Leading the blind
Category:
27 / 05 / 2008 | Author: dnorris
Deaf Children
The Maths lessons at Bolton Street School in Kirklees had to be exciting. The same was true of the English lessons. Indeed it was true of all lessons because all the children attending that school had a lot of power at their fingertips.
That school was the one which catered for all the children in the borough who had hearing difficulties. Some were only slightly deaf. Others were profoundly deaf.
They all wore earplugs and had lanyards around their necks. Attached to these were little boxes that controlled the volume. Should you happen to deliver a poor lesson, then the judgement was given in an unusual way. It wasn’t always easy to spot the serupticious movement, but the outcome was the same. The children switched off ...literally.
You knew it. They certainly knew it and it created a very strange balance of power between pupil and teacher.
That’s why when those teachers’ said that their job was rewarding, it meant something different.
When they said it was satisfying, that too meant that they could instantly measure the progress that was being made.
Above all it was challenging. Being deaf means that children are able to speak but if they have been deaf since before they learned to speak they have no means of gauging how words sound. This is where the true meaning of the word support comes in.
People who are born slightly deaf or severely deaf need help, support and guidance in order to develop their language and communication skills. It is part of a compulsory, life time skill which they need to learn in order to live a life as close as possible to what is considered normal. This help is provided by ‘Teachers of the deaf’.
‘Teachers of the deaf’ support individual students, who attend mainstream schools or special schools. One important part of their role is to collaborate with class room assistants who are presence in all lessons. The teachers then go on to manage the support.
As well as working with the pupils, ‘teachers of the deaf’ also work very closely with their family. They provide advice on the child’s development and up to date information about their progress.
Teachers of the deaf could also find themselves working in hospitals or other health care settings as part of a team of professionals, mainly working on audio logical and advisory services. In some cases teachers may work in higher or further education.
The progress that has been made with hearing aids and appliances has been huge. However, it is important to remember that technology is not the only tool of the deaf. Anyone working with older learners will be reminded of the fact that some people have grown up using sign language, observation and strategies. In other words they have coped without technology.
If you’re interested in this type of teaching then the first qualifying point is to have qualified teacher status, along with mainstream classroom experience.
If you are a undergraduate and therefore do not have a teacher status, then you will need a BEd degree. This combines subject and professional studies with teacher training and leads to a Qualified Teacher Status. Such a course normally takes 3-4 years.
If this option does not apply to you then a alternative could be to study for a degree with QTS, this combined degree includes subject studies with teacher training.
If you already have teacher training status then the next step is to contact a Local Authority, ‘heads of service for the deaf’. They will be able to provide you with information on qualifying for ‘teaching the deaf’ within their area. It is also very useful to have had some experience either in a special needs school or in a mainstream school where deaf children may attend.
Some post graduate degrees in Education combine professional studies with practical teaching experience.
The Graduate Teacher Programme is appropriate if you have a degree; you’re over 24 and have some teaching or classroom experience. This programme lasts approximately for one year. You will generally work in school and train at the same time.
The Registered Teacher Programme is for you if you have no degree but have completed at least 2 years of higher education. You must be over the age of 24 and have some classroom experience. The programme normally lasts 2 years along with you working in school while training and taking further studies.
Teaching the deaf is a very rewarding niche form of teaching. If you live in Scotland then teachers of the Deaf should contact: 01314768212 otherwise try http://www.tda.gov.uk
