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From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Sign, mainstreaming an
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Date: 15 Mar 91 04:47:06 GMT
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Index Number: 13954

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Tim, not only is there no ASL system in formal use on which to decide
if ASL can successfully be used as a tool for teaching a second languag,
but theold Gallaudet days might have demonstratedthatit is successful.
If you have watched any of the old films of deaf people "speaking"
before an audience, you will note that they fingerspell very advanced
vocabulary terms and their speech content is rather complex. Veditz's
talk before an audience vowing that as long as there are deaf people
in the world, there would sign language is a prime example. He is eloquent
his terminology is envious. His savvy for the politics of his time
and as well as his ability to time his remarks and phrase them for
maximum effect is just astonishing.

Oddly enough, watching these old films of Deaf Gallaudetians made me
angry. their command of English and very high vocabulary ability reminded
me of what many deaf students today don't have in comparsion. I know
that Veditz and others were taught with ASL first and that on that
platform was built their astonishing command of English. The fact that
these living proofs were ignored in favor of hearie philosophy of English
only approaches in educating the deaf makes me want to scream, hit
something, maybe even choke some of these imbeciles. I mean it really
gets to me. Hopefully, we will reverse this in schools for the deaf
over time as Deaf people insist more and more on direct involvement
in school policies regarding education of deaf children. At my school
we are starting what looks to be a process in this direction now.

The March 4th meeting appears to have knocked most administrators for
a loop. They just sat dumbfounded staring at me after my speech. However,
we got an agreement out of the super to adhere to everything inthat
speech. We got it in front of all those people. We also have people
telling us they are glad to see this happening. Others speak of their
fear and not being sure if they belong in the school anymore. This
tells me we are having an impact. If the administrators are smart,
they will join us in our efforts as requested and make the school very
progressive. If denial of equality and professional respect continues,
we are prepared to go public and ugliness is such an unnecessary thing,
so foolish and such a waste of time. I am hping we will join hand in
hand with our hearing staff and make that school the finest in the
country because we are perfectly capable of doing just that.

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