Mediocre education for deaf children

[Arianis]

Kids this days are graduating from high school with third grade level of reading and writing it is overwhelming. A public hearing is beeing held on Feb.15,2007 from 8:30 to 11:00 am in Broward County FLORIDA. Subjects like low student ratio for teachers of the deaf, early childhood education, transportation issues, unemployment and funds available are just few of the issues being addressed. Come and advocate, an interpreter is being provided do not let this opportunity go by. For more info. contact jennifer@affwdc.org

Address 6301 nw 5th way, suite 3000 FT. Lauderdale 33309

 

[shel90]

Hope they wont put the full blame on the school cuz many of the kids come to school at the age of 5 with little or no language. Parents are responsible too and if those kids dont have good parents who really are involved in their education, of course they will have a hard time with learning. I am tired of the blame being put on the teachers and the schools fully. Make the parents accountable too!

 

[Foxrac]

Hope they wont put the full blame on the school cuz many of the kids come to school at the age of 5 with little or no language. Parents are responsible too and if those kids dont have good parents who really are involved in their education, of course they will have a hard time with learning. I am tired of the blame being put on the teachers and the schools fully. Make the parents accountable too!

Right... It's parent's responsible to teach how to be manner, such as excuse me, thank you, welcome, offer hand shaking, tell apologize and many thing. I had noticed that 10 years old boy who push against glass, that where all game cases are in because he got mad about Wii is out of stock and called manager to take him away from electronic dept, that make parent looks upset.

 

[jillio]

Hope they wont put the full blame on the school cuz many of the kids come to school at the age of 5 with little or no language. Parents are responsible too and if those kids dont have good parents who really are involved in their education, of course they will have a hard time with learning. I am tired of the blame being put on the teachers and the schools fully. Make the parents accountable too!

Yes!

 

[Berry]

Hope they wont put the full blame on the school cuz many of the kids come to school at the age of 5 with little or no language. Parents are responsible too and if those kids dont have good parents who really are involved in their education, of course they will have a hard time with learning. I am tired of the blame being put on the teachers and the schools fully. Make the parents accountable too!

So why do hearing kids fail to learn to read and write?

And how do they manage to graduate from high school?

So many parents, who graduated high school, can't read, write, or do math, so how are they supposed to help teach these things to their children?

Children with illiterate, abusive, or drugged out parents have just as much right too, and just as much need for, a decent education as the mayor's children.

Perhaps parents and teachers should stop spending so much time, thought, and energy trying to blame each other and look into the system; something is wrong.

 

[deafskeptic]

The reason why hearing kids may not be able to read and write is often due to lack of parental involvement if the kids aren't learning disabled.

I agree that schools should be held accountable for making sure their grads can read or write or do math.

 

[shel90]

I send home easy to read books, vocabulary cards, reading comprehension homework and most of them come back all done wrong or I ask the children if they sat down with their parents to practice their reading or vocabulary. They say no..I write in the communication book asking the parents how things are going with the reading and vocabulary..no replies. Not all of them are like that though.I have a few that are very involved and use my resources to work with their children. Ironic that those children are progressing much faster than the children whose parents are not involved. I personally see the impact so I have justification.

As for schools being responsible..We have 90 mins of reading, 90 mins of math daily 5 times a week plus more language exposure during social studies and science for another 90 mins in the afternoon so if that is not enough, what else can we do? Extend the school day or have year round school? We just hired 2 reading specialists last year to work with those students who are delayed so trust me as far as I know, schools are doing as much as they can.

What is the problem? Maybe it is a combination of different things. Who knows? Lack of motivation of the students, the students' weak L1 language, the teacher's different approaches..some may work with some students and some may not work with other students, the quality of parental involvment, the child's socioeconomic background?

Studies have shown that if children come from poor socioeconomic backgrounds where they have to struggle to survive daily due to lack of nourishment, danger, no shelter, or whatever...school becomes low on their priority but important our school provides a safe haven for them ..just to get them motivated to learn is a challenge..some succeed, others didnt.

