Beep, Beep, Climb on the Magic…River?

4 Things You Might Not Know About Schools, Socialism, & Venezuela

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MinED & BlockED

4 min readMar 17, 2019

Magic River?

Beep, beep, climb on the magic…… river? Wait, many people might not know this, but children in Venezuela are not as privileged as we are to be able to go to school. To get to school, they must travel the Simon Bolivar Footbridge. This bridge was closed for two weeks. These children had to cross on ‘trochas’ these sound concerning. [7]. I say magic because, if I had to do this I would need magic super powers. The girl in this article is my age. [7]

In another report, about 95% of the students that go there are from Venezuela. A mom said “If conflict is high after school then, your child might not come home that night.” This would make my Mom very scared. They have to do this because there are no schools in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro closed them all so the children’s only option is to attend Cucata or nearby schools and somehow cross the magic river to get to school. [2] This sounds like the children’s book the Billy Goats Gruff. I can’t imagine how a government closes a road to school.

The school in this article is in Cucuta.

“Cucuta is one of three collection points for international humanitarian aid called for by Venezuela’s opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaido amid Venezuela’s debilitating economic crisis.” [9]

Malnutrition Inflation, Sanctions, and Choices: 4 Things You Need to Know!

1. Malnutrition

Many children of Venezuela are suffering from Malnutrition (people who don’t get as much nutrition as they should) this a very serious problem in Venezuela because many children die before they are even 1 years old. [4] The article says, many families don’t have enough money for funerals so they use plastic bags to wrap the bodies and use their gardens to bury them. [4] I think this is a horrible way to treat your people. [4]

2. Economic Problems

Socialism

My mom and I studied Animal Farm. It is one of her favorite books. We talked about the cycle of power and danger. We talked about how money and choices of governments can hurt people. It was hard to understand. We worked on learning about 3 things. She likes the number 3 when she explains things to me. These are three things that are common in Socialist economies. She told me that sanctions were the way that governments try to force other governments to do something. [5] We watched this video too. I thought it was interesting. [6]

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Decades after capitalism seemed to have triumphed over socialism, politicians are once again arguing about the merits…

www.prageru.com

3. Sanctions, What?

We talked about how the sanctions of our country were created to force change. I did not learn this in school, I did not understand. All I thought about was it was a crisis. She asked me to tell her more. She asks questions to help me learn. She told me it is like when she does not let me have my phone for games. That is a sanction. She told me that many people cite that President Trump is picking a war. I think he is using sanctions to make the government be fair to its people. Just like my mom uses sanctions to make me read or do homework.[6]

Animal Farm [5]

I usually do not agree with President Trump’s choices. She makes me research and tell her why. She does not agree with many either, but she tries to see both sides before creating an opinion. She and I do a lot of research together. Sometimes she sends me pieces of the law to read. She then, asks me to tell her what it means. I like to this. My mom taught me everything comes back to Education. She also makes me check my grammar and use footnotes to show my source. I like how my mom inspires me to think deeply. [6]

4. Inflation

Inflation is also a huge problem in Venezuela this when let’s say you buy some chips and its $3 your friend comes in the next day and gets the same kind of chips but now their $20 this is what is happening every single day in Venezuela. [8]

See this clip: where a journalist in Venezuela explains the Bolivar.

Another article calls Bolivars “financial suicide.” My mom explained to me that it means the Bolivar is so worthless, it is best to find another store of value. I am learning about this next time with her. Matt, I am learning economics. [3]

Stay tuned.