Deaf Adults' Emic Views on Deaf Education in South Africa: Looking Back To Improve the Future.

N

16

Adults; Deafness; Educational Attitudes; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Interviews; Negative Attitudes; Opinions; Qualitative Research; School Attitudes; Sign Language; Student Experience; Teacher Qualifications

In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 deaf adults (ages 17 to 56) who had been educated in South Africa, to determine their impressions about the education system there. Ten of those interviewed had moved to the U.S. while the remaining 13 were still living in South Africa . The interviews were administered in sign language, with video recordings made of all interviews. Qualitative analysis of the interviews indicated that the subjects were generally unhappy with their education, expressing both feelings of resentment and anger as well as helplessness and hopelessness. Results suggest the need to change present requirements for teachers of the deaf in South Africa so that such teachers all have specialized training which is not now required. The importance of such training, including sign language, is stressed. (Contains 19 references.) (DB)

1997

ED406808