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From: Dennis.Mcclain-Furmanski.@f42.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Dennis Mcclain-Furmanski )
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: First Language
Message-ID: <16196@handicap.news>
Date: 18 Jun 91 16:27:46 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I didn't intend for my message concerning teaching language to counter your
posting about teaching english to the deaf. I was merely indicating that there
were examples which conflicted with the analogy you gave. Purely in the
interest of helping find an analogy that someone wouldn't poke a hole in,
should you use it against someone like the administrator you're having a
problem with. Remember, I'm the one who all but had sign language accepted as a
foreign language at Purdue (except for an unfortunate intrusion of a military
career taking me out mid-semester). The rest of the progression would have made
english as a second language available for the deaf students, and from that,
acceptance of sign as a primary language. I've been a political activist for
signers since 1983. I'd caution you that you're preaching to the choir, but
your arguments are compelling, and very good material. I intend on following
the same activities when I return to Old Dominion University this fall.

The one thing that made the recognition of sign as a complete language was the
university requirement for the second year of any langauge be taught by a
native speaker. The validity of a language was built into their own
restrictions on who may teach it. All I needed was a native signer to come and
teach. I had recommendations from several other universities that already had
done this. I had to leave before I could send out invitations for resumes.
The head of the audiology department was behind me, but being up for a
professorship, she wasn't willing to make political waves. She was a hearing
daughter of deaf parents, and sign was her first language.

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