This festival will be a worldwide gathering of people to share rebellions and resistances with the indigenous peoples of Mexico organized by the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) of Mexico, the Sixth Campaign, and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). Schools for Chiapas has canceled all delegations during this period and urges our supporters to participate fully in the exciting program of events! Join us!

In forgotten places like the communities of the Alta Montaña [High Mountain] region of Guerrero, the teacher is much more than a transmitter of knowledge. The teacher is a moral authority, a justice of the peace, a midwife practitioner, a steward, a confessor, a marriage counselor and the mailman of the hearts of lovers and, in many cases, the father and mother of the child with bulging belly [malnutrition] that looks at him like a savior: the solution to all his problems.

As October comes to a close, the ghoulish skeletons and masks of Halloween once again compete with candy skulls and “bone-bread” of Day of the Dead for our students’ attention. Many teachers in U.S. public schools, particularly those with predominately Mexican students, include Day of the Dead imagery in their classrooms in addition to Halloween articles. Perhaps in addition to sharing marigolds and Pan de los Muertos with your students this year for Day of the Dead, you might also consider reading the outstanding new classroom book, “Ramona: Rebel Dreamweaver”.