hannahbanana92

Okay I have a quick question that I would like everyones opinion on.
I am going to college in Fall 2010 and I've been thinking about pursuing deaf education for some time. I am not deaf nor hoh and I'm not sure how I would be perceived as I have no past ASL experience and no one in my family is deaf or hoh.

Would this bother deaf students or not?

Deafness

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jillio

I'd suggest becoming fluent in ASL and knowledgeable regarding Deaf Culture first. Not necessarily because it would "bother the deaf students" but because you are not going to be the best educator for deaf students without it.

nope

I don't think students will be bothered that you aren't deaf or hoh. I do agree that its essential to work on your sign skills and make sure you are the very best teacher you can be. Also, depending on where you end up working, be prepared to have students who use other forms of communication besides ASL.

Bottesini

Deaf teachers for Deaf students!!

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It's a joke Nathan!

LDNanna

We have a deaf teacher at our hearing college.... equal rights. She is awesome too. Her students love her. She is late deaf and from India. Oh, anyway, I think it is best deaf/deaf hearing/hearing, but I also think the better qualified person should teach for the benefit of the class itself regardless of race, creed, sex, race, religion or deaf/hearing.

nope

While I understand the sentiment, I'm not sure I entirely agree. How far is that supposed to extend?
Male teachers for male students?
White teachers for white students?
American teachers for american students?
Hearing teachers for hearing students... even if those students are learning Deaf Culture or ASL?

I think what's important is having the most qualified, most dedicated teachers teach whatever they are passionate about. Some of my best learning experiences have been from teachers the least like me.

Jolie77

I don't see anything wrong with a hearing person who wants to teach deaf students; provided that this teacher retains the knowledge and the understanding of how to interreact and to face daily situations of those deaf children that needs the most out of this; the language and much other qualities that comes in line with this.

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Bottesini

Sorry . You will get used to me. It was a radical statement that is sarcasm. I thought the question was one that really did not need answered.

(but it is truth that what "postsfromhell" avatar fingerspelled is a little naughty}

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It's a joke Nathan!

Lissa

it doesnt matter as long you have a great knowledge of deafness and deaf culture. Just be yourself. You're helping these students, be fluent in their language

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stefan2832

Is that not like saying "Hearing students for hearing teachers!!"

Perhaps discrimination??

If a person can do a job then it's irrelavant if they are deaf/hearing.

Thats my belief anyway.

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jillio

See post #8.

Bottesini

I didn't bother to point it out, since I thought they just wanted to start a fight.

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It's a joke Nathan!

jillio

I didn't know it it was that, or they just failed to read all the posts before making a comment.

stefan2832

Gosh, sorry if it sounded like that! I read the posts to quick and missed your reply. [Stupid me!] Perhaps I could of phrased my post better.
Will you accept a humble apology? Last thing I would want on this site is to argue with anyone.

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Frisky Feline

i rather someone who knows ASL real well then someone would be able to understand any deaf students better.

i grew up hating that when the hearing teachers know a little bit asl yet they taught in my school years ago. I hate that! I rather someone knows ASL as a natural signer then they are ready to teach.

Lissa

I had a deaf teacher and all of us adored her, we looked up to her, went to her when we had problems etc. I supposed we got on and bonded with her as she was profoundly deaf and knew what we was going through.

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Bottesini

Nice sarcasm!!!

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It's a joke Nathan!

Bottesini

Yes and I notice that is people who became deaf later who don't think a deaf person would be a better teacher for a deaf student. (And this is not sarcasm, but my more polite anwser the question.)

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It's a joke Nathan!

nope

D'oh! I just didn't get the sarcasm part of it Sometimes I can be a little slow.

Anytime I need to know the dirty signs, I'm coming to you


Also, I think it depends on the subject being taught, to some extent. Like, if the person is teaching about sign language or deaf culture, then I would want them to be deaf. Is that wrong of me? I just had a deaf culture class taught by a hearing woman who, though nice, was very out of touch with the deaf culture. Everything she told us was about 20 or 30 years old. Not helpful at all!

Bottesini

No I am an old lady! I never use that kind of signing!!!

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It's a joke Nathan!

Bottesini

Second part, you know when hearing are wanting to teach deaf kids, and I mean this seriously, how many deaf teachers do you see in hearing classrooms like an elementary school. Think about that. Parents would be upset for their hearing kids to have a deaf teacher. But the reverse with hearing people having the jobs as teachers of the deaf, no one cares.

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It's a joke Nathan!

violet

All through out high school i had a hearing teacher.. AND as strict as she was..she made me love ASL like no one ever has, not even deaf.. while i do love my deaf instructors in college now.. there are some good hearing ASL teachers they just really gotta know what they're teaching.

Mr. Averythest

wow, i was mentioned in this thread. *feels flattered*
*coughs*

I'll be honest here - If you're really a seasoned deaf person you can tell who was taught by who and where and what.

I can identify which program interpreters graduated from. I can tell if a person was taught by a hearing person or a deaf person.

its all about the finer things... I dunno how to explain it but there is a difference.

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Frisky Feline

pardon me!

Frisky Feline

ouch. I did not think of that one. they should go ahead and become a teacher anyway.

Bottesini

WHo? The hearing person or the late deafened person?

And I noticed people only started talking about teaching ASL.

I believe the OP asked about hearing people teaching deaf children all subjects in a classroom.

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It's a joke Nathan!

Frisky Feline

Hope I didn't misunderstand you. speaking of the the late deafened person that have more focusing with hands than hearing.

I believe that the OP is hearing and wondering if its ok for hearing person to teaching deaf children. Thats cool for me but i rather the heairng people have familiar with Deaf kids' needs

Bottesini

I know the OP is hearing, true.

But I meant divided camps. Deaf people say deaf teachers were better or their favorite.

Late deafened and hearing people say hearing people would be fine as TOD's. Even when they get a group of deaf people to tell them "no, the deaf people who taught me did much better than any hearing people who taught me."

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It's a joke Nathan!

Reba

Here's a hypothetical situation to muddy the waters:

Suppose there are two women competing for one position as teacher of deaf kids. Their academic backgrounds are exactly the same.

Candidate #1 is profoundly deaf. She lost her hearing almost overnight after high school graduation. Before starting college she got two cochlear implants. Her hearing with CI's, for all practical purposes, is almost back to the level prior to her deafness. She doesn't socially associate with any deaf adults. The only deaf people she knows are the deaf students.

Candidate #2 is hearing. Her parents, one sibling, her husband, and her son are deaf. Many of her friends are deaf. She's an active member of deaf advocacy organizations. She socializes often with many deaf adults.

Who should the school hire? Why?

Bottesini

That is interesting. I would take #2 because I know she will do a better job. Candidate one is really a hearing person in thought, manner, and deed.

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It's a joke Nathan!