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Deaf Children In Public Schools

I am currently taking a beginning sign language class and my professor teaches first through fifth grade deaf children in a public school. Tonight we were talking about standardized testing in the school systems and how deaf children are expected to meet and pass required tests that children without hearing problems have to pass. The problem with this is that children who learn Sign Language are speaking a different language, it's not English. They expect children to be able to read English, and they can't do it.

Here in Florida we have the FCAT that students have to pass. They have to pass one in elementary, middle, and high school before they can move on to the next school setting or graduate. Well, the problem for her kids is that they are expected to read English, and they can't. Part of the elementary school FCAT is to distinguish rhyming sounds and long and short vowel sounds, etc. Definately things a deaf child cannot do. She's having to fail several of her children, who are very intellegent, because the test is not in a format condusive to their needs.

Part of the arguement for doing that is that if a person wants to graduate high school and get the same diploma as a hearing person, they have to pass the same test. One diploma has to be equal to the other diploma.

Do you agree with this philosophy? Do you think that there are other ways to determine the knowledge of a deaf person other than a standardized test not written in their language?

Schools Public Children Deaf

I took several - 5 I think - ASL classes at a school for the deaf in my area. I sympathize with what you are saying. However, Spanish speaking children are required to pass these tests in English as well, aren't they?

I think it is in the best interest of the deaf to be able to read and understand English in the US. Books aren't written in ASL. However, I don't think they should be tested on rhyming. Seems to me an allowance should be made for that under the Americans with Disabilities Act or something along those lines.

Deaf Children In Public Schools UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

Yes, they are. But here's the difference, in my opinion. Deaf children are born within this country. They aren't coming from a different country and then being placed in our school system. If a Spanish speaking child reaches the fifth grade unable to speak English, then they have most likely come from a Spanish speaking nation. Growing up, one of my best friends was from Peru, and when she came to here, her English was very little. But by the time we reached FCAT grade, she had been incorporated into the school system so long she had the competancy to do so.

I am not saying that Deaf children should not be tested at all, but they are being tested on areas that put them at an unfair disadvantage. I agree that it is good for them to be able to read and understand English, but it's different than somebody from a different heritage being placed in the situation.

A large part of the FCAT (our standardized test here), I think it is 50%, of the Language Arts portion, deals with sounds.

Schools Public Children Deaf

Standardized tests mandated by legislatures are a bad idea in the first place. Never mind the specific disability or learning impairment - any student outside the "norms" will be treated unfairly by a statewide standardized test. Colorado has the CSAP, and it's a huge issue right now in all of my education classes. Our local schools have very low scores. Is it because the teachers are ineffective? No, it is because almost half of our students speak Spanish as their first language! The bureaucrats at the Capitol don't take these things into consideration when requiring a "one size fits all" test.

As far as the deaf issue, if deafness is the only disability a person has, he or she should be able to take the test with an interpreter signing the questions and asking for the answers.

Edited: howe6079 on 19th Apr, 2006 - 3:22pm

Schools Public Children Deaf

That's the thing though, they are not allowed an interpreter on the test. Teachers have literally gotten fired for even helping a student pronounce words. They take it very seriously. Once again, though, their issue is not so much with reading what is being written. It is generally the portion that deals with word sounds, and bombing one part is all it takes to hold a person back.

Deaf Children In Public Schools

If I were the parent of a deaf student in this situation, I would file a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities act. This is essentially discrimination.

Deaf Children Public Schools

I guess I don't fully understand the argument of the English language vs the language deaf people use. Aren't they learning English to? Of course we wouldn't expect a deaf child to take a vocal or reading test, but writing and interpretation should be the same. I hear the argument being used that deaf kids can't read the standardized tests, and for ignorance on my part, I can't understand what reading has to do with being deaf. The only part I can see is if they are not being taught properly, ie, having an interpreter there to teach them. If this is being done correctly, then they should be learning English as well as a kid that is not deaf. Please tell me if I am missing something. I also wanted to note that I grew up next door to a deaf boy who was the same age as I was, and he was able to read and write just as well as I could, if not better.

Deaf Children Public Schools Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO

Most people think that speaking American Sign Language is the same as English, but it is different. Granted the words have the same meaning (I.e., A bird is still a bird), but it's how they are put together that makes the difference. Speaking English, we have all these extra words (the, at, it, is, be, etc.) that ASL does not use. Here's an example:

English: The rocket went to the moon.
ASL: Moon rocket go

The issue is not their not being able to read what is in front of them, because if they are in a public school, then they are most likely being taught by a teacher who can sign, and they will be teaching both ASL and English.

What I am trying to focus on in this thread is the fact that a large part of state standardized tests, half the of the Language Arts test, is based on sound comprehension. At least, in the Elementary grades. Rhyming, different sounds of letters, etc. While some deaf people do utilize a voice, a great many of them do not. If they are completely deaf, they do not know what a long 'A' sounds like opposed to a short 'A' because they can't hear it, yet they are expected to be able to pass a standardized test based on those sort of things.