Colonial Education: A History of Education in Belize.

This paper discusses the education in Belize (formerly known as British Honduras) during the colonial era and the lasting impact of the educational foundation of the country. The paper examines the influence the British colonial educational system continues to have in. Belize, 20 years after independence. It gives an overview of the history of primary and secondary education in Belize. Although education existed in Belize well before the arrival of the British colonizers and developed among various cultures during colonization, these are not highlighted in the paper because of the limited impact they had on Belize in general once school attendance became compulsory. Contains 92 references. (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Colonial Education: A History of Education in Belize Karla Lewis Educational Policy Studies University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign AERA 2000 Presentation New Orleans, LA Kc-lewis@uiuc.edu 4/21/00 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY a. 1-eAdiS TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) ye This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 1 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 The title of the presentation is vague and could be deceiving. Although the presentation discusses the education in Belize (formerly known as British Honduras) during the colonial era, this presentation also begins to show the lasting impact of the educational foundation of the country. This presentation, because of time limitations, gives an overview of the history of primary and secondary education in Belize. Although education in Belize existed well before the arrival of the British and developed among various cultures during colonization, those will not be highlighted because of the limited impact they had on Belize in general once school became compulsory. Colony/ Colonial/Colonialism/ Colonization Defining colonization can be difficult, depending on one's perspective. The following are definition's that I found relevant to the context of education and Belize. The first definition comes from a Belize history primer and describes the wide reach of colonization. The second definition ties the notion of colonization to the U.S. educational system. LadsonBillings (1998) takes the stereotypical phrase and applies it to a non-socalled third world context, while retaining the obvious harm colonization does to a people. Colonialism is a system of external domination. Under colonialism, all aspects of a society economic, social, cultural are controlled by another country. (A History of Belize: Nation in the Making. (1983). Belize: Sunshine Books) Gloria Ladson-Billings (1998) discusses the two common notions of the term "colonial" The term "colonial" generally has two references in the United States context. On one hand it conjures the romantic notions of the revolutionary spirit of the early European (primarily English) settlers who steadfastly abhorred English taxes and rule without the benefit of representation. From that notion of colonial we generated a particular view of history, architecture, city planning, and decor. The other notion of colonial extant in the United States is the more sinister, malevolent pattern of conquest and imperialism perpetrated by European powers on so-called third world nations in Asia, Africa, and parts of the Americas. This notion, perhaps no less romantic, evokes pictures of black and brownskinned men attired in European style military garb, while their children wear school uniforms and study for an English and French designed high school entrance exam. (p.247)