Remember, every child is different and we work hard to meet their individual needs. That is what's good about my school but yea, we could always improve. Just need the support from the public and the politicans.

All of the teachers I work with really care about the students and really want to see them succeed so we get frustrated too when we see low reading, writing and math scores. It is not like we are there for the money..Oh pls..the pay is lousy. We are there cuz we love our jobs and really care for those children.

U know that more and more people are not seeking teaching as a profession due to all these laws and NCLB and the low pay so it will become a serious problem in about 5 years with teacher shortage or good teachers. I mean it is a becoming a serious problem so think about what we teachers have to go through..with low pay, demanding tests that we have to pass, going back to school again and again to renew our certifications, the stress the politicans put on us with that law NCLB, and the public's eagerness to put the blame on us if children do not suceed. It can be stressful sometimes and I am starting to see people who quit after 5 years of teaching to go back to school for other field of work or to find other better paying jobs.

If I was single, there is no way I can afford to buy my own house on my salary. Sad, isnt it but I love my job and I love working with the kids.

 

[Berry]

I send home easy to read books, vocabulary cards, reading comprehension homework and most of them come back all done wrong or I ask the children if they sat down with their parents to practice their reading or vocabulary. They say no..I write in the communication book asking the parents how things are going with the reading and vocabulary..no replies. Not all of them are like that though.I have a few that are very involved and use my resources to work with their children. Ironic that those children are progressing much faster than the children whose parents are not involved. I personally see the impact so I have justification.

So parents who have succeeded in the school system and value the school system produce children who value the school system and who succeed in it: Conversely parents who failed in the school systen and do not place any value on it are producing children who also fail in the school system.

Wouldn't a better question be "How do you break the cycle?" rather than "Who is to blame?".

As for schools being responsible..We have 90 mins of reading, 90 mins of math daily 5 times a week plus more language exposure during social studies and science for another 90 mins in the afternoon so if that is not enough, what else can we do? Extend the school day or have year round school? We just hired 2 reading specialists last year to work with those students who are delayed so trust me as far as I know, schools are doing as much as they can.

I would add "With the resources available."

There in lies the rub. Schools are given strict rules as to what they can and cannot do, thus limting their creative choices, and then given a limited budget to work with.

People can do amazing things with limited resources, but only if they are given the creative freedom to make unconventional choices. When both the creative choices and the resources are limited there is only one option left: Failure.

What is the problem? Maybe it is a combination of different things. Who knows? Lack of motivation of the students, the students' weak L1 language, the teacher's different approaches..some may work with some students and some may not work with other students, the quality of parental involvment, the child's socioeconomic background?

When I was a kid the standard class size was 47. When I told a grand daughter's teacher that she was horrified. She said nowadays no class can be larger than 37.

Assume 8 hours in school a day at 47 students my teacher could only give each student 10.21 minutes of personal attention per day.

With the new standard the teacher can give 12.97 to each student per day.

It took 45 years for the teacher to be able to give each student 2.76 more minutes each day to each individual student.

I do not have to look at much further than this to agree with you that teaching is not a dream job at any wage.

Studies have shown that if children come from poor socioeconomic backgrounds where they have to struggle to survive daily due to lack of nourishment, danger, no shelter, or whatever...school becomes low on their priority but important our school provides a safe haven for them ..just to get them motivated to learn is a challenge..some succeed, others didnt.

It is hard for me not to be sarcastic over a study such as this. To make it worse they did not ask the next most obvious question, "What belief system prevents socially disadvantaged people from seeing education as a way out of their dilemma?"

The answer to this one is also obvious to anyone who is familiar with our culture. "The socially disadvantaged as a group believe the situation is so stacked against them it does not matter what they do society will not allow them to win."

A study might better be directed along these lines, "How do you convince socially disadvantaged people that they will be given a fair chance if they do graduate from high school?"

Remember, every child is different and we work hard to meet their individual needs. That is what's good about my school but yea, we could always improve. Just need the support from the public and the politicans.

