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| Horace Mann |
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| Richard Wolkomir |
Did you notice what he had to say about the man whose name is on the building we meet in for class everyday?
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Mann vs. Wolkomir
Did you notice what he had to say about the man whose name is on the building we meet in for class everyday?
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One of the most interesting things I learned from this essay was the fact that Horace Mann, a man celebrated for his work in education, was so against the use of American Sign Language in schools. The Horace Mann School was made famous by both the instruction of Alexander Graham Bell and the attendance of Helen Keller, and to find out that it had such a backwards and cruel way of teaching the deaf was very surprising.
ReplyDeleteI was also very interested in the diversity of ASL and sign language in general. I do think language is inherent in humans—our level of intelligence almost requires it—and to see our tenacity and adaptability acted out in the deaf communities through multiple cultures was very heartening. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be the only person who doesn’t speak the language of my family and peers, let alone be the only person who couldn’t hear.
The special relationship between meaning and language in ASL was also very fascinating. I couldn’t help but wonder how people sign while using only one hand, or those with motor disabilities. I would also like to know if people can have speech impediments while signing, or if there are sign clichés that artists and poets try to avoid.
Overall, this chapter made me want to give ASL a more in depth look. I make an attempt to be able to at least ask for help or assist people in as many languages as I can, so maybe ASL need to be next on my list.
I agree with you on the first part, Charlynn. I have heard so much about Mann and his advances in education. It is hard to believe that a man so celebrated for his teaching methods could be so cruel to a group of students. It really is amazing how many people are so against sign and try to force them to learn using ineffective techniques. Of course they are going to have trouble speaking if they cannot hear their own voice, and why make them lip read when it is so often misunderstood? It just seems absurd to me.
ReplyDeleteI found it really fascinating about how signs are perceived in the right hemisphere of the brain. Signs are very spacial, so the fact that they are not perceived on the spatial side of the brain, but instead the language side is just so very cool to me. I think that this should prove to anyone who is anti-sign that it is a real language and should be valued and respected as one. Sadly, however, that is not the case.
I also loved how it mentioned that deaf babies, or babies of deaf parents, sign random babble like a hearing child would say. I never knew that. I think it is really interesting just how quickly a child can pick up the language and learn how to sign, even if it is not perfect at first.
The last thing that really interested me was how it mentioned that deaf people think and dream in sign. I mean, I guess that should have been obvious since they cannot hear, why would they be able to hear in thoughts and dreams, but it still really interested me. I just cannot even begin to imagine what that would be like. That just struck me as really cool. I'm not really sure why.
I took an ASL course once, because it fascinated me so much. After reading this chapter, I kind of really want to start working on that again.
I liked what you said at the end of your comment, Charlynn, about assisting people if at all possible. Last semester, I worked at the Computer Help Desk on campus and a deaf student came into the office needing help with one of the computers in the lab. She did her best to move her lips to form words, but I thought she was whispering at first. I finally realized that she was deaf, and I was able to help her figure out her problem. I was completely rattled though. Deafness is not something I encounter every day, and I am certainly not as prepared to interact with the deaf community as I would like to be.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stuck out to me as I was reading this selection was the fact that the deaf community has kept their "secrets" from the hearing community for so long. I think that is really cool. I loved what Woodward said about keeping their secret linguistic structure contributing to their "social identity and group solidarity." The deaf are a culture completely their own, and I find it fascinating that they switch between their most commonly used form of sign and the more standard English form of sign out of courtesy for the hearing culture. This type of generosity always makes me think of how selfish native English speakers are. We just expect everyone to build their lives around us, and we make no effort (as an entire group) to learn the cultures and languages of those around us.
-Emily