James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (04/15/91)
Index Number: 14875
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Prior to the use of MCE, the oral method was used to teach
English to deaf children. From 1970 to the present, MCE has been
used. There has not been a significant change in the reading and
writing skills of deaf children taught using MCE ov
er those taught under the oral method despite the fact that MCE
provides English in a visual mode. Deaf children have not acquire
significantly better English skills.
We know deaf children are capable of learning language. They
are able to learn ASL, develop a command of the language, and develop
fluency. However, deaf children do not seem to be able to learn MCE,
develop a command of MCE, or develop flu ency in MCE. Why?
There are two possible reasons for the lack of acquisition of
MCE skills in deaf children. One relates to the input. Perhaps the
teachers and parents were not signing MCE correctly. In other words
the quality of the input caused the proble m. The second possible
reason is that there is a problem inherent in SEE 2 or MCE as a sign
system that makes it unlearnable. It is my view that it is not the
input that is the problem, but that there is some problem inherent in
MCE itself that mak es it unlearnable. I believe that even if the
quality of the MCE was excellent, deaf children would not improve
their English skills. I propose that MCE as a sign system is not
compatible with a visual/gestural modality. MCE does not "make
sense" to a deaf child. As a result the deaf child is not able to
learn MCE. Later I will explain in more detail why I support the
second explanation rather than the first.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org