Working in our disadvantages : the perceptions of selected Nicaraguan teachers about the effect of war on their professional roles

Research Question: How do selected teachers in the Matagalpa, Nicaragua area perceive the effects of the war period of 1979 to 1990 on their professional roles? This study was an on-site qualitative interview study utilizing autophotographic techniques and was directed towards answering the above research question. The twelve participants were all schoolteachers in Matagalpa, Nicaragua with teaching experience in Nicaragua during times of war and peace, The interviews were done in two stages and involved their reflections of the effect of war on their professional roles as educators. Each participant took twelve black-and-white photographs with a small camera. The film was developed and printed on site, and the participants viewed their photographs during the second-stage interview. Analysis of the data revealed two basic themes: loss and devotion. The theme of loss involved a loss of the future, violation of potential, failed expectations, incomprehensibility, disconnection, and uncertainty. The theme of devotion related to the profession, to students, to improvement of the profession and to the concept of peace.