Monday, February 13, 2012
Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but I had a very hard time sitting through class today without getting upset. I am fully aware that I am not a teacher yet, but I think there is an appropriate way (as well as an inappropriate way) of speaking to a class of students. During the debate I felt as though Ms. White was accusing the class of not understanding what it's like to have a child who is deaf and attempting to "write the script of others." The word YOU was constantly used throughout her lecture, and the words YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND in a harsh voice concluded her speech. I think it is extremely important for future educators to learn that their job is to teach and not to parent. I also believe it's important for current teachers to make students aware of common mistakes that could happen rather than accusing them of already making them. Like I said- maybe I was just easily irritated today, but I felt as though I was being talked down to and scolded.
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AGREED!! I felt the same way.
ReplyDeleteI certainly want to apologize for offending anyone or upsetting anyone. I would never intentionally seek to offend anyone. I am passionate about what I believe and feel like a different side of deafness, deaf education, ASL and hearing parents need to be shared. I certainly do not want my passion for education to be mistaken as accusing, scolding or talking down to people - or even inappropriate. It is interesting that after class today I had texts and emails from people who heard the exact same lecture who thanked me for my passion and stating what I did. Perhaps they are often upset by what and how others state their perspectives as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not Deaf. I can't understand what it is like to truly be Deaf. I simply do not know how if you have never raised a child who is Deaf how you can understand what that is like. Perhaps some of you can. I, Mrs. White, just don't understand that. I'm not attempting to write your script but I am honest about what I think and understand (not saying right or wrong - what I think) - I don't understand how you can do that based on my experience as a step-parent/parent of a now grown man who is Deaf, a college graduate and working at a school for the Deaf .
Perhaps you can without raising a Deaf child know what it is like to raise a child who is deaf and to feel what I have felt to watch him move through the various stages of life and experience so many different emotions - leaving public school to go to a residential school. Leaving residential school and experiencing various remarks of Deaf peers and Deaf adults to go to a hearing high school. Watching him make the decision to attend a Deaf university when many of his family would have liked to have seen him stay closer to home and play basketball. Watching him sign at his father's funeral and sign to a hearing audience using an interpreter about the lessons his hearing father taught him that he would never forget and how he chooses not to be angry but GRATEFUL for ALL his father did for him - and that the most important lesson was that FAMILY ALWAYS PROTECTS FAMILY AND STAYS TOGETHER.
I thought that I had clearly stated I was NOT talking to the members of the class in regards to those comments. I THOUGHT I had stated that on at least TWO different occasions. I THOUGHT I had clearly stated (but obviously not) that to see the group of future deaf educators IN THE CLASS . . . the part that WAS ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE CLASS warmed my heart and EXCITED me to see the POTENTIAL for the impact that exists on what CAN HAPPEN in the future classrooms of students who are deaf. I THOUGHT I had clearly addressed those in the classroom about how they could empower the deaf and truly open up the world for them. I THOUGHT I had spoken to the positive of what lies AHEAD BECAUSE OF YOU.
If you have NOT YET BEEN A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM there is no way that any of the other words I spoke could have been aimed at anyone in our classroom today but to the FIELD OF DEAF EDUCATION and to a general audience - to a general "you." Members of the class have not been there YET - so it could not have anything to do those hearing the remarks. If you took personal offense at those words or felt like I was being inappropriate - I'm sorry you felt that way. I do not want to demean, talk down to, or scold. I want to inspire students to open their minds, honor and respect all people and all choices - including those who have a PASSION for what they believe.
I appreciate you posting your thoughts to the blog. It's an open forum where ALL opinions are welcome and one should not shy away from FREELY expressing exactly how one feels. That's exactly what I did today and I'm glad you did so here.
I will say the class on Monday did make me do some self reflection on how I word things or would word things to a parent. I have seen hearing parents who can barely communicate with their deaf high school children and it's sad. I just heard a story on sunday about a mother and daughter; the daughter was deaf and mother only spoke spanish. It wasn't until they moved into a certain area where a woman in that church was a trilingual interpreter that the mother and daughter had ever had a conversation. It was then through that interpreter that the mother learned ASL so she could communicate with her child. We need to inform parents not try to tell them how to parent.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the class became uncomfortable, and I am glad for the clarification and blog posts that have been made. I understand that in many aspects this field will be a touchy subject for many people, and it is vital that we are taught how to approach them in the right ways for both the students and the parents.
ReplyDeleteI would like to clarify a few things... I didn't mean to offend anyone, especially Ms. White. I appreciate all that we learn in class, and I'm glad that she brings her emotions and experiences to the classroom. I think the main reason I felt so uncomfortable is because I know what it's like for a professional to talk down to you without putting themselves in your shoes. I would never accuse a parent of raising their child inappropriately, and I felt as though I was being told not do something that was never a possibility to begin with. I understand that some things need to be said, and I value the real-life information that we are provided with each week.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lindsay and Sarah that Monday's class did make me feel uncomfortable. I think my reason was because Mrs. White did get so upset, I felt like we had said something that was ignorant enough for her to feel mad at us. But I think the postings by everyone here allow me to understand why she was so upset. I think it allows me to understand just how influential and emotional a deafness in the family can cause. Even though Mrs. White is not deaf, she the most out of all of us understands the trials and tribulations that the deaf go through in some parts of their lives. I am inspired by the story of her son and all that he has achieved, and I believe that she was so upset because she is so proud of him.
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