posted on April 19, 2001 09:46:34 PM new
I'll join forces with you Hepburn, this has made me sick. For those of us that have been blessed in having non-impaired children, we are very fortunate but if I thought that my child was discriminated against for any reason , there would be hell to pay. I feel not only sorry for the girl, but her parents - just goes to show what sort of society we live in today.
posted on April 20, 2001 07:43:18 AM new
Branchburg, New Jersey is hardly a haven for gangs.
It is still quite rural despite a lot of the suburban sprawl that the completion of Route 78 from Phillipsburg through to Newark has brought to north central NJ.
posted on April 20, 2001 08:27:41 AM new
If it is so close to the cornfields, maybe the principle and the driver should be sent to work ploughing those fields until they learn some compassion for their fellow human.
It is indeed a sad testament to the way society is today that this has even happened in the first place.
posted on April 20, 2001 05:12:10 PM new
The deaf community nationwide is pretty up in arms over this. I have several deaf friends, and have received email from each of them about this mess, along with the email addy of the principal. (Funny, he doesn't seem to be responding to anybody's email - probably has too much!)
Discrimination? Absolutely. It also is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The fact that the bus driver even dared to bring this up is appalling, but the principal backing this up is even worse.
I'll add too that sign language is not a "flailing of arms". That comment shows complete ignorance of sign language and...never mind, because it's not worth being moderated for. For the deaf, and for those of us who are losing our hearing, it is a way to communicate, and such terminology degrades the language.
As for the deaf group at the hair band concert - I dated a deaf man (many moons ago!) and we used to go to clubs all the time - that music was loud enough he didn't have to hear it. He could feel it! (He was a decent dancer, too.)
posted on April 21, 2001 07:11:38 AM new
Cameras should be installed in school buses that transport handicapped children. And
either the bus driver should be sign trained or a sign trained individual should always be on the bus in case of an emergency.
I will be interested to find out how this
problem is resolved.
posted on April 21, 2001 07:16:27 AM new
From my understanding, there is a serious shortage of qualified "interpreters", or those trained in ASL. While it sounds good, it would be a logistical impossibility to have a person trained in ASL on each bus carrying a hearing impaired student.
posted on April 21, 2001 07:27:28 AM new
Well, there is not a shortage in my area
but I can understand that it could be a
problem in some areas. At least, an older
student trained in sign language could be
used.
This is a serious problem when you
have a schoolbus filled with children who
can't communicate. It's unbelievable to me.
Helen
ed for spell correction
[ edited by HJW on Apr 21, 2001 10:54 AM ]
posted on April 21, 2001 07:35:11 AM new
Here is an great article from a parent's point of view, speaking of the shortage of interpreters in the US schools:
posted on April 21, 2001 07:45:30 PM newMeya - thirteen years ago, the school here was forced to find an ASL interpreter for a kindergartener. The district fought it, and her momma came out with claws. This girl will be graduating this year, and in addition to having an interpreter with her throughout school, the school also teaches ASL in mainstream curriculum now. My son already knew his ABCs in sign before he started, but they were taught in kindergarten, and each year since the kids have picked up a few more signs.
This is a good thing. Not only because it is damn handy to know some ASL because you never know when you may meet someone who will be thrilled that you can at least attempt to communicate with them, but up here in white bread only world, it teaches these kids that to be "different" isn't bad.
I can identify with that mother! I don't
have a handicapped child but if I did, the
school and the bus situation would be
straightened out!!!
There is no excuse for this situation.
Bus drivers can learn basic sign language.
Or some other solution can be found. I
think that I will call that dam school
Monday and find out what is happening.
Helen
add "Monday"
[ edited by HJW on Apr 21, 2001 08:14 PM ]
posted on April 21, 2001 07:57:52 PM newMaddieNicks my daughter also learnt to sign at lower primary school. She is now 18 and training in Early Chilhood Studies to be an Infant Teacher. Now as part of her course requirement, she needs to know how to sign at least the basics, in fact she may not pass unless she can sign basic words.
In a world such as we live in today with deaf, blind and otherwise disabled children being intergrated into the regular school system, every teacher or teacher aide needs to be able to communicate with all students not just some. If the aides are trained along with the teachers that would enable those children who may need the extra attention to have it, without having to wait for an interpreter to become available.
posted on April 21, 2001 08:19:14 PM newHJW - Call on Monday. And let us know what they say!!!!
nettak - when we went to school, the deaf were sent to their own school. The blind as well. And the kids who had other "handicaps" were all in special education. That didn't teach my generation much about getting along with those who aren't just like you, you know?
I learned sign when I first learned my ABCs because my grandmother was deaf, and the deafness is heritary in my family. (Female line, lucky me.) My grandmother never heard the voice of any of her grandchildren. My mother lost the last of her hearing when she was 54. And my first hearing aid is on order now, but only for one ear, since the left one is too far gone for a hearing aid to help at all. I was lucky to have grown up in a family where this was "normal" - I taught my son his ABCs the same way I learned mine, and will teach my daughter that way too.
ASL is much more than just signs for words we use...it is it's own language. Has it's own grammar structure, etc. But if you know how to fingerspell, and if you know some basic signs, you can communicate, even if it's quite slow.
So that is why this thread is so important to me. It touches my life directly. If they are able to stop this child from signing on the bus, will the deaf community next be banned from signing in a public restaurant? It's disgusting that that school would even attempt this.
posted on April 21, 2001 08:24:21 PM new
I sort of suspect that they are getting a lesson in the global village on the internet.
Perhaps that will make them aware that their actions are not quietly betweem them and the driver's union. Today what you do can have a global audience with a few key strokes. I am sure it was not a lesson they wanted to teach. It is something the Chinese and Singapore governments are fighting.
The link to the school's web site is in the news article. I posted the principal's address.
It is irrational but I did not like him as soon as I saw his pic.
posted on April 21, 2001 08:32:02 PM newmaddieNicks, you go right ahead and rant all you want. It is your right to feel strongly about something of this nature.
The world should feel disgusted about a crime of this sort, and it is a crime. We are supposed to protect our children, all of them, and this school has not protected one of there own.
I am not deaf and neither are any of my 3 children, but my family has been discriminated against in the school system, and I have fought long and hard for many years. Mostly I have won the battle.
When my oldest son started high school at 13 we had a major run in with one particular teacher I wrote letters and stormed the school as well as our Premier (like your governor) I was fobbed off for a long time and felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall, but in the end I rallied other parents to help my cause and we ended up winning that particular battle and that teacher is no longer a teacher. That was the first time I realised that a teacher could be expelled.
I fully understand why that mother you referred to came out with her claws showing. I was once referred to by a teacher as a mother lion protecting my cub. Well she was right, I was protecting my cub, and as I see it I was protecting other cubs as well. Isn't it out job to protect our young and make sure that they get the best deal out of life that we can give them.
That was my mini rant.
Edited because the super kind KRS picked up a spelling mistake. Thank you master.
[ edited by nettak on Apr 21, 2001 09:38 PM ]
posted on April 21, 2001 08:44:35 PM newnettak - a dead on post!
The school here already knows "Nick's mom" better than they wanted to, I imagine. LOL! And Maddie hasn't even started school yet - with both my kids, they have a total of another 15 years to deal with me! I've been surprised by the apathy I see in a lot of the parents. It is our job, as parents, to make sure our kids are being taught properly and treated with respect.
Thank you master.