A great love for learning

Johnny Ramirez, EdD, MEd, and Clara Ramirez, PhD, MEd, serve as advisors to the Peruvian government

In addition to their teaching duties at LLU, professors Johnny and Clara Ramirez share a love for promoting diversity and education internationally.

Thanks to the work of early 20th-century missionaries Fernando and Ana Stahl, Seventh-day Adventism has become synonymous with education in the Peruvian Andes.

Of the native non-European Peruvians raised in the mid-20th century, the majority were taught in Adventist schools. Due to governmental constraints, these were the only schools available to native Peruvians at that time.

The system has since changed. Over the past decade, the government called for an education reform, reinventing itself and searching for new ways of educating its citizens. At the conclusion of this 10-year period of reform, Peru's Ministry of Education called on Loma Linda's Johnny and Clara Ramirez to serve as consultants. They were met with enthusiasm.

"There were so many people waiting for us that they had to escort us like celebrities--everyone wanted to say 'hi,'" says Clara Ramirez, PhD, MEd, assistant professor of general studies, Graduate School. "It was a very interesting feeling."

There is no parallel in the United States to the Peruvians' great love for learning, shares Johnny Ramirez, EdD, MEd, professor, Faculty of Religion. "The role of celebrity is not only for those in the glamour of Hollywood--it's also for the learned people."

As education and diversity advisors, Drs. Johnny and Clara Ramirez visited Peru in March, August, and November of 2000. During each visit, they spoke to elementary, secondary, and university-level educators, providing a global perspective on teaching youth of the 21st century.

Dr. Johnny Ramirez shares, "We were treated very well by the people of Peru." They escorted him and his wife, Dr. Clara Ramirez, to several of the country's historical sites. Here, Drs. Ramirez relax over dinner near Machu Picchu.

"It was a particular blessing because we were able to share with the teachers of various regions of Peru," says Dr. Johnny Ramirez.

During the first trip, Drs. Ramirez presented in Lima to a group of 10,000 individuals. During the second trip, they visited the area of Cuzco, the former capital of the Incan Empire, where 12,000 educators attended the presentation. They returned three months later to the city of Arequipa, presenting the final series to a group of 10,000.

Even though Dr. Clara Ramirez had never visited Peru before and Dr. Johnny Ramirez had only been to the country once, the couple is familiar with Central and South America. As missionaries, Drs. Ramirez served in Costa Rica and Honduras for six years. Dr. Johnny Ramirez has also taught in several countries, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. He remains an adjunct professor at Montemorelos University in Mexico.

Each of the Ramirez' trips to Peru lasted two weeks, during which they presented day-long seminars. Representatives from Israel and Mexico presented on the topics of technology and the historical concept of education.

Discussing the role of the educator in the new millenium, Dr. Johnny Ramirez divided his presentation into three points.

• Children of the 21st century learn in a multitasking fashion, meaning that professors represent just one avenue of learning.
• The role of the professor has changed from the one who imparts knowledge to the one who facilitates learning.
• The Peruvians have plenty to contribute to the world.

"They need to see themselves not as customers in the world market of ideas," he elaborates. "Instead, they need to see themselves as engagers. This applies to both the student in the elementary classroom, as well as the university professor."

Traditionally, power and wealth in the country have been monopolized by the European-descended inhabitants; the majority of mestizos and nearly all of the indigenous people are laborers or subsistence farmers. For this reason, the indigenous Peruvians have not seen themselves as a major contributor to the global community--a sentiment Drs. Johnny and Clara Ramirez hoped to reverse through their presentations.

"Sometimes, there is a tendency to put down what is yours," Dr. Johnny Ramirez says. "But Peruvians are intelligent people with a bright future and a glorious past."

Dr. Clara Ramirez adds, "Our purpose was to have the teachers promote the beauty and the richness of their culture, as well as share what they have given to the world."

Having received her doctorate in Spanish literature, Dr. Clara Ramirez spent two months preparing for the presentations by studying Peruvian literary works. Through this vehicle, she demonstrated how teachers in Peru can promote their native culture. After reading the works of Peruvian authors, she was amazed at how much they write about their vibrant history.

"I told the educators that when you teach your children Peruvian literature, you're teaching them moral values and how to appreciate their culture," she says. "They can bring writers from other countries into the classroom, but they can also feel so proud of the [Peruvian authors] and learn a lot from them."

Dr. Johnny Ramirez also expressed the need to celebrate what is native to Peru. He demonstrated this by comparing the Peruvian architectural styles to those of the Western world.

"The aesthetics of the Incas was not uniformity. Their style was more post-modern," he relates, noting that when constructing stone buildings, the Incas were guided by the original shapes of the stones, stacking each piece for a perfect fit. "It was a more natural expression of architecture."

Both Johnny and Clara Ramirez used such examples to remind the educators of how important it is to incorporate these teachings in the classroom--a lesson that was well-received.

"They were grateful for our presence there. They appreciated hearing a foreigner spread the beauty and the wisdom of their ancient culture. It is not something they're accustomed to hearing," Dr. Johnny Ramirez says. "Usually, foreigners go there telling them that they don't know this, they don't know that. But we were telling them, 'You have this, and we're here to learn from you.'"

The teachers appreciated this attitude and expressed how happy they were that Drs. Ramirez were ready to share with them as equals.

Not only did the presentations benefit the educators of Peru--they were a learning experience for Drs. Ramirez as well.

"I realized how much [the Peruvians] appreciate what we do," says Dr. Clara Ramirez, "and it encouraged me to study and prepare more."

As a cultural psychologist, Dr. Johnny Ramirez says he loved what he found in Peru. "They have a strong sense of where they want to go and how they want to get there," he remarks. "It was a great privilege to facilitate with my contribution."

While Drs. Johnny and Clara Ramirez remain active in other endeavors--he just finished a report on a study of North American Division Hispanic church members; she completed a presentation at the Dominican International Book Fair--they are enthusiastic about venturing into other South American countries to provide the same services for educators. They are currently in negotiations to return to Peru soon.

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