Currently, most Haitians lack access to quality education; a necessity for economic development. Regardless of a commitment from the Haitian government to work with the international community in strengthening public education in Haiti, challenges in funding, teacher training, and access continues to affect local Haitians, with Haitian youth at risk of lacking the knowledge and basic skills needed to contribute to the region’s workforce. The Government of Haiti’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) initiated a plan in 2011 after the earthquake and, in 2016 after Hurricane Matthew, which instituted a national training policy for teachers and educational professionals to develop early grade reading, writing, and teaching …show more content…
While educational access seems to be more prevalent for individuals in urban areas of Haiti, educational practices are not reaching the Arab and Arab-Haitian populations, who live in discrete rural areas and engage with other types of literacy practices in their day-to-day experiences. According to M.G. Smith “as a consequence of profound cultural differences, the members of different sections of ‘biracial Creole’ societies participate differently in such sectors of the public domain as education, industry, and commerce.” Most Arabs and Arab-Haitians, who have become part of a new “biracial” aspect in Haiti, speak a colloquial variety of Arabic, including the women, who partake in domestic practices of the home and help sustain gardening and agricultural production to be sold in Haiti’s local markets. These cultural literacies that exist among mainly women in both Arab and Arab-Haitian communities, have not been addressed in any educational
Brooks’ hypotheses fit best with the modern theoretical perspective. From the perspective of the adolescent, Brooks attempts to find social variables that are impeding Haiti’s economic success, and provides his solution. His first hypothesis, however, is the one that diverges the most from the theory. He states we do not know how to direct aid and there is no consistent policy leading to economic growth. Modernization theory on the other hand is more determined to look at the internal factors of a country as the source of the problems with aid management and attempt to change the effectiveness of the government or the elements of a culture that are keeping it in a “traditional” stage (Rostow 1960).
“Religion is a set of rituals, rationalized by myth, which mobilizes supernatural powers for the purpose of achieving or preventing transformations of state in man and nature” (107). When the Europeans colonized Haiti, they brought over African slaves with them. These slaves had already established African religious practices, prior to being brought to Haiti. As the French got acquainted with Haiti, they were also forcing Roman Catholic traditions upon the slaves. As a result, there was the birth of the religion Haitian Vodou. These enslaved Africans were not allowed to practice Haitian Vodou openly because it offended those that practiced Catholicism, the French wanted full control over the slaves in every aspect, and anyone outside of
Haiti is located in the Caribbean; it occupies the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Haitians migrated to the U.S. due to regime change. In Florida, over 700,000 Haitians live there (Background on Haiti & Haitian Health Culture). Many Haitian-Americans share both cultures. There are similarities and differences between the American and Haitian culture. The two cultures have different foods, holidays and economy.
The Haitian government’s lack of preparedness for earthquakes despite the fact that earthquakes are common to the region is indicative of the governments inability and lack of resources to properly plan and protect it’s population against natural disasters. This lack of preparedness is not an isolated incident. Prior to the disaster, the World Bank and others were working with the Haitian government to incorporate disaster risk management into Haiti’s development strategy and to develop its capacity for disaster response. This capacity building was in its early stages of development when the earthquake hit, on January 12, 2010, and was mainly focused on hurricanes, which are the most common cause of natural disaster on the island (Margesson, 2010, p. 4).
Racial caste systems in Haiti prior to the Revolution were used to classify where everyone fit within their society. Originally there were three classes—the blancs, who were the whites that owned land and slaves; the affranchise, who were freedmen of color who were descendants of slaves and slave owners; and the noir, who were the slaves. This system was a way to keep people in their place, limiting opportunities such as jobs and areas of residence (Smucker, 1989). Before the Revolution, the elite whites—or grands blancs—oversaw the governing of Haiti, the importation of slaves, and the exportation of crops to Europe. The affranchise, otherwise known as gens de couleur, were typically craftsmen or domestic servants due to laws prohibiting this group of people from working in public offices. These laws were placed by the grands blancs because of an increase in populati...
