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
Giving false hopes...
Explain Melvina’s philosophy on the teaching of speech and comment to Amy regarding “giving false hopes.”
In the film, Melvina claims that Amy’s attempts to teach the Deaf students to speak would be giving hem false hope. This is because she doesn’t believe that Deaf children have the ability to speak and doesn’t want them to lose hope later. Melvina comes across as rude to Amy but it is only because she truly cares about the children and wants what’s best for them. She believes that if Amy tells them that they will be able to speak and then later fails at teaching them, their hopes would raise only to be dashed aside, she wants to protect them from a cruel world and shelter them from pain of any sort. That is also why she is a stickler for the rules (ex. Dr Corcoran taking the kids in the buggy) because she believes the rules are here for a reason and that is they’re broken the children will get hurt somehow. She spends all her efforts sheltering the Bildern from the world, but all that ends up doing is leaving them unprepared for the world when they finally leave the school, they will have no one to protect hen then and will be woefully unprepared. - Eli
I agree with this, Melvina doesn't act the way she does because of lack of empathy for the students, but quite the opposite; she cares about them so much that she couldn't bear it if something bad were to happen to them because of her ignorance. For this reason she is very close minded to the new idea of teaching them how to speak, since it is such a new concept, and so bound for failure. -Nikki
Melvina is sort of an example of reverse conservatism. She has certain ideals that have been there for a long time, and when something is about to change, she lashes out. The difference here is that her ideal is ASL, which is usually thought of as a progressive thing. However, in this case, Melvina becomes our villain because of her insistence on holding onto this ideal. -Nikki
I agree with Nikki about how Melvina truly loves the children and her hesitant attitude towards a new style of learning; however I disagree with how she expresses it. Melvina is defensive of the children’s naïve minds that will image themselves talking fluidly and that may not be the case for all. Just as Wesley thought his eyes would open like a baby animal the children may have unrealistic goals for themselves. The only difference between Wesley and the other children is that no one ever told Wesley the truth, whereas Amy made it clear that in order to talk a lot of work would have to be shown. Once Amy’s work starts proving itself Melvina becomes more open to the idea because she realizes how many new doors this opens for the students. All the teachers want the students to succeed, yet someone have more hope and determination than others. -Noellie
I agree with Nikki, this is a sensitive subject for her, considering she’s been teaching these children, who have been given away by their parents, for right or wrong reasons, Melvina has taught them sign language, their form of communication. Once children hit a certain age, it’s hard for them to learn a langue, especially verbal when they’re Deaf. This might be a “lost cause” because it seems ALMOST impossible, but it might be more for her pride and not wanting to accept that there is something that might distract them from sign language or possibly forget the special connection they had. -jada
In the film, Melvina claims that Amy’s attempts to teach the Deaf students to speak would be giving hem false hope. This is because she doesn’t believe that Deaf children have the ability to speak and doesn’t want them to lose hope later. Melvina comes across as rude to Amy but it is only because she truly cares about the children and wants what’s best for them. She believes that if Amy tells them that they will be able to speak and then later fails at teaching them, their hopes would raise only to be dashed aside, she wants to protect them from a cruel world and shelter them from pain of any sort. That is also why she is a stickler for the rules (ex. Dr Corcoran taking the kids in the buggy) because she believes the rules are here for a reason and that is they’re broken the children will get hurt somehow. She spends all her efforts sheltering the Bildern from the world, but all that ends up doing is leaving them unprepared for the world when they finally leave the school, they will have no one to protect hen then and will be woefully unprepared.
ReplyDelete- Eli
I agree with this, Melvina doesn't act the way she does because of lack of empathy for the students, but quite the opposite; she cares about them so much that she couldn't bear it if something bad were to happen to them because of her ignorance. For this reason she is very close minded to the new idea of teaching them how to speak, since it is such a new concept, and so bound for failure.
ReplyDelete-Nikki
Melvina is sort of an example of reverse conservatism. She has certain ideals that have been there for a long time, and when something is about to change, she lashes out. The difference here is that her ideal is ASL, which is usually thought of as a progressive thing. However, in this case, Melvina becomes our villain because of her insistence on holding onto this ideal.
Delete-Nikki
I agree with Nikki about how Melvina truly loves the children and her hesitant attitude towards a new style of learning; however I disagree with how she expresses it. Melvina is defensive of the children’s naïve minds that will image themselves talking fluidly and that may not be the case for all. Just as Wesley thought his eyes would open like a baby animal the children may have unrealistic goals for themselves. The only difference between Wesley and the other children is that no one ever told Wesley the truth, whereas Amy made it clear that in order to talk a lot of work would have to be shown. Once Amy’s work starts proving itself Melvina becomes more open to the idea because she realizes how many new doors this opens for the students. All the teachers want the students to succeed, yet someone have more hope and determination than others.
ReplyDelete-Noellie
I agree with Nikki, this is a sensitive subject for her, considering she’s been teaching these children, who have been given away by their parents, for right or wrong reasons, Melvina has taught them sign language, their form of communication. Once children hit a certain age, it’s hard for them to learn a langue, especially verbal when they’re Deaf. This might be a “lost cause” because it seems ALMOST impossible, but it might be more for her pride and not wanting to accept that there is something that might distract them from sign language or possibly forget the special connection they had. -jada
ReplyDelete