hey! my experience was opposite than yours. we (deaf students and some staff) required other hearing staff to use sign language in classrooms whenever other teacher comes in or in hallway. we have some posts that ask hearing staff to use sign language at all time! unfortuately some of them didnt follow.
i did thought what i was like if i were in mainstream school. of course i would be different and i did have some taste of it through sports and summer school at community college few years ago. i knew i would never like it. i'm always so grateful to my parents because they sent me to deaf school since they knew what was best for me. i love where i am right now. i never thought abt wanting to change. :-)
Hoorray -- You nailed your teacher! I bet your teacher won't accept she is wrong. Both teachers should've signed front you and your friend. Tsk tsk...
I think my life would be different if I had learned ASL in my early age. I learned ASL when I came to Gallaudet in '84. Whoa .. I missed out alot during my childhood years! My emotional quotient (EQ) is quite low because I didn't have many friends back then. I often felt an outsider. I lagged behind in my school too. I knew I am intelligent but I wasn't brave enough to speak up for myself. I had a great fear of being bullied by the students. My teachers won't understand me too. Would be nice if I have a time machine and revert to my childhood years again. I have to remind myself it is never too late. Compared to the Deaf bloggers, My writing is not that great. That's okay with me. I have enjoyed your vlogs and the rest.
What can I say except that you said it with supreme elegance!
I definitely wish I attended deaf residential school! I grew up in schools with deaf programs but teachers and interpreters (when I went mainstreamed) were strongly SEE or PSE *growl*. It wasn't till I met three guys from Gally at my old church's college who beat me up for my English influenced signing. Since then I was intensely curious but did not get much opportunity to satisfy it till I finally came upon DeafRead and the rest as they say is history!
Interesting different issues about both Deaf and Mainstream!!! One other Deaf mom and me, Deaf mom were both graduated from same Oral Deaf School did volunteered at hearing impaired baseball camp last week..
That Deaf mom of Oral Deaf son told me that she feels that my Deaf son has "ADHD" at other Deaf Summer Camp while she was volunteered to give a workshop at that other Deaf summer camp about 3 weeks ago... I know that she works for Disability Service... I did explained to her that my Deaf son did suffered to be very "HOLY" student at his Deaf Residential School because of the going on problems at his Deaf school...I did told that Deaf mom of Oral Deaf Son that many mainstream schools did HURTED many America Schools for the Deaf... I guess that I did made her feel so bad after she did caught me chatted about mainstream schools hurted Deaf Schools with other Deaf mom of Deaf son who did volunteered at the hearing impaired baseball camp last week... But I do NOT MIND if that Deaf mom of Deaf Oral son wants to be friends with me but my Deaf son didn't like that Deaf mom of Deaf Oral son for labeling my deaf Son as ADHD after he caught her telling me that at hearing impaired baseball camp... Of course my Deaf son was so digusted with her labeling him as ADHD...
Right now I just want my Deaf son and his dorm friends to have more good time this summer before they will go back to school. They KNOW how to become "HOLY" students with thier own Deaf School hearing principal, hearing RAs, hearing teachers and hearing staff... My Deaf son did learned how to become "HOLY" student while he has to be so nice to that hearing principal with "2 faces" since last December 2006... That was why my Deaf son did hold his own feelings for too long time before he finally got out to have MORE good time in this Summer Deaf Camps before he has to go back to school by becoming "HOLY" student again with a hearing principal and hearing RAs and hearing teachers and staff this fall.
HI Drmzz - The reason I have ASL Music as my title - is because I do ASL Music - and LOVE to sign to music IN ASL ways. You all will see it someday....soon :-)
Hey, it's interesting to read commentors' experiences...as we all have gone through different paths and struggles. Good vlog and good question! I was raised in a residential deaf school and have NO regrets, such wonderful memories. (I learned ASL from my deaf friends with deaf families and spend many weekends with them, wonderful memories!) Then after my freshman year, I decided I wanted to go mainstream, followed some of my friends' footsteps...my mistake...have regretted that I didn't graduate from a deaf school, missed out three years in my former deaf school. When my old classmates regale their stories the last three years, I'm always wishing I stayed there...but no time machine for me to push button to rewind, lol! :-) For a while, at my old deaf school, we were allowed to sign anywhere but always had to speak in classes. Teachers never signed, we always had to lipread their lips. When we got new supertindent in late 60's...we were forbidden to use ASL. One time, my math teacher was writing on the blackboard, I was talking to a student next to me, signing, of course...teacher came over to me and said, NO signing allowed! I was like huh, I can't help it...something to that effect. Teacher went back to blackboard, writing, again, I turned to the same student and resumed signing to her...teacher came over to me, with a ruler and slapped my hand (didn't see her coming), I was so shocked and without thinking, I stood up and grabbed the ruler off her hand and slapped her hand back, with the ruler! She, in turn, was in shock, face reddened and threw me out of her classroom, straight to principal's office. All the students were open-mouthed, in shock. I was so angry but then felt bad later cuz the teacher was an elder, possibly around in her sixties. Principal groaned and rolled her eyes when I told her what happened...was sent to another math class. I was allowed back in my first math class after a few weeks, behaved myself and dared not sign in front of her! What a memory and I chuckled every time I think about it. Wonder if that teacher laughed or still smitten? I've never been good with math, and to my great embarrassment, I was in 8th grade math class in my senior year (family moved and I went to a private school, hearing and only deaf there)...it wouldn't have happened if I had remained in deaf school. So, all in all, deaf children should remain in deaf schools, but more schools definitely need to have teachers that signed fluently and have confidence that we all can learn as much as anyone else, with no limitations. Thanks for sharing your vlog and getting us to share with our experiences! Keep on vlogging girl!!
