Educational Inclusion in Rio de Janeiro/ Educacao e Inclusao no Rio de Janeiro

Today I will go and try to register my 12 year old son (who has cerebral palsy and ADHD)at school. I tried the homeschooling thing with all of the books and support of the school in Canada, but unfortunately his biological father had a fit and reported me to Social Services here in Brazil. As it turns out, it is illegal to homeschool your child, but at the same time, there exists little to no support for children with moderate learning difficulties.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian Constitution states very clearly that schools are required to accept children like my son. He has so far been refused at Escola Parque in Gavea and Santa Marcelina. Their reasons? Don't have educators or Individualized Plans for children with disabilities. Lack of 'infrastructure'as they like to put it. These are private institutions that charge an arm and a leg for tuition, books and materials are not included in the price and the children must wear full uniforms.When one pays private school in the neighborhood of $400 CDN per month(minimum wage is just over $200 CDN per month),there are more than 30 students per class,two to three classes per grade,teachers earning around $600 CDN per month (unfortunately yet another proof that education is in total ruin here) its hard to imagine that these schools cannot afford to hire specialists to address learning issues. Children here are graded only on what they get on their exams...Yes, ten year olds with ulcers. University preparatory courses at every corner, milking parents even more so that their precious offspring can get into tuition free universities. Needless to say, the creativity in cheating on these exams is something that should be studied by the CIA and FBI...

This is when I miss my home of Calgary. Children are integrated no matter what. Other criteria is taken into consideration in grading children. IF Brazil wants to compete on an international level, they must begin by integrating all of society into the educational system.

Yah right,and that is really going to happen soon......

Hoje eu vou tentar de matricular meu filho de 12 anos (portador de paralisia cerebral e TDAH)num escola.Eu tentei de fazer 'homeschooling'(educacao em casa)com tudo apoio das escolas e profisionais do Canada, mais o pai biologico dele tive um chilique e me denunciou no Conselho Tutelar. Aparentemente, e contra lei de ensinar seu proprio filho em casa, mas o mesmo tempo,nao existe nenhum apoio nas escolas para estudantes com dificuldades de aprendizagem.

O Lei de Inclusao (4º, inciso III do texto da Lei nº. 9.394/96,) aqui no Brasil exige bem claramente que as escolas, tanto publico ou particular, devem aceitar criancas com meu filho. Ate agora, ele ja foi recusado na Escola Parque e na Santa Marcelina. A desculpa deles?? Nao tem estrutura pedagogica e planejamento individualizado para esses criancas..Essas escolas sao particular e as mensalidades sao na faixa de 750 ate 1200 reais por mes (sem contar os valores astronomicos de material, livros e uniformes nao calculado nesse preco). As vezes tem 30 alunos por sala, tem 2 ou 3 turmas por serie, profesoras ganhando bem mal(mais uma prova da calamidade educacional nesse pais)acho muito dificil de acreditar que os donos desses escolas nao podem contratar especialistas para dar apoio para esses criancas. Criancas sao avaliada so com notas das provas..Sim,existe criancas de 10 anos com ulceres,cursinhos para passar vestibular para puder passar para uma faculdade publica. O pressao e tanto que os alunos inventa maneiras de colar que sao impresionante e deveria ser base de pesquisa para o FBI e CIA.

E nesses momentos que eu sinto saudade de minha cidade natal, Calgary. Intergracao sem estresse. Criteria de avaliacao que leve em conta mais que esta numa prova. SE o Brasil quer competir num nivel internacional, tem que comecar de integrar os alunos com deficiencias dentro de escolas regulars.

Quero ver o dia que isso vai acontecer...vou pegar uma cadeira bem confortavel..

Why Are Brazilian Women Eternal Baby Makers?

I guess Planned Parenthood closed up shop a long time ago here in Brazil. I was talking to a Brazilian friend the other day and she said how her husband got her pregnant....Wait a minute folks.Did the birth control pill bypass the shoreline of Brazil? Since when is it the man´s fault that a woman gets pregnant??? I don´t want any more kids and I make darn sure that I practice safe sex AND use the Pill.What makes these women different? Maybe its just easier to put the fault on the male.

Having children is a big responsability,morally and financially. How can these women be responsable if they are not even responsable with birth control? Vasectomies are covered by medical insurance,but the macho male here considers it castration.Tying tubes is too invasive for the woman(I agree)The best Pill on the market is half of the price as it is in Canada and the average run of the mill PIll costs the equivalent of $2USD per month....


You do the math.....

Culture Shock

Let me start by saying that I believe that Brazil is the country of the future. I have lived here for 15 years and I have seen progress that supports this belief. But at the same time, it seems that the future doesn't want to get here. Large formerly state run companies such as Vale Rio Doce are making fortunes and are causing a stir in the international markets. Agriculture is getting stronger everyday. The Sao Paulo stock market is making huge gains. The Brazilian currency is up 15% over the dollar, the economy is stable. On paper, it all looks impressive. on the street, its another story.

Just before New Year, the son of the former doctor of the Brazilian national soccer team was assaulted by two cowards on a motorcycle. As a result, he is in the hospital in critical condition and will be parapeligic for the rest of his life. What about the perpetrators? They are in hiding, probably in the `favela`(I know the politically correct term is ùnderpriveleged communities''but they get more social services and help from NGO's than the middle class,so I hardly consider them under privileged) If htey are snuffed out by the police, they will be tried and then put in the FEBEM for underaged offenders. This is if they are not tortured and beaten by the police beforehand. Do I agree with that? Yes and no. I was assaulted by four drugged out favela dwellers all heavily armed and ready to shoot. They stole my vehicle and left me thrown on the ground. Luckily that was all they did. Do I care if the perpetrators are tortured? Of course not. They deserve worse, like my wrath when I am PMSing. But of course the Amnesty International types are more worried about prisoner's rights than my right to be able to drive safely in the streets of Rio.

In this Eldorado called Brazil, the rich and upper classes are oblivious to what is really going on. They just feed the poor the nightly soap opera,football on Sunday, and Carnaval every February. Schools? God no! The people may just get educated and realize how they have been shafted for generations.

For any society to flourish,education and health should be first and foremost. Until the idiots in Brasilia wake up to that fact, Brazil will continue to be the country of tomorrow, and that tomorrow will never come.