Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 08,  2003

IS THIS THE DEATH OF SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS? New education plan would require students to attend school on Saturdays. TT/ Julio Lainez

Gringo, Tico Busted for Allegedly Pimping Minors
By Tim Rogers
Responding to an early-morning phone call from an alleged victim of child sexual exploitation, police in the eastern suburb of San Pedro arrested a 53-year-old U.S. citizen and a 23-year-old Tico yesterday for allegedly pimping minors and producing child pornography.
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"New Education Plan Calls for Saturday Classes
By Amanda Schoenberg
Costa Rican students may soon miss out on the joys of a two-day weekend, according to Education Minister Astrid Fischel.
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No Kids Burned by Fireworks last Month
Health Minister Maria del Rocio Saenz is calling last year's campaign to avoid accidental burns caused by firecrackers "highly effective," noting that no children entered the Children's Hospital in December 2002 with burns due to firecrackers, despite the traditionally explosive yearend fiestas.
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 Intensive Ballet Workshop
For youngsters and young adults, classes are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. starting on Mon., Jan. 13. Also, Flamenco and dance for beginners, teens and adults, two hours a week, Thurs. 6-8 p.m. at Zingari Dance Studio. Info: 282-1127.

Origami Workshop
Kids 7-12 years are invited to visit Escuela Casa del Artista today and all Wednesdays 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Instructor Yuko Oga teaches the art of making forms by bending paper. Info: 234-1233.

Bowling for Kids
Special classes for children Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-noon at Metro Bowl, Los Yoses. Info: 228-4874.

Gringo, Tico Busted for Allegedly Pimping Minors
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Responding to an early-morning phone call from an alleged victim of child sexual exploitation, police in the eastern suburb of San Pedro arrested a 53-year-old U.S. citizen and a 23-year-old Tico yesterday for allegedly pimping minors and producing child pornography.

The two men were arrested in their apartment in Barrio Pinto, where police confiscated pornographic photographs, computer equipment and the vehicle the U.S. citizen, identified only as "James," allegedly used to drive the five minors, ages 15 - 17, to downtown San José, where they would prostitute themselves.

The female victims, three Nicaraguans and two Costa Ricans, allegedly lived in the apartment of the North American suspect, who allegedly "handled" the money they made.

The U.S. citizen, who reportedly does not speak a word of Spanish, allegedly allowed the young Costa Rican man to live in his apartment also to act as a translator with the girls and a contact man on the streets, a police source who wished to remain nameless told The Tico Times yesterday.

According to the source, one of the young female victims called the police station yesterday morning, complaining that the U.S. citizen was not giving her the money she had earned prostituting herself on the street.

Police had reportedly been tipped off earlier by neighbors about suspicious activity at the apartment, and acted right away on the young alleged victim's phone call.

The police source said the U.S. suspect was very cooperative with police, but pretended not to know the girls were underage. Police also reportedly found photos in the apartment of " James" posing in sexual positions with the five girls who lived with him for the last two months.

Both suspects were place under a three-month preventive jail sentence, as police continue to investigate.

The girls, meanwhile, gave their names to a representative of the Child Welfare Office (PANI) before being allowed free to go.

"New Education Plan Calls for Saturday Classes
By Amanda Schoenberg
aschoenberg@ticotimes.net

Costa Rican students may soon miss out on the joys of a two-day weekend, according to Education Minister Astrid Fischel.

In an attempt to resolve the current education stalemate, Fischel yesterday revealed a new plan that would require students to attend Saturday classes. Despite government fiscal woes that led to a proposed reduction in class days, last year the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court upheld the 200-day year established by international agreement.

The new plan, currently in first-round negotiations with the teacher's union, would maintain the requisite 200 days of school, but allow those teachers who work on Saturdays to have Mondays free, thus eliminating the need to add an additional month to the school calendar -- a move that would cost the government ˘22 billion ($57,900,000) in teacher incentives.

Principals and vice-principals would likely coordinate alternating days off.

According to Fischel, the weekend hours would focus on special classes not offered during the week, including civic education, physical education, art and music. The focus on "integrated education" would also incorporate public speaking, spelling and grammar lessons.

Fischel said studies show one of the major causes of school desertion is that students do not know how to study appropriately. The Saturday classes would be a way to target improving study habits as well, she stressed.

As part of the proposal, student lunch programs would remain open on Saturdays to serve poor children and students would not have to wear their uniforms to class. Public school transportation would also run for Saturday classes.

The calendar year for public schools would not be altered by the new weekend school plan.

Saturday classes are not an entirely new proposal; according to Fischel, they were abolished in 1980 during the administration of President Rodrigo Carazo. Fischel said the new proposal was met with a great deal of respect and interest by the union and the working group will meet again on Monday to discuss the plan further.

President Abel Pacheco called the plan "an intelligent response," but said he awaited the "fundamental" opinion of the teachers.

No Kids Burned by Fireworks last Month

Health Minister Maria del Rocio Saenz is calling last year's campaign to avoid accidental burns caused by firecrackers "highly effective," noting that no children entered the Children's Hospital in December 2002 with burns due to firecrackers, despite the traditionally explosive yearend fiestas.

In comparison, more than 20 children were wounded last year due to firecrackers and fireworks, and at least 10 had third-degree burns.

Rocio thanked the press, the government and individual merchants for disseminating valuable safety information to customers.