Desde Dentro de Cuba.

Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. - http://www.cubafreepress.org

Havana, Oct. 21, 1999, Cuba Free Press.

FORCED EDUCATION SHUTS OUT PARENTAL VALUES By Cándido Sanchez, Cuba Free Press.

HAVANA - When parents send their children to school they should have the right to select the ethical, moral and religious values which their youngsters learn. That is recognized in Article 5 of the United Nations' Universal Charter for Family Rights.

But in Cuba a single system of education, "free," i.e., subsidized by the central government, rejects options. The fatherland's monopoly political system is the only one recognized; the leaders are extolled to near-deity status although the atheist doctrine imposed rejects deism. Participation in political activities is forced and all educational rewards and punishments are designed to turn every student into a loyal follower of one ideological principle. Everything else is of secondary nature.

The consequence of this is the emergence of "double standards." From a very early age, each youth is pressured to project an image that keeps his/her inner self hidden so the students may 'advance' in the world in which they are forced to live.

Parents resisting the single educational system are made acquainted with Article 36 of the Penal Code: "(A)nybody guilty of encouraging a minor to abandon home, miss school...(or) reject the educational work inherent to the national educational system...or discourage participation in duties meant to show respect and love of the fatherland...will be deprived of freedom for periods ranging from three months to a year or to fines of 100 to 300 pesos or both."

Once graduated, students trained as professionals must serve two years in "social services," wherever they may be sent, are paid a minimal salary...and have virtually only the limited prospect of continuing to work for the "service of the revolution" the rest of their days. They will never reach the standard of living of their homologues in any other country since a sizable part of their salary is taken by the state for "social purposes."

So, is our education free or not? And, if in fact free, why do our professionals have to go from feeling grateful to feeling unconditionally beholden to the state?

Candido Sanchez, Cuba Free Press.