Matènwa Community Learning Center is a progressive school on the island of
LaGonave in Haiti. Their philosophy is very similar to Fayerweather's.
"We want to present a curriculum where children don't just learn to read, write
and do math, but where they also learn to do research, think critically, evaluate
ideas, and discuss any problem in a way that will lead them to find a solution."
We have a teacher exchange program through which Matènwa teachers spend a
month at Fayerweather in the fall and Fayerweather teachers visit Matènwain
the spring. Teachers learn about each other’s schools, language and culture while
working in classrooms, attending staff meetings and events, and living with families
in the community.
This fall, two more teachers from Matènwa, Roseline Obel and Bernise Sauveur,
spent the month at Fayerweather. Roseline teaches 6th grade and Bernise manages
the new local arts center. They visited classes throughout the school, spending
most of their time in the 5th/6th grades, art room and woodshop.
Together we are developing a close relationship between our schools through these
teacher visits, sharing of student work and materials (in particular, the Mother
Tongue Book Project - see link below) and communication among students.
In a continuing effort to share our experience with teachers and families, Kate
Hubbell, one of our Kindergarten teachers who made the journey, shares some of her
reflections below - along with some photos and Ed's article from the Weather Report
explaining Why Haiti? and a link to the Matènwa website.