I have a similar experience with yours, I was tranferred to a mainstream program from a deaf residental school. I learned my lesson that I shouldn't have left my deaf residental school at first place. Total Communication request to use voice at all the time at no matter anywhere in the school. Even use SEE only, my habit was not using voice at all and use ASL all the time. All teachers had been hard time with me. In a couple of years later before high school, one teacher was tranferred to our mainstream program from another state of deaf residental, he saved my LIFE!! He support me for respect my ASL communication, then my grade went uphill as improved, even got a high honor roll, went through high school while other new teacher arrived from out of state deaf residental, she had been research my background history from old school, found out that I should graduate that year early so she did get me to graduate one year earlier, even got a high honor roll, plus National Honor Society. She was my lifesaver. She was my special gift teacher!
I am telling you that Deaf residental school is BEST one.
Good discussion! You brought me back to old memories of my experiences at a mainstreaming program, public school and a deaf school. When I went to mainstreaming program with some other deaf kids, I remembered so well (when I was 6 years old) being interuppted by teachers to demand me to use my voice while chatting to my deaf peers. I remembered that I just nod it off and still chat without voice. Then when I transferred to a public school, never again I got to use ASL because no one were signers or deaf there. Then finally I got to enroll in a deaf school, I felt I could be myself and right at home.
Good for you Deafwoman! Actuallly, your former math teacher had a nerve to do that to you!
I guess I came from a different generation from everybody else?? A brief stint about me: I was enrolled at a special-need program for Deaf/HoH program at a hearie school from 1986 to 1996 then full-mainstreamed from 1997 to 2003 so you can say that I am a byproduct of fully-mainstreamed schools. I am Deaf. I grew up using ASL without any voice or reprimands for using ASL. We were giving the option of using hearing aids (bte, body aids, whatever) in classroom when the third grade teacher said: "up to you." I rejuvented in dumping the BTE and body ear aids. I had positive Deaf adults (in roles of teachers, aides, and parents) in my educational upbringing that made me aware that just because I am Deaf doesn't mean I am any less than any hearing peer.
Did I regret not going to Residental school? No. I was very happy where I went. I was happy with my Deaf friends. However I can say one thing-- I was not happy with the teachers for D/HH program in my high school (I was in hearing classes all the way, but I knew their awful tactics through my deaf peers in the D/HH program). The only solution is to banish those outdated hearing teachers and replace with fresh teachers who RESPECT ASL and Deaf culture. If I am in a time machine, I WILL NEVER GO TO RESIDENTAL SCHOOL.
One-fits-all is the WRONG method.
Deaf school works for you, but not for me. Mainsteamed works for me, but not for you. And guess what? That's fine. I am not mad at you but don't be mad at me for being mainstreamed.
Can't everybody just be happy that somebody is happy with their education background regardless where it comes from? I am perfectly happy with where I went and my mother's choices for me when I was a child.
I understand your points but I would not accept all mainstream because some of them did had been looking down on us, Deaf. Some of them "NOT ALL mainstream" did hurt our feelings!
Whoever started the mainstream systems, did hurt the Deaf School while there were not hiring Deaf to teach at Deaf School enuff. That's HISTORY!
If you are happy from your childhood, that's fine with me but we know that some of us mainstream were not happy from our isolating and lack of communication in our home, mainstream and work life.
