06/07/2008

To teachers, without affection

CARLOS EDUARDO LINS DA SILVA
ombudsman@uol.com.br

There was a time when education was a priority topic for the newspaper --now it no longer is; the strike gave it a chance to be again.

Folha did not treat public school teachers who were on strike for three weeks in São Paulo very well. It positioned itself editorially against the walkout, published aggressive columns against them, and in the news, dealt with the topic more like an additional, unnecessary impediment to the chaotic traffic in the city than a serious public policy.

Up to that point, it went relatively well. The newspaper and its columnists have every right to give their opinions and judge what is right. News pages, which can never be contaminated by opinion, did not reach the point of launching a campaign against the strikers. Besides, the category of public school teachers and their union representatives is far from not deserving criticism.

The important question is something else. The strike is an excellent opportunity for the press to make a detailed survey of conditions in education, which Folha lost.

Dozens of readers contacted the ombudsman to complain about coverage of the strike. None of them offered praise. In the complaints, I did not detect any ideological or partisan odor.

There is a national consensus about the importance of education to improve the country's future. But when it is necessary to demonstrate this commitment concretely, few show up.

For the newspaper to go beyond the rhetoric it must invest in particular stories about problems which impede improvements in education.

From what Folha has published since the start of the strike, it is not possible to conclude whether or not it was justifiable.

Not even basic questions, such as the number of absences allowed, were resolved (a reader explained that there are 32 absences from class allowed, five or six days per year in all, not 32 days, as the story gave the impression).

There was no profound discussion about the decree that detonated the strike. It did not come even close to a study of the difficulties, such as: violence by students against teachers, existence of teaching equipment necessary at the schools, incentives for professional improvement, number of students per class, suitability of number of classes taught per teacher and curriculum, Internet access, quality of libraries, laboratories and art studios.

There was no examination of the average pay conditions for teachers: which percentage of remuneration is salary and which is bonus and perks, how teacher pay in São Paulo compares with other states and countries, how many hours a week they must work (in the classroom and outside) to earn a salary minimally comparable to their education, and the strategic importance of their profession.

I asked the managing editor for an evaluation of the coverage. She responded that she considered it "accurate, but it is obvious that there is always room for improvement." She said that the newspaper was the first to question the value of the raise announced by the government (it was only 5.41%, not the 12% announced). Her response did not convince me that Folha had performed well.

Education is either a priority for the newspaper or it is not. There was a time, in the mid-70s, when without a doubt it was, despite many mistakes. Now, it not longer is. It should be. The strike gave it a chance to be again.

High and low notes

Two pieces of news mobilized São Paulo residents: the harsh traffic laws and restrictions on trucks in part of the city. In both cases, Folha's coverage was accurate, with diverse opinions guaranteed, wide scope, didactic spirit and precision.
*
Between 1996 and 2006, Brazil managed an extraordinary feat: chronic infant malnutrition fell 46% in the country and 74% in the Northeast; infant mortality fell 43.5%. This newspaper, however, did not give the conquest much attention. The news did not appear on the front page; it only came out at the bottom of the front of the daily news section on Friday.
*
The Alstom bribery case has great importance for readers who criticize Folha for favoring the centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). Weeks of weak effort intensified these accusations. But the newspaper improved and has done well, with diverse lines of investigation and exclusive revelations.
*
Problems with the Portuguese language continue to curse these pages. Many journalists barely manage to dominate their language. And there are those who venture out and make mistakes in others. On Sunday, there was an error in the declension of the second person singular present in the indicative tense of the verb in Spanish ("is you a journalist?" instead of "are you a journalist?"). There was still room for dispensable anglicisms, such as "bear market" in the headline of a story on Thursday.

To read

"Autonomous Pedagogy," by Paulo Freire. Paz e Terra Publishers, 2008 (starting at 6.10 reals, or US $3.80) --list summarizes wise recommendations by teachers to improve your performance.

"The School of the Future," by Lauro de Oliveira Lima. José Olympio Publishing, 1974 (starting at 8 reals at places that sell used books) --classic book by the great educator, originally written 42 years ago, with his predictions for the school of the future that is now.

"Docent Communication," by Moacir Gadotti. Loylola Publishing, 1975 (starting at 10 reals, used) --profound reflection about the vital importance of the relationship between teacher and student for success in education.

To see

"The School," by Daniele Luchetti, with Silvio Orlando, Anna Galiena, 1995 --magnificent story about the reality of Italian public education, in many aspects similar to Brazil.

"To Sir With Love," by James Clavell, with Sidney Poitier and Christian Roberts, 1967 (starting at 29.90 reals) --classic film about the difficulties teaching rebellious adolescents, in this case a poor neighborhood in London in the 1960s.

"The Substitute," by Robert Mandel, with Tom Berenger and Raymond Cruz, 1996 --drama about a school in Miami where drug trafficking and violence are common problems.

Topics most commented

1. São Paulo teachers' strike
2. Coverage of municipal elections
3. Harsh traffic laws

What the newspaper did right

Blackout

Coverage of the digital blackout in São Paulo, especially as it affected consumers.

Front pages

The whole week had attractive front pages and good content, particularly last Sunday.

Ingrid

The newspaper treated in the most prudent, serene and complete way the rescue of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who had been held hostage.

And where it was wrong

Rio Grande do Sul

Readers still did not have a complete view of the crisis in Brazil's southernmost state.

Mercosul

The summit of the regional trade group to which Brazil belongs got much less attention than the European Union for days.

Bill Gates

Retirement of one of the most important businessmen of the 20th Century got only discreet treatment by the newspaper.

-Translation by John Wright