Often debated in the United States educational system are issues such as district funding, unequal per-student spending, school choice, the growth of charter schools and their negative impact on public school funding, the reliance on standardized tests to assess student learning, and a focus on post-secondary access.
However, in Chiapas, Mexico, the southernmost state which borders Guatemala—where there is a lack of educational technology, school supplies, and infrastructure—there is a model that demonstrates the power of education in spite of virtually no funding or systemic support.
The Sower follows Bartolomé, a teacher in a multigrade school who provides his students with a humanistic education based on curiosity, inquiry, and a love of learning. His approach to education has made a significant impact on the students in an impoverished region.
Following Bartolomé and the group of students from this school, his approach to education includes spending time outside learning agriculture through planting seeds, learning how to swim in a dirt hole filled with water, or independent learning using workbooks encouraging older children to assist younger children with the lessons. It is important to note in the scene in which the students learn to swim, that there is child nudity which may be jarring to some audiences.
While not the typical approach to education, the safe nurturing environment that Bartolomé creates encourages these students to love learning and dream of a future that many in this impoverished region typically could not imagine. Children share stories of their challenging home lives and also their dreams of furthering their education at the post-secondary level.
This approach to education is contrasted against the education offered by a better-funded school in the region which shows students learning from an educational video playing on a flatscreen television as the teacher leans against the wall. The teacher eventually leaves the classroom and never interacts directly with the students. Instead, the students are sitting at desks passively watching the education video with little interest in the educational process.
The film is beautifully shot with easily readable English subtitles. It is important to note, because of the range of languages spoken in this region, there are Spanish subtitles at the top of the screen with English subtitles at the bottom when children are speaking in indigenous languages. For future educators or those interesting in international service, The Sower provides an inspirational message that dedication and caring go a long way. This documentary about teaching is a recommended purchase for any film collection, especially those supporting international education. Recommended for academic libraries with education majors. Aud: J, H, C, P.