Mexico's Drug Wars Transcends Into the Classroom

 

Since the year 2006, many gruesome acts of violence, acted on by cartels, have affected communities. There are constant acts of violence seen by the public (children, teachers, the elderly, etc.) on the daily. In Acapulco, it has become increasingly hard for the school children to focus on their education. There have been prolonged summer vacations due to the number of violence that had been increasing. In Juarez, an elementary school vice principle mentioned to a reporter, "Kids all over town are used to seeing violence. They record pictures of dead bodies on their cellphones and put them on Facebook." Mexico, being the fourteenth largest economy, spends roughly 20 percent on the countries education. However, most of it goes to waste due to the immense corruption. As the drugs wars continue they’ve given a lot of influence to those who have no other option, but watch and let it happen. There has been a constant struggle for people to survive. To give you an idea as to what is happening, Mexico spends 24. 3 % and Canada spends 12 % on educational purposes  (Thackston), but unfortunately because of Mexico’s failing economy, even then… the amount Mexico spends on the children is a lot lower than neighboring North American countries.

There have been many complaints by teachers of being constantly threatened to give portions of their salaries to cartels. This constant threat has affected the attendance of teachers, as well as the amount of money that is invested in the classrooms. There have been complaints that the classrooms have reported to have dim lighting and have that not enough money has been spent on school buildings and materials. As children are lacking the resources they need, they see the growing economic value in illegal business with the drug cartels. Various psychologists now explain that many children have begun to think that extorting money and violence is an acceptable way of living  (Murphy). There has been an increase in bullying amongst many schools in Mexico. Within 31-32 Mexican states, there are only five laws in place to protect against the school bullying.  Sadly, there have been cases of students charging other students to use the playground. Just like the drug cartels act, the students are using extortion to their advantage. The means in which children in Mexico have been bullying has shown, not only the influence that drug cartels have on the characters of the young children who watch them, but also the change in what a child experiences during childhood, from the way they are bullied to the way they think about being successful.   

Works Cited

Murphy, Annie. "Mexico's Drug War is Changing Childhood." 2012 27 November. NPR. 2013 26 November <http://www.npr.org/2012/11/27/166027034/mexicos-drug-war-is-changing-childhood>.

Thackston, David. World Issues. 24 April 2013. 26 November 2013 <http://www.worldissues360.com/index.php/countries-that-spend-the-most-money-on-education-800/>.