The support you will recieve from politicians will be to put on a big show making laws saying you need more qualifications. Of course the qualifications they require of you will not make you a better teacher, in fact you may have to spend so much time tending to your qualifications you don't have time to correct school papers, but hey, the politician looks good.

Most of he public isn't really sure what it wants, it only knows it is dissatisfied with the product it is recieving -- illiterate children. They don't see any enemy except for you, the teacher, and they know of no way to deal with the system except to vote for the politician who looks and sounds so great when he demands you increase your qualifications.

Frankly you look more like the target than the shell. ( I cannot resist a pun.)

All of the teachers I work with really care about the students and really want to see them succeed so we get frustrated too when we see low reading, writing and math scores. It is not like we are there for the money..Oh pls..the pay is lousy. We are there cuz we love our jobs and really care for those children.

You can tell me how low paid you are and win sympathy -- Because I make as much or more than you do and I quit school after flunking the sixth grade. I have neither your education nor your responsibilities; but you are not going to win points with a socially disadvantaged person who earns half your wage or less.

U know that more and more people are not seeking teaching as a profession due to all these laws and NCLB and the low pay so it will become a serious problem in about 5 years with teacher shortage or good teachers. I mean it is a becoming a serious problem so think about what we teachers have to go through..with low pay, demanding tests that we have to pass, going back to school again and again to renew our certifications, the stress the politicans put on us with that law NCLB, and the public's eagerness to put the blame on us if children do not suceed. It can be stressful sometimes and I am starting to see people who quit after 5 years of teaching to go back to school for other field of work or to find other better paying jobs.

If I was single, there is no way I can afford to buy my own house on my salary. Sad, isnt it but I love my job and I love working with the kids.

May be this is a good thing. Perhaps if they can't find enough people to jump through their stupid hoops politicians will quit trying to look good and will start trying to solve some problems.

 

[shel90]

So parents who have succeeded in the school system and value the school system produce children who value the school system and who succeed in it: Conversely parents who failed in the school systen and do not place any value on it are producing children who also fail in the school system.

Wouldn't a better question be "How do you break the cycle?" rather than "Who is to blame?".




I would add "With the resources available."

There in lies the rub. Schools are given strict rules as to what they can and cannot do, thus limting their creative choices, and then given a limited budget to work with.

People can do amazing things with limited resources, but only if they are given the creative freedom to make unconventional choices. When both the creative choices and the resources are limited there is only one option left: Failure.




When I was a kid the standard class size was 47. When I told a grand daughter's teacher that she was horrified. She said nowadays no class can be larger than 37.

Assume 8 hours in school a day at 47 students my teacher could only give each student 10.21 minutes of personal attention per day.

With the new standard the teacher can give 12.97 to each student per day.

It took 45 years for the teacher to be able to give each student 2.76 more minutes each day to each individual student.

I do not have to look at much further than this to agree with you that teaching is not a dream job at any wage.




It is hard for me not to be sarcastic over a study such as this. To make it worse they did not ask the next most obvious question, "What belief system prevents socially disadvantaged people from seeing education as a way out of their dilemma?"

The answer to this one is also obvious to anyone who is familiar with our culture. "The socially disadvantaged as a group believe the situation is so stacked against them it does not matter what they do society will not allow them to win."

A study might better be directed along these lines, "How do you convince socially disadvantaged people that they will be given a fair chance if they do graduate from high school?"



The support you will recieve from politicians will be to put on a big show making laws saying you need more qualifications. Of course the qualifications they require of you will not make you a better teacher, in fact you may have to spend so much time tending to your qualifications you don't have time to correct school papers, but hey, the politician looks good.

Most of he public isn't really sure what it wants, it only knows it is dissatisfied with the product it is recieving -- illiterate children. They don't see any enemy except for you, the teacher, and they know of no way to deal with the system except to vote for the politician who looks and sounds so great when he demands you increase your qualifications.

Frankly you look more like the target than the shell. ( I cannot resist a pun.)





