Newsgroups: bit.listserv.deaf-l
Date:         Thu, 3 Sep 1992 00:47:06 EDT
From:         -- <sipb7@ATHENA.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: authority
X-To:         DEAF LIST <DEAF-L%SIUCVMB.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
              01 Sep 92 21:03:26 -0400. <9209020129.AA18654@Athena.MIT.EDU>

    No, I don't impose my beliefs on the children in my class.  I try to
    educate them as to what their options are and give them the ability to
    develop sound logic and reason so they can make educated choices....

You're imposing your belief that logic and reason are important on
them.  I try to do the same with my students, and I'm not ashamed of
it; I'm just pointing out that we *are* implementing value judgements
here.

    In fact, I've invited the man from the Democratic headquarters in town
    to come and speak to the children.

What about the Peronistas, er, Perot supporters, the Libertarians, the
Greens, etc., etc.?  If you only introduce them to the Republicans and
Democrats, you're implying that their ideas deserve more attention
than the minor-party candidates' ideas.

A local Libertarian activist could tell your class about the problems
the LP has had getting on the ballot in many states.  This could teach
your students a lot about political scheming and manipulation in our
alleged democracy.

    I have very strong religeous beliefs.  But, when Travis asked how was
    the mountain made I don't teach him the story of creation.  We look at
    the whole issue - both sides....

What do you mean, "both sides"?  Was this in the context of a science
class or a world-religions class?

I'm not well-read in geology, but I can think of *four* competing
schools of thought on organic evolution.  Among religions, there must
be dozens of competing creation myths--heck, the *Bible* has two
competing stories (Genesis 1 vs. Genesis 2), and various medieval
rabbis elaborated on those stories in lots of different ways.

    >If one of your students punches another in the face, or violates the
    >school dress code, or otherwise behaves in a way that they feel is
    >right and you feel is unacceptable, you will impose your belief on them.

    Were you serious with that above comment?

Yep.  You value peaceful resolution of conflicts over, say, the
aristocratic tradition of dueling, and impose that belief on your
students.

							  If you assault
    anyone in this society you are to be held accountable.

Why are you shifting responsibility from yourself to "society"?

Suppose you taught in a neighborhood where apartment managers
discriminated against potential black tenants.  Would you discriminate
against black students, since if you are black in this society you
are to be a victim of discrimination?  "I'm sorry, Timmy, we can't get
you a locker this year...."

I didn't think so.

    >Why should *you* (a not-always-cozy coalition of the school district
    >and the childrens' parents) have the power to decide what beliefs to
    >impose?  Why *not* give deaf adults in your community a piece of that
    >power?

    How do you know deaf adults are *not* involved?

OK, you tell me.  Do any deaf adults have decision-making power in
your school system *because* they represent the local deaf community
(and not only, say, because they are parents of deaf children)?  Does
your school have an affirmative-action plan to seek out deaf
employees?

    Parents *still* have the right and responsibility to raise their
    children in the best way they know.  *ALL* parents make mistakes - not
    just hearing parents of deaf kids.

But if those "mistakes" pass a certain point, the state has the legal
*power* to intervene.  That's the political issue I'm driving at.
What *power* do deaf people have in the deaf-ed system?  What should
they have?

By the way, in the above paragraphs, I am deliberately using "deaf"
and not "Deaf".

    Teacher who is constantly amazed and bewildered by the variety of opinions,
    feelings, hostilities that exists within the culture of which her children
    belong.

Disclaimer: I'm not "within the culture", I just work here.  :-)

--
::: A fundamentalist preacher who can't read Hebrew deserves as much  :::
::: attention as a heart surgeon who has never handled a stethoscope. :::
seth gordon  <sipb7@athena.mit.edu>   . . . these opinions for rent
the learning center for deaf children . . . associate teacher-counselor
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU