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Deaf Education Debate: ASL vs. Spoken Language
10 Feb
Summary
- Butler University's new master's program focuses on spoken language for deaf children.
- Deaf community members argue the curriculum lacks sufficient ASL instruction.
- Research remains divided on the optimal educational approach for deaf children.
A new master's program at Butler University, focused on spoken language education for deaf children, has ignited a debate within the Deaf community. The program, designed to train educators for children using hearing technology, offers only one credit hour of ASL instruction. This has led to significant concern among Deaf advocates, who fear it limits children's natural communication development and repeats historical attempts to suppress sign language.
Community members argue that a comprehensive approach, including robust ASL training, is crucial. They cite historical instances where sign language was banned in schools, leading to negative consequences. While research on the most effective education methods for deaf children is varied, all agree that early and consistent language access is vital to prevent language deprivation.
Butler University maintains that the program aims to provide diverse options for deaf children and families. They highlight that ASL is offered as a foreign language and a minor for undergraduates, separate from the master's curriculum. This specialization, they contend, addresses a specific need for educators skilled in listening and spoken language development for deaf students.
