CIRCUS CHILDREN FROM THEIR SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS: INVISIBLE IDENTITY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN MEXICO

This research deals with the social representations of circus children about their life project. For the educational system in Mexico these children do not appear in official statistics, few of them have access to elementary education and the benefits of scholarships, technologies of information, health, food, security, etc., when these are responsibilities of the Mexican State established by law. Since society sees these children as another product of entertainment of the circus, we did not observe from the interior of the human spirit. Education is provided by the National Council for Educational Development (CONAFE), through community instructors. They are young people with high school education, have a contract with the circus, coexist with circus families during a school year, before to continue their studies. Only 11% of the total population of circus has elementary education in Mexico. The research is qualitative, problem and questions as well as categories were made during the process. This allowed us to explain better their social representations. Methodology used was grounded theory, through interviews with six children, supported by observations and drawings. Results show that the school activity is carried out in inappropriate and risky conditions. Circus children have ideas of their life project, in relation to their everyday activity, which is the very survival in the circus; want to be like their parents and have a circus themselves, to receive applause in recognition for what they do. In addition, they aspire to have a school, toys, many books and new furniture, a computer to investigate new things.