Like I said - I wished I went to Deaf School - sigh. If I could only bring back my time - I would tell my mom to send me to Deaf School !!! :-) I missed out alot in the deaf world. BUT do NOT regret meeting my deaf friends at Mainstream school. They are still friends of mine. Thank YOU all for your wonderful responses. I see you all went thru your experiences.... Thanks AGAIN :-)
It seems like you are feeling frustrated by an educational approach that was chosen for you rather than by you. It appears you were insulted because you were expected to sign and voice at the same time, when the same teacher that disciplined you would talk without signing. Your justification seems reasonable as you experienced a double standard in the type of communication your teacher expected. When your teacher came up to you, how did you feel about being told that your private conversation had to change modes of communication? Though your experience happened as a child, has it had an impact on how you treat individuals and their language choice?
Deaf residential school is heck a lot different from mainstream school.okay from my childhood experice mainstream,Teachers have their own teaching ways than Deaf residential school. mainstream Teachers aren't too sweet as Deaf Residential school teachers. Mainstream intend to left you out of alot of educational info. they treat you like a kid and while Deaf residential school treat you as normal as everybody no different. I can raiontal see the different. I had more fun and eyes opener to learn from Deaf Residential school. but Mainstream intend to have more attenation with your parents it is like buy time and make parents fall for it like "oh mainstream is a good school as they said".I remember when I was in 6th grade and ready to transfer to public school without interputer there.boy mainstream teacher had call bug on my parents and want me to go back and my parents said no, she is fine at public school. it long arm story. well I love ASL of course! I support ASL all the way. :)
I went to a mainstreamed school during my elementary school years with my other deaf friends, there was a deaf program and they were real flexible about how u communicate, u could choose to only sign or sign and voice or just voice. it was a neat school and flexible about how we did things. although they always encouraged us deaf kids to take speech therpy few times a week at school. then i moved to a deaf school in my 8th grade, wow it was different. I went to NSD first for 2 yrs then ISD for 3 yrs. at deaf schools, at ISD dorm, oftens times girls in HS floor, they keep busy and always chatting with eachother but oftens times i see alot of arguements, not listening to the houseparents and stuff. i was usually the quiet kid who just watched everything happen. at ISD and NSD, they were real flexible about how u wanted to communicate, but u cannot only use voice to speak, if u want to voice then u must sign along with talking.
17 comments:
hey! my experience was opposite than yours. we (deaf students and some staff) required other hearing staff to use sign language in classrooms whenever other teacher comes in or in hallway. we have some posts that ask hearing staff to use sign language at all time! unfortuately some of them didnt follow.
i did thought what i was like if i were in mainstream school. of course i would be different and i did have some taste of it through sports and summer school at community college few years ago. i knew i would never like it. i'm always so grateful to my parents because they sent me to deaf school since they knew what was best for me. i love where i am right now. i never thought abt wanting to change. :-)
Hoorray -- You nailed your teacher! I bet your teacher won't accept she is wrong. Both teachers should've signed front you and your friend. Tsk tsk...
I think my life would be different if I had learned ASL in my early age. I learned ASL when I came to Gallaudet in '84. Whoa .. I missed out alot during my childhood years! My emotional quotient (EQ) is quite low because I didn't have many friends back then. I often felt an outsider. I lagged behind in my school too. I knew I am intelligent but I wasn't brave enough to speak up for myself. I had a great fear of being bullied by the students. My teachers won't understand me too. Would be nice if I have a time machine and revert to my childhood years again. I have to remind myself it is never too late. Compared to the Deaf bloggers, My writing is not that great. That's okay with me. I have enjoyed your vlogs and the rest.
Here I am ... Diane
What can I say except that you said it with supreme elegance!
I definitely wish I attended deaf residential school! I grew up in schools with deaf programs but teachers and interpreters (when I went mainstreamed) were strongly SEE or PSE *growl*. It wasn't till I met three guys from Gally at my old church's college who beat me up for my English influenced signing. Since then I was intensely curious but did not get much opportunity to satisfy it till I finally came upon DeafRead and the rest as they say is history!
*thumb up back to you*
Thank God.. I go to a school for the deaf!
Interesting different issues about both Deaf and Mainstream!!! One other Deaf mom and me, Deaf mom were both graduated from same Oral Deaf School did volunteered at hearing impaired baseball camp last week..
That Deaf mom of Oral Deaf son told me that she feels that my Deaf son has "ADHD" at other Deaf Summer Camp while she was volunteered to give a workshop at that other Deaf summer camp about 3 weeks ago... I know that she works for Disability Service... I did explained to her that my Deaf son did suffered to be very "HOLY" student at his Deaf Residential School because of the going on problems at his Deaf school...I did told that Deaf mom of Oral Deaf Son that many mainstream schools did HURTED many America Schools for the Deaf... I guess that I did made her feel so bad after she did caught me chatted about mainstream schools hurted Deaf Schools with other Deaf mom of Deaf son who did volunteered at the hearing impaired baseball camp last week... But I do NOT MIND if that Deaf mom of Deaf Oral son wants to be friends with me but my Deaf son didn't like that Deaf mom of Deaf Oral son for labeling my deaf Son as ADHD after he caught her telling me that at hearing impaired baseball camp... Of course my Deaf son was so digusted with her labeling him as ADHD...
