Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Vol 4, 9-15, Copyright © 1999 by Oxford University Press
G Zaitseva, M Pursglove and S Gregory
This article considers the impact of Vygotsky on the education of deaf
children in Russia and is a translation/adaptation of an article currently
being published in Defektologiia. While Vygotsky
perceived sign language as limited in some aspects nevertheless, he always
considered that it had a role in education of deaf pupils. He believed that
sign language should not be 'treated like an the enemy' and said that
'bilingualism of def people is an objective reality'. However, sign
language was banned from Russian schools following a conference decision in
1938. The changing political climate in Russia has lead to the reevaluation
of many aspects of life, including approaches to education, and to a
reassessment of Vygotsky's ideas and an appreciation of their continuing
relevance. Among other things, this has resulted in a reevaluation of the
role of sign language for deaf pupils and an emerging interest in sign
bilingualism.
ARTICLES
Vygotsky, sign language, and the education of deaf pupils
Pedagogical University, Moscow, Russia; University of Exeter, UK; Corresponding author at: School of Education, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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