[NAGDU] Schools versus Programs

[Tami Jarvis]

Lisie,

Some people talk about "guide dog training programs" instead of "guide 
dog schools," since it more accurately reflects their actual function. 
They spend a couple of years producing the guide dog, then spend 28 days 
(give or take) teaching the new handler to work with that dog.

So when talking about general service dog issues, which also include 
guide dogs, "program" refers to guide dog programs and equivalent 
organizations that train other types of service dogs. For the 
organizations that train guide dogs and teach people to use them, 
"school" and "program" are interchangeable, depending on personal 
preference. I honestly don't know if equivalent organizations that 
produce other types of service dogs are called schools or not. I hear 
"organization" used more in that context, I think.

Another reason people veer away from the use of the word "school" is its 
paternalistic connotations. Kids "go to school." Adults "attend 
programs." That sort of thing.

hth

Tami

On 05/09/2016 06:36 PM, Lisie Foster via NAGDU wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This is just a quick question!
>
> I've wondered for a long time: why are the places that train guide dogs called schools, and the places that train service dogs of other types called programs?
>
> I've noticed this difference in language for quite a while, and wonder if anyone knows why there's a difference.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
> Lisie and Finn
> lisiefoster at yahoo.com
> Sent from my iPhone
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