Latinos Are Essential
Networked Education
Special | 5m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Two married teachers struggle to teach virtually among thehardships of Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, wracked by the aftermath of recent natural disasters and with unreliable electricity and internet access, two married teachers struggle to teach their students virtually while raising their own children.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Latinos Are Essential
Networked Education
Special | 5m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
In Puerto Rico, wracked by the aftermath of recent natural disasters and with unreliable electricity and internet access, two married teachers struggle to teach their students virtually while raising their own children.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Latinos Are Essential
Latinos Are Essential is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Latino Public Broadcasting
Latino Public Broadcasting is the leader of the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans.Before the pandemic, the Department of Education was vulnerable.
We had the earthquakes in January.
And before the earthquakes, Hurricane María.
Then the lockdowns started.
And went national.
The Department of Education found itself with no plan to manage this emergency situation.
I have two children.
A boy in 11th grade and a girl in 4th grade.
It has been very difficult to have these two roles.
To be mother and teacher at the same time.
It has changed the dynamic of our home.
Plus, my husband is also a teacher.
There are always situations when I might need to interrupt my class.
For example, I have to help my daughter when her teacher asks her to write something.
"Let's wait for more people to join."
"Then we will begin."
Educators are psychologists and therapists.
The pandemic affects both our educational and emotional relationships.
"I am going to start."
"It is important to understand when studying a language," "that there are different branches of grammar."
"According to the history books, this goes back to the 5th Century BC."
"Since that period," "people began to study the structure of languages and how they function."
Teleworking is not a privilege.
It's a sacrifice.
"I'm still waiting for some students."
Even if students can connect and receive some information from our class, we can't tell if what we are doing is really creating results.
"The U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2" "states that they country must count the population every 10 years."
"Are there any questions?
I need someone to answer, please.
"I'm waiting."
Some students can connect, but we have to be clear.
Some students write us at 2 or 3 pm after class is already over.
Some even write at 8 or 9pm.
We try to answer everyone, but we can't be working 16 or 18 hours a day.
It is very difficult to be a teacher in Puerto Rico due to the lack of resources and the difficulties the system creates.
But I decided to become a teacher because I know I can contribute.
I can plant my seed.
I can try to change the course of history of this country so that we're more aware and more just.
Since we live here together as citizens.
"Oh my god!"
We are just starting the week.
Support for PBS provided by: