Argentine Schools: Activitiess



Figure 1.--Here we see an Argentine classroon in 1955. Notice the traditiinal, single gender set up. We think this was a standard state primary school. Seems like rather a small class, we are guessing that there were more boys to the left. All the boys except one are wearing white lab-coat style smocks. Notice the school crest on the smocks. (That might mean it was a private school.) The boys seem to be wearing shirts and ties in most cases underneath the smocks as well as white or light-colored knee socks with short trousers.

We do not know much about school activities in Argentune schools. The classroom scenes we have noted look very traditional, row of desks or benches facing the front of the class where the teacher's desk is located. We don't think that activities like sports were an important part of the Argrentine school program. Rather the school activities were largely academic and classroom based school-based. In this regard the Argentine schools seem similar to Spanish and Italian schools. Hopefully Argentine readers will tell us a little about their school activities. One reader tells us that extra-curicular activities were organized at school on saturdays. We do not yet have any details as to just whay activities were offered. We do not even know if the saturday activity program was mandatory.

Coming to School

Most Argentine children walk to school.

Morning Ceremony

Every morning the children line up by class in the school yard. A vflag raising raising ceremony was performed while the national anthem or a flag song was sung.

Class Rooms

The classroom scenes we have noted look very traditionl, row of desks or benches facing the front of the class where the teacher's desk is located. We don't think that activities like sports were an important part of the Argrentine school program. Rather the school activities were largely academic and classroom based school-based. A reader tells us that there was not a lot of memory work. "As far I can recall, multiplication tables. Other than that, you had to read and study a subject and the following day give a oral speech on it or a paper." In this regard the Argentine schools seem similar to Spanish and Italian schools. An Argentine reader tells us, " During my years of schooling in Argentina (1950s-60s), which resembles very much the picture illustrating the theme, that was the norm. All the boys are neatly dressed with the pristine and impeccable whie lab coats and well behavior in the classroom as well as in the school was expected."

Arts Classess

An Argentine reader tells us about the arts curriculum. "I do remember we had "arts and crafts" called manualidades. Dance was also a part of the academic curriculum which included folk dances and singing. I do not recall drama."

Recess

We are not sure what kind of games boys played a recess. As mant Argentine schools were run on two schedules. Some children went to school in the morning. Others attended scghool in the afternoon. The recess schedule was thus a little different than in American and European schools. A reader tells us that recess was called 'recreo'. "We just ran around or sometimes organized games--mostly running games. The girls favirire avtivity was jump rope."

Lunch

Most children did not have lunch at school. When run on half day schedules, children had lunch at home after they came home or before they went to school if they attended the afternoon session. Few schools would have had lunch facilities.

Sports

One reader tells us that extra-curicular activities were organized at school on saturdays. We do not yet have any details as to just whay activities were offered. We do not even know if the saturday activity program was mandatory. Another Argentine reader tells us, "I agrree with the general comments about sports activities. Unlike in the United States, sports were not considered part of the academic studies. It was part of the school curriculum - which made it mandatory, but it was a very secondary activity. Emphasis was put on gymnastics rather than actual sports. Sports were practiced outside school activities -- mainly footballl, basketball, or volleyball. I my case swimming and tennis were activies I pursued outside the school."

Afternoon Ceremony

In the aftern session after classes, the children line up in the school yard. The children perform a lowering and folding of the flag ceremony.

Special Events

We notice a range of special events at Argenine schools, but do not fully understand them. They help to showcase the different uniforms worn at the schools as the children usully sruce up a bit for the ceremonies. A reader sent us a photograph of a flag ceremony in northern Atgentina in which three city schools participated. We are not sure just what the event was.







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Created: 1:59 AM 12/31/2010
Last updated: 4:28 AM 6/22/2015