I’m sure you’ve heard the talk out of Washington about Mexico—Build a wall!  Return all illegal immigrants (even non-Mexicans) south of the border!  Tax all imports coming from Mexico!  After I visited Mexico, if any of theses boasts come true, it’s obvious they will devastate Mexico’s economy.  Can Mexico compete in that environment?  What will they do?

My wife and I took some family members on a cruise down the Pacific coast of Mexico.  Of course, we stopped at the tourist resorts and enjoyed the food and sun.  We also stopped at Cabo San Lucas.  The most interesting thing we did was to skip the resort and, instead, drive a jeep into the back country of the Baja Pennisula.  What we saw made me ask—can Mexico compete?  And, if not, what will they do?

With a guide in the lead jeep, several of us caravaned out of the resort city and into the hilly back country.  It’s mostly desert, but I was surprised to see lots of green things hiding in the shelter of trees and bushes.  After climbing the hills, we came to a tiny village in the middle of no where.  A church dominated the high point of the town next to a private school.  Our guide gave us a tour of the school and explained the students boarded there during the week.  After seeing this school, I’m not sure that Mexico can compete.

—The school was poor, supported by the families in the area and, partially, by the government.  The US rotary Club donated beds

—I saw one, old TV in the cafeteria—none in the classroom.  I know it can be a distraction, but so much of learning content comes through media and these students didn’t have any.

—I didn’t see one computer—any where.  Even the attendance records were kept in a small hand-written notebook.

—There were no sports or after school enrichment programs.

Can Mexico compete?  I can’t imagine how these students will be able to succeed in the high-tech, fast-paced world outside their small town.  This school was only an elementary school and they would transfer to a public school in the city.  Still, compared to the US elementary schools I’ve seen, the Mexican kids will be far behind.

If Mexico can’t compete, what will they do?  In the past decade, illegal immigration from Mexico to the US is estimated to have dropped 90% due to a better job market in Mexico.  If any of the threats coming out of Washington are put into effect, the economy of Mexico will be devastated since we are one of their largest trading partners.

What will those students from the small school do?  If they can’t find jobs in Mexico, they will leave for better opportunities.  But they’ll be much less prepared to compete and may become a burden for the place they go to—the U.S.