[sw-l] Re: London based charity endangers SW programs in Nicaragua

[James Shepard-Kegl, Esq.]

on 5/22/05 4:14 PM, Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa at
shane.gilchrist.oheorpa at francismaginn.org wrote:

> Val,
>
> I do understand James' concerns - what if the Nicaraguan Government takes
> notice of Condega, they will expect the Bluefields School to convert to
> Oralism etc - that will be a big problem.

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The Nicaraguan Ministry of Education "officially" supports the use of
Nicaraguan Sign Language in the education of Deaf children.  However, the
Nicaraguan government is in a financial crisis.  The Nicaragua public school
system is in disarray.  (That's why they call it a "Third World" country.)

The Nicaraguan Ministry of Education will cooperate with anyone who can
provide financial support.  The Nicaraguans, afterall, are quite desperate.

This is the reason that progressive programs that empower Deaf students are
so fragile.  Unless funded from the outside, such programs are difficult to
sustain.

The situation is particularly difficult for Deaf teachers who have to
compete with hearing people in the educational system.  Since you see this
same competition in wealthier societies, you can imagine the plight of Deaf
teachers where funding is scarce.

-- James