Reflections on two weeks in Brazil

by Eric Tarosky

 

To say the least, the two weeks we spent in Brazil were really the trip of a lifetime. From the food we got to eat, the sights we got to see, and the friends we made along the way, I cannot quite express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to travel to and explore such a remarkable country.

What struck me throughout the entire trip was the fact that, even though Brazil and the United State are different in so many ways, there are overarching similarities that are universal. These included things like talking to some Brazilian students about our shared favorite TV show, How I Met Your Mother, to many commonalities in the educational system as well as trends in the field.

During my freshman year at Penn State, I had the chance to visit and teach in a public high school in inner city Philadelphia. This school, in almost every way, was startlingly different from the middle-class, suburban high school I attended as a student. The disparity between the educational opportunities afforded to me, and those given to the students in Philadelphia, is something that has stayed with me to this day. For this reason, I found the similar disparity present in the Brazilian educational system to be interesting.

On one day of our visit, we toured a public school in Ceilandia, a satellite city of Brasilia. The school was without many educational luxuries, or even necessities. While the classrooms were taken care of extremely well, it was obvious that many of the materials were inadequate or outdated. Even the playground that was considered “new” was rather rough around the edges.

The next day we toured a private school district in the capital and the differences were startling. Everything from the classrooms to the playground to the athletic facilities at the school was immaculate. It was hard to believe that the two schools could be so close together physically, and yet so many leagues apart in terms of resources. This shocked me at first until I thought back to my experiences in Philadelphia and the juxtaposition of that world to the one in which I grew up. In the end, it became clear that educational inequalities are not simply a Brazilian problem or and American problem, but a universal problem.

The one thing that was consistent between the two schools, however, were the people working there. In both locations we were greeted by a staff of kind and enthusiastic professionals who were eager to show us around the places they clearly cared so much about. At the end of the day I suppose this is what makes the greatest difference in a child’s education after all.

Public – Private Education

Hanna Mincemoyer

After an amazing trip to Brazil it is nearly impossible to reflect on what we learned as a whole and put it into words. We got a detailed snapshot of the Brazilian education system by visiting schools ranging from preschool to university level. We were also able to compare and contrast public and private institutions in disadvantaged and wealthy parts of the country. I’m sure all of our reflections will tie into the stark contrast between the schools attended by the richest students and the ones attended by the poorest. What I find most interesting when comparing this Brazilian education system to the one we know in the United States is the complete role reversal of the elementary/secondary and the university culture and prestige. In the United States we have a free public education system that is highly regarded and in most situations, adequately prepares students for college. The private school route is less traveled and is usually chosen for reasons outside of academic achievement. This free public education gives parents and students about 18 years to prepare to pay for college. Then in many cases the students are independent and can take out loans or get scholarships for their tuition, which is often very expensive, even at public universities.

In Brazil, this whole schema is essentially the opposite. For students to receive a good preschool, elementary and secondary education it is common to attend a private school. Everyone that we talked to reiterated, if the parents can afford private school, they would never put their child in public school. This means that starting around age 3, for a child to get the best quality education, they have to start paying tuition. If they are able to pay when they are young, there is a good chance they can get accepted to a public university after graduation, which is completely free. The public universities are able to continuously get the best students because of the competition for a free quality higher education. The private universities and colleges are also getting good students but historically have less academic prestige. Because this dynamic seems almost set in stone it doesn’t matter that the private colleges often have better facilities and more hands-on learning. Much like the United States, the school you get your degree from doesn’t necessarily reflect your learning, but it is still one of the most important things when entering the job market. I just find it extremely interesting that the path for well off students in Brazil is pay now, then it’s free later where in the United States the path for a well off student mirrors that of an underprivileged student in Brazil, it’s free now, then you pay later. It will be interesting to see if this pattern changes in the future if public universities start charging, if private universities (which are fairly new) gain more traction, or if the public K-12 education improves. It is hard to predict where Brazil will go from here in terms of education, but as they remain a steady global power, we are sure to see continuous improvements. 

The Searles’ Brazilian Legacy Continues

Conor Searles with Eda Machado, May 5, 2013
Among the seven Penn State students who arrived in Brasilia on May 12th, one has a special connection to our host, Eda Machado; Conor Searles, a senior studying Education and Public Policy, is the grandson of Jack Searles, a former PSU professor of education with a longstanding connection to Brazilian education. For a number of years, Jack Searles led groups of PSU students on trips to Brazil and taught in the Brazilian states of Belo Horizonte, as well as here in Brasilia. The Brazilian connection was cemented during Eda’s time as a PHD student at Penn State’s college of education, where Jack served as her faculty advisor. The remarks below are Conor’s:

“Words cannot describe how excited I am to be here in Brazil to experience first hand some of the places, and to meet some of the people that my grandfather loved so well. The foundation for this trip began in 1959 when my grandparents moved to Brazil for a two year stretch, bringing my father, my uncles and both my aunts with them.   Now 52 years later, and a year after his death, here I am in Brazil.  I see this trip not only as not just a wonderful educational opportunity, but as a tribute to my grandfather who dedicated much of his life to forging connections between Penn State and Brazil.”

