Editor: Viv Edwards (University of Reading, UK)
|
Volume: 18 Number: 4 Page: 317–325
|
|
|
|
|
'It's Not Writing by Itself that is Going to Solve our Problems': Questioning a Mainstream Ethnocentric Myth as Part of a Search for Self-sustained Development
|
|
Marilda C. Cavalcanti
|
|
School education among Rainforest native Brazilians is alien to their traditional indigenous education. At first, schooling was imposed by the dominant society, later it became their choice, today it is their right as entitled by the 1988 Brazilian Constitution. En route towards
self-determination, some of these native peoples, i.e. teachers who attend a continued education course, are now discussing the role of schools in their communities. This paper focuses on an Asheninka teacher's views of literacy with emphasis on school and writing. His reflections question
graphocentrism and point out a need to denaturalise taken-for-granted concepts which are part of the ethnocentric view of the non-indigenous society. His discussion is placed in a comprehensive way and includes public policies for self-sustained development.
Keywords: LITERACY VIEWS, ORAL TRADITION, (BEYOND) GRAPHOCENTRISM, ETHNOCENTRISM, ETHNOGRAPHY
© 2004 Multilingual Matters
Full text PDF
|
