James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (04/15/91)
Index Number: 14882
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Now if we go back to Bebian's time, we find that history has
repeated itself. Just as Methodical sign was developed to model
spoken French and did not work, MCE was developed to model spoken
English and it did not work. Now we have a better un derstanding of
why. The structure of a spoken language can not be imposed on a
signed language due to the constraints imposed by the modality.
So, what does that mean for deaf education? As we know,
language is very important for education. The language used for
education must be one that is natural, completely accessible,
learnable, and efficient. MCE does not meet these criteria. ASL
and other foreign sign languages do. ASL is the only language that
can be used for the language of instruction for our deaf children.
So, what about English? We will have to teach English for reading
and writing only, not for signed communica tion. It should be
taught like a foreign language. ASL will be the students' first
language and the language of instruction. English will be their
second language and a language used for reading and writing. We
will need to connect meaning in the two languages. English will
need to be taught through ASL. If there is another way, I don't
know what it is.
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