I read the news about the deaf teacher who was allegedly treated horribly at one school and then she was suddenly terminated from her position.
Here is the link to the news story:
http://www.loudouni.com/news/2010-11-10/silence-and-solitude-deaf-teacher-recounts-struggle-loudoun-schools
The school she worked for did not provide accommodations for her when she needed them. At one point, they supposedly had a nine year child interpret for her during an evaluation. Yikes! What the hell is wrong with these people?!
But, I have to wonder, would it be this way if I was profoundly deaf and depended on sign language? Would it be as easy? I really do think that the people who work in the special education department at this school system are wonderful and would still do everything they can to accommodate me. At least I am hoping they still would. I think I would still do a decent job, or at least try. But, I do think it would be difficult to communicate with and work with everyone else (general education teachers, para professionals, administration, etc.). Last year, there were some general education teachers and para pros who thought that I was severely-profoundly deaf and use sign to communicate with others. I remember thinking to myself why they never approached me. I found out later when one of them asked, "Can you hear me when I talk to you? Do you need sign language?" As she said this she gestured and exaggerated her mouth movements. This was last year during my first year when I had yet to learn the importance of introducing myself to everyone and explaining my hearing loss.
It is a shame that there are not more deaf and hard of hearing people working as teachers in more schools. I am always amazed at how some of the schools for the deaf here (where they communicate in sign language) never seem to hire more teachers who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves and sign fluently. They instead seem to hire more hearing teachers who are not fluent in sign language. There could be a number of reasons why some deaf and hard of hearing people are not hired as teachers. I don't believe that every person who is deaf or hard of hearing would be excellent teachers, of course. Maybe there are not many deaf or hard of hearing people applying to these jobs and maybe many that are applying do not have the qualifications the schools are looking for.
I think the good schools are the ones who are able to recognize when they have a good teacher, such as the one mentioned in the article. And when you have a good teacher, you treat them like they are one, and you try to keep them there, right? When is it ever a good idea to fire a teacher when with this teacher you are seeing excellent results with the students she is working with?
(e
Here is the link to the news story:
http://www.loudouni.com/news/2010-11-10/silence-and-solitude-deaf-teacher-recounts-struggle-loudoun-schools
The school she worked for did not provide accommodations for her when she needed them. At one point, they supposedly had a nine year child interpret for her during an evaluation. Yikes! What the hell is wrong with these people?!
She had over thirteen years of experience and a doctorate degree. Do you know how hard it is to find highly qualified teachers with this much experience and then have them stay and work for the school system as a teacher for at least three years? It is even rarer to find qualified and experienced teachers who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves. I always hear about how a lot of schools, at least the ones around here and in other parts of the U.S.A. do not often hired deaf or hard of hearing people to be teachers at their schools. It seems as if some schools prefer to hire teachers with typical hearing over teachers with hearing losses. Is it because they do not want to deal with providing accommodations for the teachers? Are they worried about communicating with the deaf or hard of hearing teachers? I wish they would not let these fears or worries get in the way.
We could use more positive role models who are deaf or hard of hearing working in the education field. I am a hard of hearing itinerant teacher who works with hard of hearing and deaf children. I can't tell you how much teachers and parents appreciate my ability to relate to the students with hearing losses. They are always so thankful and more receptive to what I have to say in relation to deaf and hard of hearing issues. I am thankful that they listen to me and always try to find ways to accommodate me and my students. I really enjoy my job! So far so good! :)But, I have to wonder, would it be this way if I was profoundly deaf and depended on sign language? Would it be as easy? I really do think that the people who work in the special education department at this school system are wonderful and would still do everything they can to accommodate me. At least I am hoping they still would. I think I would still do a decent job, or at least try. But, I do think it would be difficult to communicate with and work with everyone else (general education teachers, para professionals, administration, etc.). Last year, there were some general education teachers and para pros who thought that I was severely-profoundly deaf and use sign to communicate with others. I remember thinking to myself why they never approached me. I found out later when one of them asked, "Can you hear me when I talk to you? Do you need sign language?" As she said this she gestured and exaggerated her mouth movements. This was last year during my first year when I had yet to learn the importance of introducing myself to everyone and explaining my hearing loss.