You can tell me how low paid you are and win sympathy -- Because I make as much or more than you do and I quit school after flunking the sixth grade. I have neither your education nor your responsibilities; but you are not going to win points with a socially disadvantaged person who earns half your wage or less.




May be this is a good thing. Perhaps if they can't find enough people to jump through their stupid hoops politicians will quit trying to look good and will start trying to solve some problems.

Do u work in the educational field? If not then how about taking some action instead of talking? How about helping to find solutions to improve the educational system or actually working in the educational system? We are all US citizens and we all bear some responsibility to educate our future generations. Wouldnt it be great if all Americans take some time to help our educational system instead of sitting back and saying "U could do this, this could be done, this or that"?

 

[shel90]

So parents who have succeeded in the school system and value the school system produce children who value the school system and who succeed in it: Conversely parents who failed in the school systen and do not place any value on it are producing children who also fail in the school system.

Wouldn't a better question be "How do you break the cycle?" rather than "Who is to blame?".

That has already been addressed hence the changing and application of different educational philosophies.



I would add "With the resources available."

There in lies the rub. Schools are given strict rules as to what they can and cannot do, thus limting their creative choices, and then given a limited budget to work with.

People can do amazing things with limited resources, but only if they are given the creative freedom to make unconventional choices. When both the creative choices and the resources are limited there is only one option left: Failure.

Not neccessarily. If that is how u see it, good for u but I dont see it that way.


When I was a kid the standard class size was 47. When I told a grand daughter's teacher that she was horrified. She said nowadays no class can be larger than 37.

Assume 8 hours in school a day at 47 students my teacher could only give each student 10.21 minutes of personal attention per day.

With the new standard the teacher can give 12.97 to each student per day.

It took 45 years for the teacher to be able to give each student 2.76 more minutes each day to each individual student.

I dont work in the public school so I am not the right person to discuss this issue with.

I do not have to look at much further than this to agree with you that teaching is not a dream job at any wage.

Did I say that teaching is not a dream job? My point about pointing out the low wages is that teachers are doing the job because we love and care for the children not for the money. If it was all about the money, then there will be no teachers and pretty soon that is gonna happen. How about some respect for teachers? It may not be your dream job, but it is mine despite the low pay. Pls do not twist my words.




It is hard for me not to be sarcastic over a study such as this. To make it worse they did not ask the next most obvious question, "What belief system prevents socially disadvantaged people from seeing education as a way out of their dilemma?"

The answer to this one is also obvious to anyone who is familiar with our culture. "The socially disadvantaged as a group believe the situation is so stacked against them it does not matter what they do society will not allow them to win."

A study might better be directed along these lines, "How do you convince socially disadvantaged people that they will be given a fair chance if they do graduate from high school?"


Have u personally seen what kind of emotional stress living just to survive does to children? Have u personally worked with children who come from homes that are chaotic, not safe, have little or no food, inadequate shelter, dont have appropriate clothes? Have u seen how that impacts their motivation to learn? If not, then u really do not have a clue.

The support you will recieve from politicians will be to put on a big show making laws saying you need more qualifications. Of course the qualifications they require of you will not make you a better teacher, in fact you may have to spend so much time tending to your qualifications you don't have time to correct school papers, but hey, the politician looks good.

Most of he public isn't really sure what it wants, it only knows it is dissatisfied with the product it is recieving -- illiterate children. They don't see any enemy except for you, the teacher, and they know of no way to deal with the system except to vote for the politician who looks and sounds so great when he demands you increase your qualifications.

How can u, if u are a voter, can change this? How can American voters change this problem?
Frankly you look more like the target than the shell. ( I cannot resist a pun.)





You can tell me how low paid you are and win sympathy -- Because I make as much or more than you do and I quit school after flunking the sixth grade. I have neither your education nor your responsibilities; but you are not going to win points with a socially disadvantaged person who earns half your wage or less.
Was that intended as an insult? If so, I can safetly assume that u do not respect teachers. I am happy for u that u make a lot of money on little education. If that gives u personal statisfaction, great.



May be this is a good thing. Perhaps if they can't find enough people to jump through their stupid hoops politicians will quit trying to look good and will start trying to solve some problems.

Or maybe Americans can take personal action and really help support the educational system and the children. Maybe, donate some of your time to tutor, be a mentor or whatever to America's children? I think we all can make a difference instead of waiting for the politicans to solve the problems.

 

[Berry]

That has already been addressed hence the changing and application of different educational philosophies

Have not seen it but will accept your word.

Did I say that teaching is not a dream job? My point about pointing out the low wages is that teachers are doing the job because we love and care for the children not for the money. If it was all about the money, then there will be no teachers and pretty soon that is gonna happen. How about some respect for teachers? It may not be your dream job, but it is mine despite the low pay. Pls do not twist my words.

The difference between "you" specifically and "you" in general. "A" dream job, "The" dream job, your dream job and my dream job can all be different.

I do not doubt that teaching is your dream job.

Ditch digging was my dream job, lots of physical work, decent pay, and plenty of time to think because the mind was little occupied. Unfortunately it no longer exists as a job because heavy equipment has taken over.

What I meant was it is not the type of job the average person is going to envy: high stress, low pay, often placed in no win situations, little or no help from either parents or politicians, and seldom a thank you.

Have u personally seen what kind of emotional stress living just to survive does to children? Have u personally worked with children who come from homes that are chaotic, not safe, have little or no food, inadequate shelter, dont have appropriate clothes? Have u seen how that impacts their motivation to learn? If not, then u really do not have a clue.

Actually I have. I was raised in the slums -- We were too poor to afford ghettoes -- They upgraded some time later. There was no welfare, there was no CPS prevent drunken fathers from whipping their children with whatever they grabbed -- And the schools were more concerned with keeping us from killing each other than in teaching us our ABC's. When you taught in my neighborhood you recieved hazard pay.

I was lucky. I had a wonderful mother who taught me how to read.

As an adult my wife and I raised our children and all of their friends and we did it on my earnings alone. We never recieved a penny from any foster care service or their parents. Then we raised several grand children.

And I can garantee you every child that lived in my house learned to read.

How can u, if u are a voter, can change this? How can American voters change this problem?

I'm not sure you can. I have yet to see a politician's voting record back up the positions they claimed when they ran for office. So you would have to do two things. Find a politician who said what you wanted to hear and who voted the same platform they said they would while running.

Was that intended as an insult? If so, I can safetly assume that u do not respect teachers. I am happy for u that u make a lot of money on little education. If that gives u personal statisfaction, great.

No, not intended as an insult. Nor do I respect or disrespect people because of the group they belong to. I respect you and your goals. I have no intention of belittling you or your beliefs, I merely have different ones. I believe the system is flawed. In fact I believe it is disfunctional.

I don't make a lot of money, and I don't have a fancy job; sometimes I work long hours 7 days a week; I don't have a fancy house, a fancy car, or fancy clothes; but my family has always had a place to live, food to eat, and clean clothes to wear.

Maybe this will make my point clearer.

I have a grand daughter whose other grand father just became eligible for SSI. It is the most money he has ever recieved in his life. Neither of us will ever convince him that I am not a pampered, lazy rich jerk who can afford to buy his grand daughter's affections by taking her to a movie and dinner -- Neither of which he can afford to do.

When I point out I would love to have more time to read, which he has, he sneers, "Why would you want to read when you can afford to go see the movie?"

I assure you you will never convince him that money is not high on your list of priorities or that you are not recieving more than your due.

Or maybe Americans can take personal action and really help support the educational system and the children.

Maybe.

But I'm not certain what is right. One of my children who did well in school wound up on welfare -- and one who always did poorly became a social worker.

Maybe, donate some of your time to tutor, be a mentor or whatever to America's children? I think we all can make a difference instead of waiting for the politicans to solve the problems.

I'm personally uneducated, untalented, and unskilled, and there is no justification for anyone to pay any attention to anything I have to say. But it does sound like a nice idea that could not possibly hurt.

 

[shel90]

Have not seen it but will accept your word.



The difference between "you" specifically and "you" in general. "A" dream job, "The" dream job, your dream job and my dream job can all be different.

I do not doubt that teaching is your dream job.

Ditch digging was my dream job, lots of physical work, decent pay, and plenty of time to think because the mind was little occupied. Unfortunately it no longer exists as a job because heavy equipment has taken over.

What I meant was it is not the type of job the average person is going to envy: high stress, low pay, often placed in no win situations, little or no help from either parents or politicians, and seldom a thank you.

Hey guess what? One of my student's parents called for a meeting with me and they wanted to know how they can help with their child's educational progress especially reading and writing at home and then they thanked me for doing a good job with their son. That really made me feel good. I do not rely on getting thank u's from anyone to make my job statisfying...just seeing my students learn and be successful academically and see them grow with a good self esteem is a good enough "thank u " for me.

But I got what u mean now..ok no problem.



Actually I have. I was raised in the slums -- We were too poor to afford ghettoes -- They upgraded some time later. There was no welfare, there was no CPS prevent drunken fathers from whipping their children with whatever they grabbed -- And the schools were more concerned with keeping us from killing each other than in teaching us our ABC's. When you taught in my neighborhood you recieved hazard pay.

I was lucky. I had a wonderful mother who taught me how to read.

As an adult my wife and I raised our children and all of their friends and we did it on my earnings alone. We never recieved a penny from any foster care service or their parents. Then we raised several grand children.

And I can garantee you every child that lived in my house learned to read.

Yea...u are VERY lucky that despite having hardships, your mother emphasized on the importance of reading. Unfortunately, many of our students who come from homes like yours have parents who are too burdened with real life's stress to really take the time to learn sign language, read to their child, or even acknowledge their child. AS a result, the children come to school so unmotivated to learn. We are working hard to make learning fun..just a huge challenge when the child or children are not interested in learning or have behavior issues that interfer with their learning process.



I'm not sure you can. I have yet to see a politician's voting record back up the positions they claimed when they ran for office. So you would have to do two things. Find a politician who said what you wanted to hear and who voted the same platform they said they would while running.



No, not intended as an insult. Nor do I respect or disrespect people because of the group they belong to. I respect you and your goals. I have no intention of belittling you or your beliefs, I merely have different ones. I believe the system is flawed. In fact I believe it is disfunctional.

I don't make a lot of money, and I don't have a fancy job; sometimes I work long hours 7 days a week; I don't have a fancy house, a fancy car, or fancy clothes; but my family has always had a place to live, food to eat, and clean clothes to wear.

Maybe this will make my point clearer.
Ok yea, it did. Thanks

I have a grand daughter whose other grand father just became eligible for SSI. It is the most money he has ever recieved in his life. Neither of us will ever convince him that I am not a pampered, lazy rich jerk who can afford to buy his grand daughter's affections by taking her to a movie and dinner -- Neither of which he can afford to do.

When I point out I would love to have more time to read, which he has, he sneers, "Why would you want to read when you can afford to go see the movie?"

I assure you you will never convince him that money is not high on your list of priorities or that you are not recieving more than your due.





Maybe.

But I'm not certain what is right. One of my children who did well in school wound up on welfare -- and one who always did poorly became a social worker.




I'm personally uneducated, untalented, and unskilled, and there is no justification for anyone to pay any attention to anything I have to say. But it does sound like a nice idea that could not possibly hurt.

To me, u are very educated judging from this and other posts. I think you have a lot to offer. Just by giving a child your undivided attention at the school can do wonders especially when the child doesnt get attention at home.

My school accepts volunteers and there is no criteria except for criminal background checks required.

 

[VamPyroX]

I agree with you.

I started elementary school in deaf classes. By the 3rd grade, I was taking math with the hearing students. By the 4th grade, I was taking science with the hearing students. By the 8th grade, I was in all hearing classes. I graduated high school at grade level. During the time I was in school, I had parents who supported me through school. My mom helped me with my writing. My dad helped me with my math. I never had tutors in my school nor did I get involved with any after-school activities such as clubs or sports. I simply went home and played with my friends. I have my parents to thank for helping me through school.

 

[Berry]

To me, u are very educated judging from this and other posts. I think you have a lot to offer. Just by giving a child your undivided attention at the school can do wonders especially when the child doesnt get attention at home.

My school accepts volunteers and there is no criteria except for criminal background checks required.

I have no formal education, only informal. I tell people I am uneducated but not illiterate.

I owe my literacy to my mother. She taught me reading, writing, mathematics, history, and provided me with thinking skills.

The rest I owe to my own curiosity.

 

[shel90]

I have no formal education, only informal. I tell people I am uneducated but not illiterate.

I owe my literacy to my mother. She taught me reading, writing, mathematics, history, and provided me with thinking skills.

The rest I owe to my own curiosity.

A big round of applause for your mother!!!

Self-education is just as good as formal education but unfortunately, many employers look at the formal education background and use that as their critera.

fftopic: excuse my lousy spelling today..I am kinda sleepy. LOL!

 

[sr171soars]

I totally agree that a key component in education is parental involvement. I can see the difference in my kids all around but especially with reading. They absolutely love to read and it is amazing what they have learned from it and what they understand. We started this trend by reading to them all the time and deempathsized TV (we watch very little TV). FYI - I'm the deaf one with a CI and I have hearing kids but I know the value of a good education.

It just bothers me and saddens me to see so many posts mention how often that parents are not involved with their children's education. It is bad enough knowing hearing kids go through this and even worst (much worst) that deaf kids deal with this neglect. Who pays in the long run? We all do and unfortunately trying to fix it from the school end won't totally solve the problem. It takes all the players especially parents to be involved to have well educated children. Yea, some kids survive and do well for themselves even when parents could care less but the reality is that most kids need their parents assisting them along the way and encouraging them.

I'm not sure why this country went down the path to consider "education" not as important as it used to be. I guess it came about when parents decided that parenting was too hard and decided to focus on themselves. My take on that was if you didn't want to deal with being parents, why become one? Parenting was always hard and that never changed over the centuries.

 

[Dark-Half]

Kids this days are graduating from high school with third grade level of reading and writing it is overwhelming. A public hearing is beeing held on Feb.15,2007 from 8:30 to 11:00 am in Broward County FLORIDA. Subjects like low student ratio for teachers of the deaf, early childhood education, transportation issues, unemployment and funds available are just few of the issues being addressed. Come and advocate, an interpreter is being provided do not let this opportunity go by. For more info. contact jennifer@affwdc.org

Address 6301 nw 5th way, suite 3000 FT. Lauderdale 33309

That's not suprising. When I was done with 6th grade and transfered to a private school for deaf and blind the material they gave me there was equal to 3rd or 4th grade work and had a rather childish theme to it. I felt insulted and refused to do any of the schoolwork. I could have gotten straight a's just doing it because it was easy as hell but I choose to rebel rather than be took for an idiot. They gave me lots of dentenion and I wasn't exactly the type of person to have alot of friends there :P moved again to a public school, and got the work and tests worthy of my intelligence. Earned mostly b's and c's and passed that grade.

 

[InTheGenes]

I agree with others here who assert that parental involvement is key to a child's successful learning. Sure, it's possible for a child to succeed WITHOUT it, assuming they're motivated enough to do so. But there's too much evidence that indicates that children do better in school when their parents are actively involved.

So when parents and their Deaf children don't share a common language (ie, when parents don't learn to sign, etc.), those poor children are oftentimes almost destined to fail, especially if the child is already struggling in school.

One other thing that often goes overlooked: while it is certainly helpful for parents to assist with homework CONTENT... it's just as important for parents to instill and ensure appropriate study habits. That means, sometimes, making sure that homework is actually DONE, rather than just taking their child's word for it. That sometimes means providing for the right kind of study environment, free of other kinds of distractions (TV, for example).

Another great way to help a child scholastically is to get them to tell (and show!) you what they've learned in class... or what the essence of the homework assignment was about. If they can explain it to you (ie, if they can TEACH it back to you), then chances are pretty good that they've "got" it! Even if the subject matter is something that a parent might have forgotten from years ago, and they think they're not qualified to tutor their child in a particular subject... sometimes asking the right kinds of questions will go a LONG way towards learning the material. And over time, this will also help serve as a role model for the child to think critically, if they're not doing so already.

 

[jillio]

Have not seen it but will accept your word.



The difference between "you" specifically and "you" in general. "A" dream job, "The" dream job, your dream job and my dream job can all be different.

I do not doubt that teaching is your dream job.

Ditch digging was my dream job, lots of physical work, decent pay, and plenty of time to think because the mind was little occupied. Unfortunately it no longer exists as a job because heavy equipment has taken over.

What I meant was it is not the type of job the average person is going to envy: high stress, low pay, often placed in no win situations, little or no help from either parents or politicians, and seldom a thank you.



Actually I have. I was raised in the slums -- We were too poor to afford ghettoes -- They upgraded some time later. There was no welfare, there was no CPS prevent drunken fathers from whipping their children with whatever they grabbed -- And the schools were more concerned with keeping us from killing each other than in teaching us our ABC's. When you taught in my neighborhood you recieved hazard pay.

I was lucky. I had a wonderful mother who taught me how to read.

As an adult my wife and I raised our children and all of their friends and we did it on my earnings alone. We never recieved a penny from any foster care service or their parents. Then we raised several grand children.

And I can garantee you every child that lived in my house learned to read.



I'm not sure you can. I have yet to see a politician's voting record back up the positions they claimed when they ran for office. So you would have to do two things. Find a politician who said what you wanted to hear and who voted the same platform they said they would while running.



No, not intended as an insult. Nor do I respect or disrespect people because of the group they belong to. I respect you and your goals. I have no intention of belittling you or your beliefs, I merely have different ones. I believe the system is flawed. In fact I believe it is disfunctional.

I don't make a lot of money, and I don't have a fancy job; sometimes I work long hours 7 days a week; I don't have a fancy house, a fancy car, or fancy clothes; but my family has always had a place to live, food to eat, and clean clothes to wear.

Maybe this will make my point clearer.

I have a grand daughter whose other grand father just became eligible for SSI. It is the most money he has ever recieved in his life. Neither of us will ever convince him that I am not a pampered, lazy rich jerk who can afford to buy his grand daughter's affections by taking her to a movie and dinner -- Neither of which he can afford to do.

When I point out I would love to have more time to read, which he has, he sneers, "Why would you want to read when you can afford to go see the movie?"

I assure you you will never convince him that money is not high on your list of priorities or that you are not recieving more than your due.





Maybe.

But I'm not certain what is right. One of my children who did well in school wound up on welfare -- and one who always did poorly became a social worker.




I'm personally uneducated, untalented, and unskilled, and there is no justification for anyone to pay any attention to anything I have to say. But it does sound like a nice idea that could not possibly hurt.

Sounds more like you are unmotivated. And unrealistic. I find it difficult to believe that you raised all of your children's friends, much lesswithout assistance from foster care.

And its great that you have lifted yourself out of your self described life of poverty. However, for the deaf child living in poverty, you have doubled their risk of becoming an educational failure. And yes, I agree with shel--it is most definately a sociological problem.

But since you persist in telling us how uneducated you are, perhaps you have never read the research that confirms this.

 

[jillio]

Just a reminder, the standards have dropped for ALL students, not just deaf students. I find it truly amazing the students who are coming into college with a high school diploma that have to register for developmental English, math, and reading courses. Hearing students. Despite proficiency testing, we are turning out students who are incapable of critical thinking. Their writing skill and math skills are sub-par. And, this is particularly heartbreaking when it comes to a studnet with a disability. Education is of the utmost importance for ALL children, but most especially so when that student has a disability. Only through education will our deaf children overcome the barriers to underemployment and be able to make the contributions that they have to offer our society.