Which School?

There are different options for deaf children to go to school ranging from going to a public school to going to an all deaf school. If they go to an all deaf school they have the choice of going to an orally taught school or one where ASL is used. I think the all deaf school with the ASL teaching is the best choice for a deaf child.

The ASL method has been successful for a long time, and will give them more options than going to one of the other schools. They do not need an interpreter at this school, like they would at a mainstream school. They are dependent on learning from an interpreter, rather than learning from the teacher. They have devices now to help, but they still don’t capture every word correctly and it takes the focus off the teacher and the lesson.

Anyone who is taught orally is at a slight disadvantage in some ways. It takes a lot longer to learn how to speak when you cannot hear, which impairs how long it would take for the student to learn the material and words. They learn a lot less when they have to focus on how to make sounds they can’t hear and read lips. The oral only method actually helped with the old “deaf and dumb” term that used to be used to describe deaf people. They just couldn’t learn as much because it takes a lot longer to be able to talk and read lips. After each new word learned the student would have to go back and try to imitate it, they cannot just simply learn the alphabet and sound out words. It has improved with technology, but is still difficult to do.

Another downfall to the oral method is that lip reading can be inaccurate and lead to misunderstanding or misinterpreting. Lip reading is also difficult, for both hearing and deaf people alike. Most of the time reading lips isn’t accurate then, there is a misunderstanding between the two that are talking to each other. They also won’t be provided an interpreter in some legal cases which can be hard. Some people don’t learn how to use ASL and if they happen to be in a legal situation and don’t know what someone is saying they have less of a way to understand them.

The schools that have all ASL learning is the best case scenario. Teachers teach the students without an interpreter needed. The students can focus on the lessons and ask questions easier than in mainstream schools. They can learn a large vocabulary with their signs, because it is not limited in voice coaching. They also learn writing to be able to communicate with people who don’t know ASL. With ASL there isn’t much room for misinterpretation, because each sign has its own meaning. They will always be provided an interpreter for any reason they would need one. I think another very important reason is they are surrounded by other students with the same impairment they are, so bullying for being deaf cannot occur.

For all of the reasons stated above, I think that if there is a deaf child and they are at the age where they need to start school they should be going to one where it is ASL based and taught. I think it would be in that person’s best interest to go to that type of school. There are other options the need is definitely based on the child, and differs from child to child. I still think the ASL schools offer the best opportunity for deaf students.