Florida: Inspiring Braddock Teacher Offers More Than Words

[Harold Schiffman]

Inspiring Braddock Teacher Offers More Than Words
Shannon Hori MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The role of a teacher is a very special one. CBS4's Shannon Hori metwith a particularly intriguing teacher from Braddock High School,whose story has inspired students and whose method has earned him2007's teacher of the year. The silence in a Miami classroom speaksvolumes. Braddock High School teacher John Paul Jebian is deaf.  "Inever met anyone deaf before until saw him. He's deaf," said studentMariarhenee Arias. Yet every year there's a waiting list to get intohis American sign language classes which count as a foreign languagefor the students. One of his students served as his interpreter forour interview.
"How can you teach sign language when can't tell them what they'redoing?" asked Shannon Hori. When asked how he was able to teachwithout being able to verbally communicate with his students, hisstudent translator said "He knows some might be shocked that he's adeaf teacher. But he points to vocabulary words and how to sign." JP,as his students call him doesn't remember ever being able to hear. Hewas dropped at ten months of age and lost his hearing. "It's betterthat I'm deaf because hearing is too loud in this world. It blockseverything. I like being deaf. It's quiet," said the studenttranslating for Jebian.
"His wife, she can't sleep at night because of the rain. She saysyou're lucky you're deaf," said the student. Jebian teaches his twochildren sign language and the more important lesson, is that he alsoteaches his students. "It's good for the kids to have a role model inlife. 'Wow, he's a deaf teacher. He can do it and he has a disability.I can do it too,' " translated the student. "Being deaf is not a badthing. It's just a different way of seeing things," the student addedthrough translation. One of his students often helps teach in hisclass. Many plan to pursue a career that involves sign language. Theysay they pick it up quickly.
"It's because you want to tell him that the way he teaches motivatesyou. How every day you're so enthusiastic to come to his class. He'sshowing us there's more out there to this world," said Arias. In aworld filled with constant noise from gadgets like iPods and cellphones, Jebian is a teacher who teaches quietly, but is definitelybeing heard.
http://cbs4.com/local/teachers.teacher.of.2.606163.html

-- **************************************N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service toits membersand implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owneror sponsor ofthe list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members whodisagree with amessage are encouraged to post a rebuttal. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)*******************************************