Right now I just want my Deaf son and his dorm friends to have more good time this summer before they will go back to school. They KNOW how to become "HOLY" students with thier own Deaf School hearing principal, hearing RAs, hearing teachers and hearing staff... My Deaf son did learned how to become "HOLY" student while he has to be so nice to that hearing principal with "2 faces" since last December 2006... That was why my Deaf son did hold his own feelings for too long time before he finally got out to have MORE good time in this Summer Deaf Camps before he has to go back to school by becoming "HOLY" student again with a hearing principal and hearing RAs and hearing teachers and staff this fall.
Funny hallway story. Double standards hmm. BTW, I'm curious, why you title your blog, "ASL Music"? Sorry if this has already been asked or explained.
HI Drmzz - The reason I have ASL Music as my title - is because I do ASL Music - and LOVE to sign to music IN ASL ways. You all will see it someday....soon :-)
Hey, it's interesting to read commentors' experiences...as we all have gone through different paths and struggles. Good vlog and good question! I was raised in a residential deaf school and have NO regrets, such wonderful memories. (I learned ASL from my deaf friends with deaf families and spend many weekends with them, wonderful memories!)
Then after my freshman year, I decided I wanted to go mainstream, followed some of my friends' footsteps...my mistake...have regretted that I didn't graduate from a deaf school, missed out three years in my former deaf school. When my old classmates regale their stories the last three years, I'm always wishing I stayed there...but no time machine for me to push button to rewind, lol! :-)
For a while, at my old deaf school, we were allowed to sign anywhere but always had to speak in classes. Teachers never signed, we always had to lipread their lips.
When we got new supertindent in late 60's...we were forbidden to use ASL. One time, my math teacher was writing on the blackboard, I was talking to a student next to me, signing, of course...teacher came over to me and said, NO signing allowed! I was like huh, I can't help it...something to that effect.
Teacher went back to blackboard, writing, again, I turned to the same student and resumed signing to her...teacher came over to me, with a ruler and slapped my hand (didn't see her coming), I was so shocked and without thinking, I stood up and grabbed the ruler off her hand and slapped her hand back, with the ruler! She, in turn, was in shock, face reddened and threw me out of her classroom, straight to principal's office. All the students were open-mouthed, in shock. I was so angry but then felt bad later cuz the teacher was an elder, possibly around in her sixties. Principal groaned and rolled her eyes when I told her what happened...was sent to another math class.
I was allowed back in my first math class after a few weeks, behaved myself and dared not sign in front of her!
What a memory and I chuckled every time I think about it. Wonder if that teacher laughed or still smitten?
I've never been good with math, and to my great embarrassment, I was in 8th grade math class in my senior year (family moved and I went to a private school, hearing and only deaf there)...it wouldn't have happened if I had remained in deaf school.
So, all in all, deaf children should remain in deaf schools, but more schools definitely need to have teachers that signed fluently and have confidence that we all can learn as much as anyone else, with no limitations.
Thanks for sharing your vlog and getting us to share with our experiences! Keep on vlogging girl!!
Deafwoman - you got a nerve! LOL
I have a similar experience with yours, I was tranferred to a mainstream program from a deaf residental school. I learned my lesson that I shouldn't have left my deaf residental school at first place. Total Communication request to use voice at all the time at no matter anywhere in the school. Even use SEE only, my habit was not using voice at all and use ASL all the time. All teachers had been hard time with me. In a couple of years later before high school, one teacher was tranferred to our mainstream program from another state of deaf residental, he saved my LIFE!! He support me for respect my ASL communication, then my grade went uphill as improved, even got a high honor roll, went through high school while other new teacher arrived from out of state deaf residental, she had been research my background history from old school, found out that I should graduate that year early so she did get me to graduate one year earlier, even got a high honor roll, plus National Honor Society. She was my lifesaver. She was my special gift teacher!
I am telling you that Deaf residental school is BEST one.
Good discussion! You brought me back to old memories of my experiences at a mainstreaming program, public school and a deaf school. When I went to mainstreaming program with some other deaf kids, I remembered so well (when I was 6 years old) being interuppted by teachers to demand me to use my voice while chatting to my deaf peers. I remembered that I just nod it off and still chat without voice. Then when I transferred to a public school, never again I got to use ASL because no one were signers or deaf there. Then finally I got to enroll in a deaf school, I felt I could be myself and right at home.
