Teaching Sign Language In Public Schools example essay topic

681 words
There are many opportunities in the world today. But has anyone ever stopped to think if they are the right ones? Public schools have languages they offer to take as an elective to learn and use later in life. Usually Spanish and French and sometimes German and Japanese. But what about the people who cant speak or hear a language? What are they supposed to do?

Not giving equal opportunities to all students is quite unfair. That's why I propose that there should be sign language courses taught in public schools. There are, of course, thousands of schools around the world for the deaf or hard of hearing. To me that sounds very secluded.

To make a special school for a group of people because they " re different in some way, well I don't think that sounds fair. Just because some one is deaf or hard of hearing isn't a reason to not be able to go to regular school like everyone else. Richard Sinnott proposed the learning of an internationally agreed Sign Language course in every school in the world. This would teach all hearing children priceless communication skills and encourage their physical fluidity, expressiveness and development.

And not only would it get rid of received prejudices towards the deaf or partially hearing (based on hearing adults fear of being unable to communicate without awkwardness) but it would end the 'disability's tat us of the deaf. Deaf Connections is a charity in Scotland that is spearheading the first steps towards a project like the one Richard Sinnott proposed, by helping youngsters in Glasgow to learn the basic signing skills. The project is being carried out in conjunction with Glasgow City Council's education department and is being supported by a grant from the National Lottery. Only 16 states in the U.S. have schools with the option of sign language in their schools.

To me that number isn't nearly large enough. There should be options of sign language in every state. Better said their needs to be fair opportunities in every state. Now in Portland Public Schools if a proposal for sign language was made all that would be said is that there isn't enough funds. Well how bout we get some funds. I thought Education was the most important thing in school.

I guess not because they " re using so much money on sports and not enough on the education value in schools. The people learning sign language arent alway deaf or mute. Alot of the people can hear just fine. but have a family member or a friend who is hard of hearing. Many colleges and universities are beginning to recognize the study of ASL and Deaf culture as legitimate academic pursuits and are starting to accept ASL in fulfillment of their foreign language requirements.

In several states, ASL is, by law, as acceptable in fulfillment of high school foreign language graduation requirements. More and more colleges and universities are accepting ASL in fulfillment of foreign language requirements. The University of California system will soon accept ASL in fulfillment of foreign language graduation requirements. Harvard and Yale are also some of the schools which are looking into similar action. When studying a foriegn language study involves learning about the values, world view, and way of life -- the culture -- of a group of people. The same is true for the study of ASL.

ASL students learn about the rich cultural life of Deaf people, but also the alphabet and different gestures for words and about how the language of sign has evolved through out the years. through it all, sign language is in fact a language, a way of communication, that is needed for everyday life. I hope that people will come to the realization of those terms and act on it, making our world more equal to people who deserve it.