrate local knowledge into curricula.

Empowering Students Through Reflection

• Encourages educators to bring forth students' unrecognized knowledge about their territories and experiences, which can enrich learning environments.

• Suggests fostering an environment where students reflect on their practices and knowledge can reveal valuable insights beyond technological skills.

Conclusion: Building a Better Future for Youth

• Concludes with a vision for education that empowers young people to create better futures by leveraging local resources instead of feeling compelled to migrate for opportunities.