The teacher and the community: a case study of teacher-community relations among Zapotec and Mixtec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico

This essay is a case study of teacher-community relations in Oaxaca, Mexico. In this community, teachers are having to relearn the importance of their relationships with community leaders and their involvement in community issues. This case study offers insights into the need for both economic development and cultural sensitivity as expressed in the nature of teacher/parent/community relations and participation in education within a specific context. The example of teachers in this case study suggests that teachers in the US might consider working more closely with their school communities and, in particular, with the struggles of poor people of colour.