Listener: I'd rather be depressed and knowledgeable then blissfully unaware. So for that thanks guys.
Me too.
Depression occurs when we feel helpless and unable to do something about it. That is why I talk about it - speaking is doing something. At least it is a start.
problemaddict2: Orphan crow,
So I would LOVE to know more about how they are getting paid from goverments for literacy aids. Can you please help me out here or point me to a thread where you have your research.
You are an awesome member of this group. Research at this level takes a particular mind. No wonder the crows liked you so much.
And I like crows. They are amazing creatures. They pass their knowledge down through generations and they were here long before we were.
Barbara posted a thread a while back about WT literature being used in the school system in the Philippines:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/234180001/article-published-philippines-group-offers-translate-bible-into-pangasinan-name-group-wts-remote-translaton-office
I am pretty sure I have something, somewhere on one of my other computers, that confirms that the WT is involved in supplying books for literacy in the Philippines and receiving funding for it, but I can't find it right now. However, it is also possible that the supply of books to schools is part of the WTS' "charitable works" which, of course, translates into tax free status. (Damn...I wish my other computer wasn't already packed....I am in the middle of a move.)
This article also discusses the WTS' involvement in literacy:
http://jehovahswitnessreport.com/blog/education-for-children-should-empower-not-indoctrinate
But, in that article, the author says this:
These goals were transformed into an action plan within the Philippines that is currently being rolled out at a national and local level using a range of service providers.
Within this mix of providers and with the surprising support of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of the Philippines Inc.
It is reported by the INQUIRER.NET, that the Watchtower Society have translated some children’s religious materials into the Bicol language and provided some free books. The article states “that the aim is to help children understand moral values better.” It is unclear from the report whether the Watchtower Society has received any money for this work or for the books. The translators are volunteers.
A country that has a high representation of Jehovah's Witnesses is Zambia, Africa. A paper submitted for a Masters degree at the University of Zambia, 2013, discusses literacy and the Jehovah's Witnesses role in education.
AN EVALUATION OF THE LITERACY PROGRAMME OFFERED BYTHE CHURCH: A CASE OF SELECTED
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CONGREGATIONS IN CHONGWE DISTRICT IN ZAMBIA
The author doesn't self identify as a JW, but I believe that it was written by a JW - the language is WT language in many places, and in the acknowledgements at the beginning of the paper, the student says this:
Firstly, I would like to pass my deep and sincere debt of gratitude to my academic supervisor Dr
Banda Dennis for his continuous and constructive corrections. His valuable suggestions and
generous guidance enriched this study throughout every stage. Jehovah God will bless and
reward him.
The paper is lengthy and identifies the significance of the study as this:
It is hoped that the findings of the study may urge the Ministry of Education (MoE) to
acknowledge the work done by Jehovah‟s Witnesses and extend funding and monitoring
activities to such literacy programmes. The findings may also be beneficial to the Jehovah‟s
Witnesses in the sense that they may start getting the recognition and help that they were not
getting from the government, and it may also be useful in helping them to reflect on their role in
the provision of adult literacy programme and decide on how best they can improve.
I would like to do some more investigation into how the WTS is working with organizations like UNESCO, and how and where they receive benefit and/or funding to do so, but I am afraid I get distracted by other issues like blood and stuff like that. There are some papers published concerning the WTS and literacy that are written by "outside" academics that are very interesting.