On October 10, Tesla screened her documentary “Painting Without Permission,” which tells the story of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2008’s work in Chiapas, Mexico, as partners of the nongovernmental organization Schools for Chiapas as they helped paint an autonomous school building in a local community.
Tesla discussed the current situation in Chiapas and the needs of the indigenous people, for whose rights the Zapatista National Liberation Army is currently advocating. The main topic in this discussion was autonomous education, which the Zapatistas are implementing in Chiapas with the purpose of providing the indigenous people with an education that meets their needs and helps conserve their ancient Mayan traditions.
Tesla made long-term connections with educators from Europe as well as the United States, among them the Kaplan Early Learning Company, Association for Childhood Education International, European Parents Association, and UNICEF.
“Painting Without Permission” will be screened on campus on Oct. 25 at 7:30 in Yeager Recital Hall. You can view the trailer at the link to the right of this page.