Escola de surdos no município de Gado Bravo-PB: um marco para a comunidade surda local (1999 a 2002).

Abstract

The present dissertation examines the Municipal School of the Deaf of Gado Bravo/PB "Edwards Caldas Lins," focusing on the period from 1999 to 2002. This study aligns with the research line of Educational History, Policy, and Management within the Graduate Program in Education at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG). The research is situated within the broader context of educational history, specifically concentrating on school institutions and the bilingual education of deaf individuals. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the creation and implementation process of the school for the deaf in Gado Bravo/PB during the specified time frame. The specific objectives included investigating the political and educational determinants influencing the establishment of the school, describing the development of its political-pedagogical proposal with an emphasis on the participating individuals, and assessing the social and educational significance of the institution from the perspective of those involved in its creation and implementation. Methodologically, the research employed documentary analysis, focusing on related projects and final extension reports affiliated with PROBEX/UFPB (2001-2002) and Law No. 069/2001, which sanctioned the name of the school. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants—one deaf individual and three hearing individuals—who played roles in the institution's founding and development. The data were analyzed from an interpretative perspective as outlined by Severino (2013). The findings revealed that the EMSGB was inaugurated on April 23, 2001, within a bilingual framework for the deaf. The implementation process was facilitated by a request from the Department of Education and Culture of Gado Bravo for pedagogical support from a group of educators from UFPB, now UFCG, which also involved the participation of professors from EDAC and extension students. Notably, the director of the school played a critical role; her extensive academic and professional experience, combined with her deep connection to the local community, drove her commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for deaf individuals in Gado Bravo. The Deaf Interpreter significantly contributed to the rapid acquisition of Sign Language by students, alongside a dedicated group of teachers. Overall, the establishment of the EMSGB marks a pivotal moment in the lives of deaf individuals in Gado Bravo, as it has fostered meaningful change in the educational and social circumstances of the local deaf community since its inception.