I grew up orally until I had learned my first sign language at age of 9. I attended D/HH program elementary and middle schools (We used Total Communication), and regular /private schools (No D/HH programs/interpreters). I had private speech therapy after school for years. My parents were concerned for my safety and education at the public high school's environment such as criminal activity, and poor teaching methods, so they sent me to take community college classes at age of 16 during the senior year, and I loved every minute of it. Even been to Project Talk (It closed down years ago.) and John Tracy Institute for a summer school. I had learned cued speech for a brief time. I do remember my childhood well. I personally don't feel mine was stolen.
However.. based on my observation, some of the former classmates from my elementary school had no social skills. You can say that they had bad childhoods. I recall this boy from my class grew up in Riverside School for the Deaf all his life. Boy, he was scary. He had no conscience at all. His parents never cared for him at all. He often terrorized and whipped deaf and hearing classmates at the playground with his jumping rope. He was extremely angry, difficult and violent; he kept hissing back at his own teachers, aides and speech therapists. He was sitting at his desk next to this classmate who told him to leave her alone. He threw his violent temper, and tossed her desk upside down. He often tore up his tests in front of his teachers after he found out his tests had failed. He was in the 3rd grade and didn't know the whole ABCs. He had been to the principal office continually. Years later, I had gotten home from college for a break. I sat on the couch and flipped the channels to catch up with news. My eyes were opened widely when I recognized him on the news. I was thinking, "I know this guy!" He wounded up in prison after he was convicted of sexual assault.
There was a woman who was studying to become a certified teacher. Unfortunately, she did not last longer no more than two months or so. I swear she was so frustrated and burned out. She said that she could not handle children's immaturity, irresponsibility, and lack of social skills. She had a complete breakdown, and just left. She never came back.
There were several 4th and 5th grade girls who got themselves in bloody fight numerous of times during the breaks. One of the girls was infamous for punching moves and was not afraid to punch anyone. She nearly had punched her aide in the stomach, and was sent to the principal office. I honestly don't know how many detentions she had gotten. She often had accused every classmate and teacher of lying just out of the blue. The other day, she had violated the school policy for bringing her real cuffs, and was ordered to go home instantly. Her mother had to pick her up. She did not say much. I managed to keep my distance from violent classmates and concentrated on my assignments for two years.
I knew this sweet classmate. She had common sense and was smart. Unfortunately, she had struggled with her spelling skills and everything. She had failed her tests. EVERY test. Her parents were from Mexico and barely had spoken English language. I had tried to encourage and teach her how to memorize words, but what I tried to help her was insufficient.
I attended middle school for two years, and it had been an interesting experience. When they hit their puberty, their attitudes were getting worse and badder. They have violated school policy such as forgery, fights and cheating. There was a particular girl who had a serious conundrum had pushed the limits by using so much profanity. She loved to manipulate, and deceive her friends and teachers in worst possible way. She did it for heck of getting attention or stay out of the trouble. She desperately wanted to be popular so bad. She often played hooky, and was told to ask her mother to sign the paper regarding her absences. Instead, she had committed forgery by signing her mother's name. She winded up getting detention for 4 weeks or so. There was one of the incidents that I will never forget. During the History class, we were having WW 2 discussion and suddenly, she started bawling out, "I hate Jews!" She kept bragging she was proud of being Christian. The intern was so appalled by her statement and rebuked her it was discrimination and inappropriate. The intern even asked her, "Did you know your teacher is Jewish? Do you hate him?" I sensed this girl was in hot water. In an attempt to get herself out of the situation she had caused accused her, "You are lying! Liar! B$%*@!" The intern had ordered her to have a talk with her Jewish teacher (He is Deaf). Personally, I've met their parents; they had neglected their duties and responsibilities in helping and teaching their children. It is sad.
