Instead of writing an essay, you are required to answer 5 questions in the blog below. There cannot be more than 10 replies to each question – so all questions get covered. First 10 comments only will be looked at. Make sure your name is attached to each post. A response has “facts” and at least three STRONG supporting statements. A response should be at least 6 sentences. Read the previous posts before you make a comment.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Amy's opposition
How was Amy faced with opposition upon taking her teaching job?
Amy faced opposition in her speech teaching class in several forms. First, there was Melvina who does not believe in Amy’s work and at one point in the film submits a report on her progress in order to remove the program for the school. Amy does her best to persevere and with emotional assistance from another teacher and Mr Ferguson continues in her teaching. Another challenge she faced in teaching was uncooperative students, however, Henry helped her push through that by being an exemplary and motivated student. Later in the film, she is faced with the truth of not having any credentials in teaching speech and having forged the recommendation for the Horace Mann’s school. Her outstanding friends and cooworkers are able to look past it, despite the risk of severe backlash against the school for it. Lastly, her husband makes a surprise appearance and attempts to take her back “home”. However, by now Any has learned her value and gained self confidence and the ability to stand up for herself and she turns him down and sends him home with the support of Henry. - Eli
I think one of Amy's biggest oppositions was the fact that she was looked down upon by the other teachers not because she was a woman, but because she had no real prior experience. The other teachers know ASL, they know how to work with blind and Deaf children, but Amy knows little to nothing except for what she learned when raising her own Deaf son. This isn't much experience to begin with, so going in to teaching the Deaf is far beyond her abilities. But she is able to overcome this as she is dedicated and willing to learn. She lied about her credentials to not be pushed away by the school, but even then, she wasn't embraced by all the staff; especially Melvina. Amy isn't seen as proper for a job that's already been called impossible. She, of course, rises above her opposition and faces obstacles, both in the school and from her past, and finds happiness.
I agree, while Amy did lie and day that she had training at a very prestigious school, it didn't change the fact that she walked into a Deaf school as a teacher for the Deaf without knowing any ASL. This action was looked down upon as extremely ignorant, and for good reason. She was eventually able to prove, though, that she was more than a weird hair piece and could make a real difference to the kids. -Nikki
The fact that she also walked into a Deaf school and stated that they would soon be able to speak, an impossible phrase at that time, very much contributed to the opposition. On this score is where Melvina got caught up, she couldn't see past the fact that Amy was doing something so revolutionary with her kids. This is mostly what led to the immediate hostility that she faced upon entering the school. -Nikki
I agree with the idea that Amy's biggest opposition presented was the lack of acception by her fellow staff. However, I believe this was because of the fact that her practice was a new form of education at the school, and something seen as impossible or even forbidden by most of society. Yes, Amy was unqualified for the job, having never professionally practiced her skill and lying about it, but as mentioned by Eli, the school had no idea of it until much later in the film. Teaching deaf children to speak proves as a very difficult task and other teachers at the school immediately opposed Amy not due to her being unqualified or lying to them, but because of the fact that they didn't believe anybody could successfully do her job. This was pretty much the first challenge set for Amy, and by far the hardest to overcome. -Angelina
Amy faced opposition in her speech teaching class in several forms. First, there was Melvina who does not believe in Amy’s work and at one point in the film submits a report on her progress in order to remove the program for the school. Amy does her best to persevere and with emotional assistance from another teacher and Mr Ferguson continues in her teaching. Another challenge she faced in teaching was uncooperative students, however, Henry helped her push through that by being an exemplary and motivated student. Later in the film, she is faced with the truth of not having any credentials in teaching speech and having forged the recommendation for the Horace Mann’s school. Her outstanding friends and cooworkers are able to look past it, despite the risk of severe backlash against the school for it. Lastly, her husband makes a surprise appearance and attempts to take her back “home”. However, by now Any has learned her value and gained self confidence and the ability to stand up for herself and she turns him down and sends him home with the support of Henry.
ReplyDelete- Eli
I think one of Amy's biggest oppositions was the fact that she was looked down upon by the other teachers not because she was a woman, but because she had no real prior experience. The other teachers know ASL, they know how to work with blind and Deaf children, but Amy knows little to nothing except for what she learned when raising her own Deaf son. This isn't much experience to begin with, so going in to teaching the Deaf is far beyond her abilities. But she is able to overcome this as she is dedicated and willing to learn. She lied about her credentials to not be pushed away by the school, but even then, she wasn't embraced by all the staff; especially Melvina. Amy isn't seen as proper for a job that's already been called impossible. She, of course, rises above her opposition and faces obstacles, both in the school and from her past, and finds happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree, while Amy did lie and day that she had training at a very prestigious school, it didn't change the fact that she walked into a Deaf school as a teacher for the Deaf without knowing any ASL. This action was looked down upon as extremely ignorant, and for good reason. She was eventually able to prove, though, that she was more than a weird hair piece and could make a real difference to the kids.
ReplyDelete-Nikki
The fact that she also walked into a Deaf school and stated that they would soon be able to speak, an impossible phrase at that time, very much contributed to the opposition. On this score is where Melvina got caught up, she couldn't see past the fact that Amy was doing something so revolutionary with her kids. This is mostly what led to the immediate hostility that she faced upon entering the school.
Delete-Nikki
I agree with the idea that Amy's biggest opposition presented was the lack of acception by her fellow staff. However, I believe this was because of the fact that her practice was a new form of education at the school, and something seen as impossible or even forbidden by most of society. Yes, Amy was unqualified for the job, having never professionally practiced her skill and lying about it, but as mentioned by Eli, the school had no idea of it until much later in the film. Teaching deaf children to speak proves as a very difficult task and other teachers at the school immediately opposed Amy not due to her being unqualified or lying to them, but because of the fact that they didn't believe anybody could successfully do her job. This was pretty much the first challenge set for Amy, and by far the hardest to overcome.
ReplyDelete-Angelina