The National College "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre." Ibarra
That morning an absolute sadness seized me, I remember being surprised by the news. After receiving the sad confidence of the blue, my world as fragile, limited and candid literally collapsed. At that moment, looking for the strength to disregard that ungrateful course failure, trying in vain to hide the disappointment. Now, sitting at the computer, disdain and condemnation when irresponsible lying bastard that caused me so unhappy that time. On that morning a child was very lonely and sad amid the general hubbub of a few, some grade classmates, who had been elected, and cheered happy to have adopted this controversial selection. Two or three hours ago, the teacher of the sixth A, an expert on the vice tipple and mistreat children, had appointed three or four students, charging them the task of revising the lists of approved, those who had finally been accepted as future students of the National Association Centenary "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre."
not remember exactly when after leaving school will fly in the direction of the College to see for myself that disappointing figure, or perhaps head down and my naive dreams shattered, I waited for evening, to confirm what my reality a boy of 11 years considered a nasty rejection. Whatever the choice I made, the fact is that few choices that came together in an hour I do not know but it was, and is certainly a place. I guess as I went to college himself had wandered wondering what happened, why had not approved?, It is perhaps for that damn test, "but was not my fault! ", sure I said trying to calm the guilt complex that burned in my conscience seized. Of course that was not my fault.
The first day we started the selection process, for reasons beyond my control, I arrived late to school, about an hour after the commencement of examinations. In the midst of impatience and confusion, entered the first year I found my way, after a brief discussion with my Mom was a bureaucrat who alluded that he had no time to take the exam. After my admission to the classroom was tolerated, I sat down and immediately handed me a copy preprinted containing the questions and problems to solve. Math. But wait, on the letterhead said parallel C and I was enrolled in the D, "give no more," someone told me, "the next you give in the D". No way, to give time. Fifteen minutes after starting the test, a child got up and gave his review, then another and another and another. What a mess! Although now I remember that experience with laughter and some understanding, at the time, hell, it was the worst experience, one of the sensations and miserable bastards who had been in my entire life. Every time someone finished his test, got up and left the classroom, the pressure and anguish I felt terribly were increased stopping to work and develop questions. "I go over," said someone, "daranle a little extra time the guy who just came," said another. In short, things that happened. I must confess that much pressure and tired of realizing that it was one of the last in the course, decided to get up and turn your test as it was, but was not finished. Almost certainly that way to check I must have said, "perhaps that's not approved." Quietly entered the college, walked sadly for those sad places, timidly, I suppose, until finally opposite me, extended a series of papers stuck in a wall unpainted favored announced to those who have the opportunity to be part of the "Centennial Gómez de la Torre", so popular, so famous and so typically ibarreña. Now almost thirty years later, I know why the doors then, I recall the words of the poet: "Oh ye who enter, abandon all hope!"
I started to review each of the names on those lists printed. From top to bottom, bottom-up, sometimes right, sometimes left. Suddenly, my eyes fixed a combination that was very familiar, a hope, a hope sublime spread my integrity, I guess I must have come to confirm and once established, all that emotional darkness disappear automatically, giving way to an exultant joy, self a boy of 11 years, a child unaware insomnia, stress, depression, or anxiety of the incomprehensible existence. Yes I was there. Surely I must have laughed and much, maybe I have become, in those fleeting moments on the child lightly on the face of the planet, not lust, but by the complete lack of pressure and guilt, or moral weight, or rather ignorant. Perhaps, I spent a couple of derogatory adjectives to descriteriado gave me a false report, if awkward or maliciously did not know, just know that already in those early times was that treacherous beardless signs of being a miserable future of low birth . Happy and peaceful, of course, I left those facilities, and aware that it would be part of the "Centennial", for better or for worse. And so, I can assure you now, I was in that "re-education, violence and domestication" for the next six eternal years.
Six years, six years, seem few now, however, are too many considering the things that we had to pass those who always constitute the "black sheep" of the system "black sheep" among flocks and herds of vulgar and common, for foremen grazed starkly with the typical uniform bureaucrat suits, "lambs different" faced, no, not really, rather helpless, to be objective, professional idiocy idiots only interested in graduates who collect the check mediocre end of the month, at the mercy of bullies desperate cowards to retaliate with some naive who believed in turning the other cheek, apprentices of thugs, perverts early draw experts most obscene ways male and female genitalia in infected and filthy bathrooms socialists of our "Master Teodoro", as such abundant wildlife in the "Centennial" unworthy animals, faithful reflections of a distinct segment of society ibarreña.
Yes, and so I got to the first day the "Master Theodore." But it was not like I expected. In fact, nothing changed about my school experience, but something did change, but to keep everything the same. Changed the masks of the foremen and changed the learners violence thugs. Ie changed from bad to worse.
While at school he dreamed of the diver with turtle neck bright red and almost dark khaki pants, so characteristic of "Gomez de la Torre." However, when I attended the first year, coincidence or not, public school owners decided to pose as "fashion designers" and even reinvented. The typical image of "Theodore" I had always naively admired, was one stroke. The classic red diver, gave way to a crimson coat collar open, as I mentioned I had the misfortune to open, turn distasteful and very ambiguous way, which gave a lot of talk, mainly due to uncertain sexuality conceived that color, so he was soon discharged, with consequent economic loss to the "family Teodoro. After that ridiculous attempt to modernize the bureaucrats maestrillos the uniform of "Centennial" finally copied the popular school uniform, so that the red bag was replaced by a shirt the same color pants. That was the uniform he wore "Theodore" until the revolution in education of politicians and bureaucracy stupid, abusive and corrupt Ministry of Education decided to eliminate "Centennial." Although these, uniform color, remained at the new face mixed or mestizo.
About the end of the "Old World", no one objected, and I mean the authorities, primarily to teachers and students involved in general. For those times I lived in Quito, so I was not aware of the issue until the currency ended the old ancestral "Centennial." That's not to say that if it had been in Ibarra had led a revolt to prevent the end of the school, not at all, for what. Although, each time there was a chance and my right as a citizen I made clear that removing to "Theodore" in its traditional was stupid. But that's another story.
Yes, the khaki, will name right?, Will be for ... well ... best not to speculate about the origin of that name so picturesque, the khaki color uniform was the principal, in his later years, the National College "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre," College "Centenario" of men, some very stupid and other fairly rational, indeed, but men can testify that ibarreña community. But no more. No, "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre, at least the College for Boys, no longer exists. The extinct. The stupidity of the bureaucracy and the idiosyncrasies of Ecuador's poor unable to rebel against their bosses grotesque ended with the "Pattern TGT." Now in place, a mockery, a residue, occupies an ambiguous mestizo nontraditional physical facilities, a thing called "Joint Experimental Education Unit Teodoro Gomez de la Torre", institution about which I would not say, they simply do not interest me .
But this post is not especially concerned about the mediocrity and corruption of the owners of the gross and heinous Ecuadorian public education system; but definitely yes on the "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre"
and impressions, anecdotes and opinions that I have this monster with whom I shared six long years. Did I mention that the TGT, had old and new facilities? Explained, "new and old" were two expressions related facilities were built to meet the needs of the original building where initially the TGT because traditionally the late "Centenario" worked in the city center in a building with hidalgo and colonial, which still exists, a house that has a respectable air (1) and August I should note, attached to an elegant Torreon (2) , which has become a symbol of Ibarra, one of the few redeemable. That is, the last thing was the "Centennial" which could not corrupt the stupidity and abuse by the park Pedro Moncayo. Many years later, for reasons of space and functionality built a new facility located south of the city, a broad but coarse, cold, uneducated, unhealthy, more like a prison for young boys than a high school center (3) . Let me see, more or less near the neighborhood of the Green Cross. Those new facilities were the rough and took me where I had my second encounter with the sinister Ecuadorian educational system.
in another post I mentioned what I think of the Ecuadorian education system and teachers in general, suffice to say that I consider very poor, although I admit that wanders around the odd good teacher is certainly the honorable exception that proves the rule rude. Well the "Teodoro" that rule in my time was unquestionably true. I will not go to detail names, conditions and vices which shared most of those "reputable teachers, but with multicolored intensity, no, I will not, not worth it, I'm sure they are common in most of the teachers in Ecuador, so dear reader is only a matter for you to remember, of course, if studied in the public sector, in the mold of traditional cantina educators who tried to make what they called "good and illustrious patriots."
Stories of bestiality and craftsworkers aberrations abound, as was everything in a drugstore, some more gross than others, some more treacherous than others, sadists and drunkards, fools and Sabiondo, some less fucking than others, although the latter never satisfied, but the reputations spread gossip that certainly in the case of respectable persons can be considered libel and in fact are , but no, in the case of administrative and teaching staff of the "Centenario", well deserved in this case were those qualifiers. To tell you the old trick, "I have loose," the thief Collections salary rounded to view and patience of the "lord" rector of the day.
But there is one anecdote in particular is in fact the main reason post, who will narrate in the following paragraphs, and demonstrates the brutality that prevailed in the "Teodoro Gómez, and sometimes take ridiculous borders, therefore, humorous, not to mention a sample of the helplessness in which we were all children against abuse of true psychopaths who enjoyed violence with impunity, irrefutable evidence shows the mess of authorities, evidence of the ilk of those bureaucrats immoral, lazy lovers vain boring speeches, toasts and drink mannered cheap.
Woody Allen mentioned in one of his films that schools of sons of the people, the system often sends the worst of teachers with which account, collegial themselves are terrible. That will be important to take into account when identifying the physical education teachers who generously handed out his teachings in the basic section of "Master Theodore." In those days, and I mean the 80's of last century in the "Centennial Gómez de la Torre, the first, second and third courses, they are called the basic cycle, and later high school program. Diversified Cycle attending classes in the morning, as did the Basic afternoon. More or less we entered at 13h30 and left at 19.00. Well, these people who allegedly were responsible for our physical health, also had the task of monitoring the normal development of the planned activities on campus, "Inspectors" they called themselves, but were actually a kind of brutal guards and foremen insensitive usually resorted to violence against those who violated any of its tax rules. Thus, these guards went through the courses on the lookout for any behavior or attitude that they considered rebellious or original, and were dealing with hurtful ridicule followed the terrorist threat, and sometimes went directly to violence. Ironically, bullies, adolescents who exceeded the others in two or three years, maintained a sort of cordial to those heartless beasts who can not learn to plow, had ended by finding a teaching space in Ecuador.
