MONTAGUE — Montague High School English teacher Michelle Smith had an eye-opening experience during a February mission trip to San Pedro High School in Belize. With her passion for helping others and curiosity about education in Belize, she was able to learn what educational culture there looks like compared to American education.
“It was my educational experience,” said Smith. “When I talked to my principal, Christy Thommen, at the beginning of the school year, she asked if it was a mission trip. I thought about it for a second and said, ‘Yes, it’s going to be my mission trip.’ This is what I want to do. I want to help someone.”
One of the many differences she learned about were the expenses. Regardless if Belize students go to Catholic or public school, all students are required to pay tuition. Due to the high poverty level, some students have to work during the day to help pay bills at home and therefore, have to go to school at night. San Pedro has 700 students that go to day school, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and night school starts at 6 p.m.
“I asked their principal, Paul Kelly, if we could make a monetary donation,” Smith said. “He gave me a two and a half page list of outstanding tuition balances they had. There was a girl, Shadany, who hasn’t been able to pay. She works during the day to help her family pay bills and goes to night school. Principal Kelly said she would be the best person to help. She has six brothers who are all in a gang, and she doesn’t want any part of that lifestyle. She’s been working really hard. She has a 3.0 GPA as a junior in high school. We raised enough money for half of her tuition. She had $3,000 in Belize currency, which is $1,500 in American dollars. We raised $750 in American dollars.”
Kelly originally sent a list of supplies the school needs, such as projectors and laptops or tablets, but Belize’s tax laws make it nearly impossible to order anything and have it shipped to the island. Smith simply did not have the luggage space this year to transport those items, which is why she fundraised money to donate instead.
“They tax a ridiculous amount of money per package,” said Smith. “One of the locals we talked to said they received a university flag in the mail. A flag that probably costs $10, the government taxed the receiver $50 for it.”
Smith hopes to return to San Pedro in Belize again next year and do more, in addition to paying tuition for students.
“I really want to be able to have the opportunity again next year, to not just help another student, but to teach while I’m there,” said Smith. “Principal Kelly really wants students to learn life lessons. I’m not sure what my life lesson will be about yet, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I was grateful that I got the time off to do this. I have this passion and the belief of helping people. Next year, when I go, I will also bring a suitcase of items they need in their school.”
In addition to the differences between Belize and American education, Smith also noticed a lot of physical and cultural differences in their schools compared to Americans.
“(The school building in) San Pedro is a three-story building. It almost looks like the outside of a hotel,” Smith said. “But their classrooms are very old. The weather is very warm. It was 90 degrees when we were there. They do have the Caribbean breeze, but their classrooms are hot and they only have a couple windows, which are more like shutters. Their floors are literal dirt. All students wear uniforms, regardless of Catholic or public school. The band walks the paths that were next to the condo we were staying at. We could hear them at night walking to the field to practice. They don’t have a lot of equipment because of how expensive shipping and taxes are, so their big sports are boys and girls softball.”
Smith has enjoyed sharing her mission trip experience with her students, who have taken a strong curiosity about the culture and school life in Belize.
“My students in my 10th and 11th-grade classes have had a lot of questions about the culture there,” said Smith. “They keep asking if they can see more pictures of my experience and I’m happy to show them. They are very intrigued. They want to know more about a different culture. I actually reached out to Principal Kelly, and we’re going to start e-mail pals with their students and mine. I thought that would be a cool way to connect with them.”
