Miss Deaf Texas stresses need for better education

Miss-Delectable · 07-05-2008, 10:07 AM

Miss Deaf Texas stresses need for better education : Corpus Christi Local | Caller-Times |

Miss Deaf Texas can't accept that the average deaf high school graduate only reads at a fourth-grade level, and her quest for better education for the hard of hearing soon could have a national audience.

"It starts by better educating parents so they won't be frightened or indifferent," said Katherine "Katie" Deshea Murch, 22.

"Rarely are hearing parents excited about having a deaf child. Most feel numb and lost and believe it's their fault. Children feel this," she said, placing her hand over her heart.

Murch, Miss Deaf Texas 2007-09, is one of 22 women who will vie for the Miss Deaf America title at 8 p.m. Thursday at the New Orleans Marriott. The winner will become an ambassador for the National Association of the Deaf as a spokeswoman for about 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The winner gets $6,000 in scholarship funds, a cash stipend of $4,000 and a laptop computer.

Despite being born profoundly deaf and losing all hearing from vertigo in 2004, Murch said she learned to speak eloquently after years of reading obsessively.

Sign language does not translate to English literally and often does not make sense to the hearing community, said Laura Loeb-Hill, a former Miss Deaf Texas now in charge of the state pageant for Texas Association of the Deaf. In spoken English, someone might say, "I am going to the store," Loeb-Hill said. The sign language equivalent is "Store me go."

Being able to comprehend the differences in the two languages has contributed to Murch's academic success. She maintains a 3.6 grade-point average at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

But since being selected as Miss Deaf Texas in June 2007, Murch has stopped using her speaking voice while representing the title in a public setting, preferring only to use American Sign Language.

"No one size fits all with language," Murch said through an interpreter. "But as a diplomat for many who can't use their voice, I must speak for them and to them in sign language out of respect."

The pageant's three-day preliminary competition begins Monday. Contestants will be judged in private interviews, platform presentations, talent and evening gown presence.

Murch's history as an education advocate for the deaf began with her own desire to be mainstreamed into Flour Bluff schools. It sparked a four-year court battle that ended with a Texas Supreme Court decision requiring the district to provide special programming for the incoming fourth-grader.

Computer programs then were limited, but video phones, Web cams and Blackberrys opened a new technology world she now uses to help younger deaf children get the education they deserve, Murch said.

"Society's view of people with hearing loss is something less than perfect," said Lesa Thomas, Murch's mother. "Katie is about as perfect as any parent could want, and I'm about as proud as I could possibly be."

***VamPyroX*** · 07-08-2008, 07:33 PM

I agree.

The problem is that a lot of people in the deaf education department and the parents of deaf children are so cautious when they put deaf kids through school. "Oh, he's deaf... take it easy on him!" "He's deaf, please give him some space!" "Be careful, he's deaf!"

My parents didn't treat me like a poor little deaf & dumb kid. They treated me like they treated every other kid. The only thing that made me different was that I was simply... deaf.

When I was in high school, there were a lot of other deaf kids whose parents would come to school and argue with the teachers about the homework that was given to their deaf kids. "Hey, you gave him too much homework! He's deaf, alright!?" "Jeez... you're being hard on her! She can't hear. So, she's slow."

Buffalo · 07-09-2008, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

I agree.

The problem is that a lot of people in the deaf education department and the parents of deaf children are so cautious when they put deaf kids through school. "Oh, he's deaf... take it easy on him!" "He's deaf, please give him some space!" "Be careful, he's deaf!"

I agree. Some teachers do let students' mistakes slide. Also, like you said about 'modified grades' in the other post.... I don't like that abit.

07-05-2008, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,693 Blog Entries: 3	Miss Deaf Texas stresses need for better education Miss Deaf Texas stresses need for better education : Corpus Christi Local \| Caller-Times \| Miss Deaf Texas can't accept that the average deaf high school graduate only reads at a fourth-grade level, and her quest for better education for the hard of hearing soon could have a national audience. "It starts by better educating parents so they won't be frightened or indifferent," said Katherine "Katie" Deshea Murch, 22. "Rarely are hearing parents excited about having a deaf child. Most feel numb and lost and believe it's their fault. Children feel this," she said, placing her hand over her heart. Murch, Miss Deaf Texas 2007-09, is one of 22 women who will vie for the Miss Deaf America title at 8 p.m. Thursday at the New Orleans Marriott. The winner will become an ambassador for the National Association of the Deaf as a spokeswoman for about 28 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The winner gets $6,000 in scholarship funds, a cash stipend of $4,000 and a laptop computer. Despite being born profoundly deaf and losing all hearing from vertigo in 2004, Murch said she learned to speak eloquently after years of reading obsessively. Sign language does not translate to English literally and often does not make sense to the hearing community, said Laura Loeb-Hill, a former Miss Deaf Texas now in charge of the state pageant for Texas Association of the Deaf. In spoken English, someone might say, "I am going to the store," Loeb-Hill said. The sign language equivalent is "Store me go." Being able to comprehend the differences in the two languages has contributed to Murch's academic success. She maintains a 3.6 grade-point average at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. But since being selected as Miss Deaf Texas in June 2007, Murch has stopped using her speaking voice while representing the title in a public setting, preferring only to use American Sign Language. "No one size fits all with language," Murch said through an interpreter. "But as a diplomat for many who can't use their voice, I must speak for them and to them in sign language out of respect." The pageant's three-day preliminary competition begins Monday. Contestants will be judged in private interviews, platform presentations, talent and evening gown presence. Murch's history as an education advocate for the deaf began with her own desire to be mainstreamed into Flour Bluff schools. It sparked a four-year court battle that ended with a Texas Supreme Court decision requiring the district to provide special programming for the incoming fourth-grader. Computer programs then were limited, but video phones, Web cams and Blackberrys opened a new technology world she now uses to help younger deaf children get the education they deserve, Murch said. "Society's view of people with hearing loss is something less than perfect," said Lesa Thomas, Murch's mother. "Katie is about as perfect as any parent could want, and I'm about as proud as I could possibly be." __________________

07-08-2008, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hell Posts: 27,042	I agree. The problem is that a lot of people in the deaf education department and the parents of deaf children are so cautious when they put deaf kids through school. "Oh, he's deaf... take it easy on him!" "He's deaf, please give him some space!" "Be careful, he's deaf!" My parents didn't treat me like a poor little deaf & dumb kid. They treated me like they treated every other kid. The only thing that made me different was that I was simply... deaf. When I was in high school, there were a lot of other deaf kids whose parents would come to school and argue with the teachers about the homework that was given to their deaf kids. "Hey, you gave him too much homework! He's deaf, alright!?" "Jeez... you're being hard on her! She can't hear. So, she's slow." __________________ Check out my city... CLICK HERE! (If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

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