Corruption and abuse have been cancerous hallmarks of Haiti’s political system and leaders. Until recently, power switched hands quickly and brutally as dictators faced assassinations, coups, and international interference. The instability of political roulette has made it difficult to accomplish or establish any social, economic, or environmental plans or policies. Racism is a rampant residual from the colonial era. Wealth and power are controlled by the mulatto elite and little concern or regard is shown for the poor. Few social programs have been created to assist the poor as resources are diverted away from communities and into the hungry pockets of the corrupt. Differences in languages and religions also echo the past. The ruling class speaks French and is predominately Roman Catholic while the majority of Haitians speak the slave language of Creole and practice the voudon (voodoo) religion. The focus of power resides in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Rural communities are ignored and struggle to survive by farming. During the colonial era, much of Haiti’s land was deforested to accommodate sprawling plantations. Wood is also used in the building of homes and as a primary fuel. The removal of trees caused severe erosion and the loss of the nutrient topsoil which washed into the ocean, impacting marine life and fishing. Farmers have moved to Port-au-Prince to seek employment. The desperate
Haiti is drenched in poverty, corruption, and lack of education. Due to these aspects Haiti is “the least developed country in the western hemisphere”. With only one-third of suitable land...
The difference between the structure of the educational system in Haiti and the United States are the following ones: Schools in Haiti are divided in four levels: Primary, Secondary, Vocational and Technical, and University. On the other hand, United States’ structure has the following levels; Kindergarten, Elementary school, Middle school, High school, College and University. Schools in Haiti have a different educational system than the United States. Students remain in the same classroom for the whole day. In contrast, in the United States students go to different classrooms during the day. In Haiti there are a few things that are quite different; in Haiti during break time schools do not pr...
Hatt, Beth. (2007). Street smarts vs. book smarts: The figured world of smartness in the lives
Other ethnic groups believe that all Haitians practice voodoo, that is not true at all because we have a variety of religions. People would say: you don’t look Haitian, or you look Haitian, or you are too light skin to look Haitian; how does a Haitian look like honestly? How? Are we all supposed to be dark black, look poor, and look violent since Haiti was declared as one of the poorest and most violent countries in the Western hemisphere. I get offended when people say such things, they are just being ignorant. Haitians are always late; some Haitian may be late but doesn’t anyone around the world ever late? Some people have asked if I speak Haitian, how can I speak Haitian, Haitian isn’t a language it is a nationality, Haitians speak French
The word community is defined as a group of individuals residing in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. We all, whether we know this or not, belong to particular communities and even sub communities (self contained community within an unusually large area). One particular community that I've been a part of during my entire life is the Haitian community. An Haitian Community is usually a place where a group of Haitian nationals reside, we share many cultural beliefs and practices together. In this paper I will be investigating some of the beliefs and practices of the Haitian Community.
People who are part of the Haitian-American culture, like myself, are either born in Haiti and moved to the U.S. and have assimilate to the American culture or were born in the U.S. and have parent who were originally from Haiti. I was born in Haiti and raised in the U.S. I can relate to other people, female and male, who were also born in Haiti and have moved to the U.S at a young age. Members
The U.S. Virgin Islands is predominantly an English speaking island; however the most popular language spoken over the past 400 years has been a Virgin Islands Creole English, as well as Dutch Creole. The U.S. Virgin Islands became an English speaking country in 1917 when the island was formerly the Danish West Indies. Over the years Virgin Islanders have communicated with each other with a dialect some Virgin Islanders call “broken English”, although some scholars call it Creole English. Virgin Islanders have also made up many expressions of wisdom and truth handed them down from earlier generations and are still being used today.
Martinique is a Caribbean island, which also happens to be a department of France. Due to the different people that are living there, and their cultural and social backgrounds, it makes Martinique a very unique place to live. Much of Martinique’s social policy and culture is influenced by France and their structures, mainly because unlike many other European colonizers, France never gave up or lost its hold on Martinique (Revauger). What are unique to Martinique as their own island, however, are their race, class, and gender systems. Though this has bee influenced by France, various other Caribbean islands, and the West Indies through various contacts with each culture and their people, it is combined into a culture that is all their own.
Most recent class discussion was very intriguing. Many topics were discussed, and that is what made the class more interesting. In the Haitian culture, HIV is not talked about. It was sad to hear about an individual being HIV positive due to his unfaithful spouse. This is illegal. Almost losing a life due to a spouse being unfaithful is perplexing. Where is the trust? This is not a disease where a healthcare professional can just cure with antibiotics. HIV can be detrimental psychologically and emotionally. Certain areas in Haiti, women are known to have more than one man for sexual encounters even if they are married. It was intriguing to hear from a classmate voice that even patient assignments on a hospital floor are distributed among certain nurses just because the patient has HIV. Everyone should be treated as if they have something. One does not want to do a procedure without gloves, and then come in the next day to hear a patient was tested positive for HIV. One believes that this is a great opportunity for someone to a do a project on the Haitian population and HIV. This population needs a great deal of education.