Classroom Visits Continued

We next went to visit the classroom of the only male teacher in the elementary schools in the whole region. He has taught for twenty-one years and believes that his classroom has to be alive and motivating for students. We watched a theatrical presentation of a classic Russian fairy tale complete with costumes, projected special effects and sound effects.




There is only one man elementary teacher in the region because teachers are paid so poorly. They get about a dollar an hour and until they have taught for ten years they lose 70% of their pay if they miss because of illness. It is difficult to figure out the schedule as each day is different but often teachers start at eight in the morning and go home at seven at night as they teach both shifts in schools that have them. High school teachers get paid more than elementary and vice principals make less than teachers. Information technology is a new area and those teachers get paid less too. This also varies from district to district but teacher's pay is very low.



We also watched the Patriotic club get ready for a competition. They had studied a famous battle and had made a replica as well as a presentation and acted as military officers as they gave the presentation.