Jack Searles, Penn State Professor (and a pioneer in creating Penn State/ Brazil partnerships).

Culture

by Eric Tarosky

Music

 

Choro

Literally translated, the word “choro” is Portuguese meaning “to cry.” Originally, this style of music was performed by a trio of flute, guitar, and an instrument called a “cavaquinho,” a small guitar-like instrument with four strings. It had its beginnings in Rio de Janeiro in the 19^th century. Today, the genre has expanded to include other instruments, such as mandolin, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.  It is generally characterized by having a fast, happy rhythm often times featuring improvisation.

 Samba dancer

Samba

Samba is categorized as a dance genre, and was made popular by the opening of the first Brazilian radio station in 1929.  Its roots run to the Bahia region, with some influence from the regions surrounding Rio de Janeiro. It is the musical styling most frequently associated with the Carnival celebration. It is considered by many to be the most popular musical genre in the country. Modern samba emerged after the Second World War and was largely influenced by the post-war culture of the United States, specifically big band elements like the inclusion of trombones, trumpets, flutes, and clarinets.

 Antonio Carlos Jobim

Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova is a music genre distinguished by its fusion of smooth jazz with the slower beat of the samba. Its name comes from an old slang term that was used to reference anything done in a particularly smooth or charming manner. The genre evolved from the basic tenants of the samba but is generally less reliant on percussive elements. Instruments usually include guitar and piano and occasionally light percussion and orchestral strings. The infusion of electronic elements into mainstream music brought about some change to Bossa Nova in the mid-nineties, leading to the emergence of many songs featuring a more “nightclub” feel.

 

Literature            

  Goncalves de Magalhaes

Romanticism

Romanticism was one of the largest literary movements in Brazilian history. The movement began in the 1830’s largely from the efforts of a poet named Goncalves de Magalhaes, a prominent writer and a significant figure in the rise of the Brazilian theater. Other poets such as Casimiro de Abreu rose to prominence during this time and produced some of the most widely recognized pieces of authentically Brazilian literature. In addition to this, this time period helped to define elements of Brazilian nationalism, as it celebrated the nation’s natural elements, as well as other defining features like colloquial speech. Other significant authors included Jaoquim Manuel de Macedo and Jose de Alencar.

Machado de Assis

Realism

In the mid-19^th century, spurred largely by social change in the nation, Romanticism began to decline in favor or Realism. This movement was defined largely by prose writing dealing with analysis of indigenous citizens and cultures. The movement also made an effort to include depiction of all social classes present in the society. Two of the most significant authors of the time were Machado de Assis and Euclides de Cunha.

Cuisine

Southern

picadinho

Pine nut trees are plentiful in the southeastern regions of Brazil, and the nuts from these trees are a popular food item. Rice, beans, fish, beef and pork are also staples of many diets in this part of the country. In cities like Rio, a dish called a feijoada is very popular, particularly as a lunch dish. It is a stew made up of black beans and roasted meat.  It is frequently served alongside another dish called picadinho, a type of minced meat accompanied by rice and beans. Another popular dish in this region of the country is made up of rice, kale and pork and is called virado a paulista.

Because of the southern region’s healthy involvement in the livestock industry, plates featuring different types of meat, particular beef, are very common. Southern Brazil also gave birth to the “churasco,” a type of barbeque where meat is cooked on a specialty grill, often on spits.

North

The cuisines common in the northern part of the nation are influenced greatly by traditions and customs of the native populations of Brazil. One prominent dish is called Pato no Tucupi, made of duck in a yellow broth. It is commonly associated with a Roman Catholic celebration traditional in the area called Cirio de Nazare. The process for fermenting a treating the broth is so complex it often takes several days to complete. The dish is traditionally served over white rice.

Some of the cuisine of the northern regions of Brazil is also influenced by traditions of African culture. For example, the dish called the vatapa contains a coconut base, as well as peanuts and palm oil, and often contains shrimp. It is eaten with bread.

 

Sports

Pele

It goes without saying that the most popular sport in Brazil is soccer (locally called football). The national team has won the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup five times (a world record), in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002. Brazil hosted the international tournament in 1950, and is preparing to do so again in 2014, becoming the only South American country to host the competition two times. The Brazilian team is already being projected by many to win the 2014 cup.

No discussion of Brazilian soccer would be complete without mention of Edison Arantes do Nascimento, better known in the sports world as Pele. Pele is a Brazilian soccer player who lead the national team to three of their five FIFA championships. He is considered by many fans all across the world to be the greatest soccer player of all time. In addition to his prowess on the soccer pitch, he is also known for his vocal support of many social equality projects. In fact, after scoring his 1,000^th goal, he dedicated his performance to all Brazilian children living in poverty.

In addition to soccer, various forms of the martial arts are also very popular in the country. Jiu Jitsu, for example, originated in Brazil.

Brazil is also a regular competitor in the Olympic games after their first participation in 1920, and is scheduled to host the event in 2016. In the 2012 games, Brazilian athletes brought home a total of 17 medals, winning gold in women’s judo, men’s gymnastic on rings, an women’s volleyball.