In such circumstances, had come to develop a wild and picturesque tradition, I guess only in the "Centennial." What was? The evening before entering the classroom, all students we formed us in the main courtyard (4) to listen to the angry rant of some bureaucrat, or to practice the "art" of marching domestically the martial rhythm of the jargon of a fearsome gang boss. "1, 2, 3, 4 ... look up! ... 1, 2, 3, 4, that of ... re! ... 1, 2, 3, 4 ... izzzz .... Everywhere! ... 1, 2, 3, 4 ... turned !.... 1, 2, 3, 4 .... Turn around! ... Marche !.......... Aaaal .... Toooo! "Growled the madman as if possessed by some entity bellicose. At times, pray for the little attention he gave to the mud, or because the idiot wanted to satisfy their need to abuse, we received a punishment instantiated. "Course X around the building!" Bellowed the foreman. Then you had to turn to your left (5) and chop at full speed due to a dead (6) facing the rear of the rear building, follow the perimeter of the building, always full speed dodging obstacles and sometimes jumping the fences of brick (7) , to return to the main courtyard, is the area where the race began. What is interesting and worrisome thing was the idiot behind us possessed, calling himself "inspector," he continued, throwing kicks left and right, plus the odd bit friendly bump on the head. For those who escaped the violence of the jerk was quite funny, not so much for receiving the kick aleve "master." But in the frenzy to grab the lead you went to every mother to take the curve to the alley, but what happens to that floor was tile, extremely slippery. Obviously, the resulting skated are not left waiting, with more than a drop, ah, then!, The whole herd coming back at full speed coming upon you, and there were some killed, what hijuetumadre!, Pisabas heads back, what beast, hijueperra!, so far me to laugh every time I remember. Obviously, for coming out unscathed was funny, but for which was marked with the hoofs of the herd was not exactly very nice. Needless to say, the poor wretch who received the last kick of the cowardly bully, I imagined that the state paid him for abusing children and adolescents.
do things! What Don Teodoro! Teodora! Wins, wins, myths, banditry, failures, corruption scandals, a lot can speak of "Theodore", but in general are ordinary stories, very typical of a stagnant society and ignorantona. The vast majority of those who suffered the mediocrity of the educational system their classrooms will boast of their passage inconsequential by the College of slavishly praising him and furious, threatening anyone who dares to denounce the vile that some miserable committed on their premises. But, as I said once: who cares what he says the mob that was domesticated, right? No, what matters is that the patriotic myths are exposed, the villains are censored, that their dirty tricks are not forgotten. The transcendental is to break the prejudices and traditions of violence, namely that parents assume their responsibility to care for their children and worry because they receive a healthy and well educated.
Ah "Pattern Teodoro", "Centenary", "Gomez de la Torre"! Maybe it was better than I extinguished. Many generations passed by your classroom and gregarious flocks due to the cruel slaughter, how many generations were emasculated by that infamous educational system that favors the foolish repetition of treacherous myths and half-truths, how many boys were abused in your fields without the executioner receive your punishment, many truths were violated in your uncomfortable desks, how many lies they had to suffer your poor blackboards. Maybe, "Centennial" also were the victim of the sinister tradition and culture of Ecuador, that he despises justice, reason and honesty, that it supports violence as a way to enforce the lies of the tyrant as if they were absolute truths. Also suffered the barbarism of the infamous human condition as when your pine trees were uprooted to the delight of gross slot which acted false and corrupt leadership.
Pattern Teodoro Ah!, Despite all remember you with affection, and some respect, for the few pleasant moments that you gave me to contact the truth, the ephemeral sporting triumphs in your
stadium. Teodoro Pattern Ah!, Might have been better if you go extinct, may have been better if you become a myth. The intellectual quality, moral and human gave you a few prestige, excellence created a myth in its meaning tolerable. A legend that motivated me to join the "Centenario", as some ibarreña and Ecuador. A legend that we are part, these men who once chased through the corridors and crannies of the National College "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre" .
List
(1) traditional building which initially ran the College "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre."
(2) Torreón del Colegio "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre."
(3) Main facilities of the former National College "Teodoro Gomez de la Torre."
(4) Main Patio TGT
(5) input / output southwest of the main courtyard of the TGT
(6) South Hall giving courts and stadium once
TGT
(7) Back of the classroom building south. On the right, a space that in the decade of the 8th century's 20, was occupied by a promising group pine trees have been replaced by a layer of gravel patriotic.
PDTA: Mission accomplished, not to say that I've remembered to mention the traditional pattern Teodoro ", even if there is, although it is a myth, may have been better; you can always comment on the legend. Right?