Speaking the indigenous language allowed: Escola Caracol in Guatemala

At one of the most beautiful places on earth, on the shores of Lake Atitlan and at the foot of three volcanoes, a few Waldorf educators from the United States and from Guatemala attempt to grasp integration in their classroom as a social interaction of teachers and children coming from different backgrounds.

Most of the children in the small village of San Marcos La Laguna are of Mayan descent and speak Kaqchiquel. This indigenous language is also the language of instruction as well as English and Spanish. The fact that their own language is also suitable for class is new for the children – as is, that they are allowed to sing songs and recite poems in their own language.

Two-thirds of the children come from the surrounding area while the other students come from foreign families who have settled here. So far, the lessons took place in cottages, which were unfortunately regularly washed away by heavy monsoon rains. Now a house can be built so that children at least get dry feet here, as they already have been running to school on the muddy unpaved roads. Buses are not available in this village.

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