It is a shame that there are not more deaf and hard of hearing people working as teachers in more schools. I am always amazed at how some of the schools for the deaf here (where they communicate in sign language) never seem to hire more teachers who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves and sign fluently. They instead seem to hire more hearing teachers who are not fluent in sign language. There could be a number of reasons why some deaf and hard of hearing people are not hired as teachers. I don't believe that every person who is deaf or hard of hearing would be excellent teachers, of course. Maybe there are not many deaf or hard of hearing people applying to these jobs and maybe many that are applying do not have the qualifications the schools are looking for.
I think the good schools are the ones who are able to recognize when they have a good teacher, such as the one mentioned in the article. And when you have a good teacher, you treat them like they are one, and you try to keep them there, right? When is it ever a good idea to fire a teacher when with this teacher you are seeing excellent results with the students she is working with?
(e
It's America, people... speak English..
ReplyDeleteI guess this apply to deaf people too.
While I was finishing my education degree in school, I had to take a hearing test. I showed the examiner my hearing aids and that I already knew my results. He then tested my hearing with my aids on and asked me to read a passage from a magazine. He seemed impressed that I could speak so fluently. I didn't know that a hearing test was required for a degree in teaching and this really bothered me.
ReplyDeleteWhat would happened if you fail the hearing test even with hearing aids? I'm profoundly oral deaf who use hearing aids. But I can't hear everything, even with hearing aids.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean their standard gone higher and deaf need CI?
It's an issue if a teacher cannot effectively communicate direct with pupils. The classroom isn't for deaf rights. I rather fear the only real way deaf teachers can teach is if they teach deaf children only. They would need an CI or excellent lip-reading/oral whatever to do the other. Parents of hearing children objected here to deaf teachers, claiming their children were being held back by the teachers inability to communicate effectively to them. They said "The classroom is no place for a deaf rights campaign, we don't want our children and classrooms used this way... as some political football.."
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the subject and age of the students. I don't think a Deaf person who can't speak or lipread well would be a good teacher for a bunch of speaking grade 1s, for example. But high school students can read the blackboard, and if a student has a question, they could be told to either write their question on the blackboard or give the teacher a note. Especially if it's not a very verbal subject - eg a math class. Or they could be hired to teach a foreign language credit, since immersion is an effective way to teach a language. I know of a university instructor who is on the autism spectrum and sometimes unable to speak (autism can cause speech to cut in and out) and she can still teach her classes when she isn't able to speak.
DeleteI am a (oral) deaf teacher of hearing high school students. I lip read, and it takes some flexibility and creativity, but we make it work in the classroom.
DeleteIt is TOTALLY possible to be deaf and to teach hearing students.
Let's bring back deaf schools!
ReplyDeleteanother excellent post - thank you, e).
ReplyDeletethis teacher's experience is unfortunately all too common in the so-called "mainstream," especially when one is the only deaf person on the staff. I had a similar experience myself years ago. Thankfully it was only for 1 year. I'm not one who throws out the awdism word at every little thing, but it's schools like these that truly attest to the fact that discrimination against people and children who are deaf or hard of hearing is very much a day to day reality. The emotional pain of trying to overcome and endure adversity for the sake of your deaf students is something that has to be experienced to be understood.
That school, and others like it, will only change their ways when they've lost one or more very expensive lawsuits . It can take a long time. School administrators who discriminate and oppress deaf education professionals seem to believe that their actions are justifiable and warranted. such as the first anonymous above, who said "it's America, people - speak English." I rest my effing case!
anonymous 456
It made me wonder...the teacher has a doctorate and they give her a teaching position when people with doctorates usually work at the consultant, supervisory or administrative level?
ReplyDeleteAnd using a child to interpret? In her position I would respectfully decline and ask for a qualified interpreter at a postponed time. Just to get it on record.
There are questions here...and all point to something wrong in the school's attitude.
they have been harrassing her about using interpreters.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the observer was the the one who asked a nine years old to interpret.