Good for you Deafwoman! Actuallly, your former math teacher had a nerve to do that to you!
:-)
I guess I came from a different generation from everybody else??
A brief stint about me: I was enrolled at a special-need program for Deaf/HoH program at a hearie school from 1986 to 1996 then full-mainstreamed from 1997 to 2003 so you can say that I am a byproduct of fully-mainstreamed schools. I am Deaf. I grew up using ASL without any voice or reprimands for using ASL.
We were giving the option of using hearing aids (bte, body aids, whatever) in classroom when the third grade teacher said: "up to you." I rejuvented in dumping the BTE and body ear aids.
I had positive Deaf adults (in roles of teachers, aides, and parents) in my educational upbringing that made me aware that just because I am Deaf doesn't mean I am any less than any hearing peer.
Did I regret not going to Residental school? No. I was very happy where I went. I was happy with my Deaf friends. However I can say one thing-- I was not happy with the teachers for D/HH program in my high school (I was in hearing classes all the way, but I knew their awful tactics through my deaf peers in the D/HH program). The only solution is to banish those outdated hearing teachers and replace with fresh teachers who RESPECT ASL and Deaf culture.
If I am in a time machine, I WILL NEVER GO TO RESIDENTAL SCHOOL.
One-fits-all is the WRONG method.
Deaf school works for you, but not for me. Mainsteamed works for me, but not for you. And guess what? That's fine. I am not mad at you but don't be mad at me for being mainstreamed.
Can't everybody just be happy that somebody is happy with their education background regardless where it comes from?
I am perfectly happy with where I went and my mother's choices for me when I was a child.
gnarlydorkette,
I understand your points but I would not accept all mainstream because some of them did had been looking down on us, Deaf. Some of them "NOT ALL mainstream" did hurt our feelings!
Whoever started the mainstream systems, did hurt the Deaf School while there were not hiring Deaf to teach at Deaf School enuff. That's HISTORY!
If you are happy from your childhood, that's fine with me but we know that some of us mainstream were not happy from our isolating and lack of communication in our home, mainstream and work life.
Like I said - I wished I went to Deaf School - sigh. If I could only bring back my time - I would tell my mom to send me to Deaf School !!! :-)
I missed out alot in the deaf world. BUT do NOT regret meeting my deaf friends at Mainstream school. They are still friends of mine.
Thank YOU all for your wonderful responses. I see you all went thru your experiences....
Thanks AGAIN :-)
It seems like you are feeling frustrated by an educational approach that was chosen for you rather than by you. It appears you were insulted because you were expected to sign and voice at the same time, when the same teacher that disciplined you would talk without signing. Your justification seems reasonable as you experienced a double standard in the type of communication your teacher expected. When your teacher came up to you, how did you feel about being told that your private conversation had to change modes of communication? Though your experience happened as a child, has it had an impact on how you treat individuals and their language choice?
Deaf residential school is heck a lot different from mainstream school.okay from my childhood experice mainstream,Teachers have their own teaching ways than Deaf residential school. mainstream Teachers aren't too sweet as Deaf Residential school teachers. Mainstream intend to left you out of alot of educational info. they treat you like a kid and while Deaf residential school treat you as normal as everybody no different. I can raiontal see the different. I had more fun and eyes opener to learn from Deaf Residential school. but Mainstream intend to have more attenation with your parents it is like buy time and make parents fall for it like "oh mainstream is a good school as they said".I remember when I was in 6th grade and ready to transfer to public school without interputer there.boy mainstream teacher had call bug on my parents and want me to go back and my parents said no, she is fine at public school. it long arm story. well I love ASL of course! I support ASL all the way.
:)
I went to a mainstreamed school during my elementary school years with my other deaf friends, there was a deaf program and they were real flexible about how u communicate, u could choose to only sign or sign and voice or just voice. it was a neat school and flexible about how we did things. although they always encouraged us deaf kids to take speech therpy few times a week at school. then i moved to a deaf school in my 8th grade, wow it was different. I went to NSD first for 2 yrs then ISD for 3 yrs. at deaf schools, at ISD dorm, oftens times girls in HS floor, they keep busy and always chatting with eachother but oftens times i see alot of arguements, not listening to the houseparents and stuff. i was usually the quiet kid who just watched everything happen. at ISD and NSD, they were real flexible about how u wanted to communicate, but u cannot only use voice to speak, if u want to voice then u must sign along with talking.
Post a Comment