Excellent deaf teachers are a rarity.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that this teacher had to go through what she did.
I have heard similar stories from other people who have worked in the school district. Often times money is an issue and it should not be. Interpreters for the school district should be of higher caliber. I have seen many bad interpreters working for the school district.
As a mom of hearing kids, one year I requested an interpreter for a meeting. The school district brought in a parent who knew "some" ASL and she was not qualified to be an interpreter! Many school district do not understand the requirement of obtaining an interpreter. Nine year old to interpret?! Wow.
There are good deaf/hh teachers out there, and yet there are many who's English is so bad that it reflects badly on them.
We need more deaf/hh teachers that have excellent English. Maybe deaf education need to emphasis that requirement - English as versus how much they can hear.
Candy~
Candy said:
ReplyDelete"We need more deaf/hh teachers that have excellent English. Maybe deaf education need to emphasis that requirement - English as versus how much they can hear."
Exactly. This teacher who was fired, obviously had good command of English. They fired her because they did not want to accommodate her appropriately. Accommodation was the issue here. What school would hire a teacher who is not proficient in English or the preferred spoken language?
(e
Oh and just because a profoundly deaf person has excellent speaking skills does not mean that they will be able to effectively communicate with others without the use of sign language, visual cues, or cued speech. They still are going to miss or not understand what is being said; at least 30%. I am amazed at how people assume that because a severely/profoundly deaf person who speaks, write, and reads English well is going to communicate with others effectively without the use of sign language, visual cues, or written text. Many still need some sort of accommodation to be able to communicate with others effectively. Failure to accommodate is the issue here. It not whether or not the teacher knew English. And it is so OBVIOUS that the teacher had a strong command of English, being that she had a doctorate degree and that she was doing so well with the students.
ReplyDelete(e
I agree with you on what is the issue in this case.
ReplyDeleteAs is with what I have heard in other situations, English proficiency wasn't the issue but the fact that, this teacher requested an interpreter.
The first comment here kind of made me get into the English proficiency. Which of course is another issue that isn't related to this case. Albeit, an issue that need to be dealt with as much as the accommodation issue.
Candy~
I get what you were saying before Candy. I totally agree with you. I also wish that ALL teachers, hearing or deaf, would be required to pass an English proficiency test before becoming teachers.
ReplyDelete(e
This sickens me. It sounds like this school district thinks it's above following ADA laws. I hope she gets a huge settlement or something out of this.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me mad and I hope the ADA can help with this situation.
ReplyDeleteHere's another link that shows more comments.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/silence_and_solitude_deaf_teacher_recounts_struggle_in_loudoun_schools/
Checked out the link, some of the comments are kind of crazy, acting as if they were there or something. Some are rather disturbing.
ReplyDelete(e
I am doing research if there was ever a deaf teacher to normal kids and I found this post. This is very helpful for me. I wrote on Google, "deaf teachers" and it came up with results for teachers teaching deaf children. I'm glad I found this post. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the research is for the novel that I'm writing.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteGreat, I am glad you found this blog posting. Welcome! Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck with your novel. Let me know when you publish it.
(e
Check out my post about a deaf teacher teaching a classroom with hearing students.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ehwhathuh.com/2010/11/deaf-student-teacher-with-hearing.html
(e
By the way, to the last Anonymous, it is better to say "hearing kids" or "kids who are not deaf" rather than "normal kids".
ReplyDelete(e
Great article (from the link). Sorry about the "normal kids."
ReplyDeleteFrom reading your post, I created in my novel a character (a teacher) who is deaf but a gifted communicator. Someone who can lip read and is able to talk to people with sign language, even if they are not familiar with sign language at all. Right now, I'm researching what could possibly be the reason why my character was born deaf.
Dear anonymous, I am a Deaf teacher who teaches Literature and Rhetoric & Writing to hearing students at the University of Texas at Austin. I am also a PhD student with an interest in deaf literature, so I would love to read your novel. Please let us know when it has been published!
ReplyDelete