Why colleagues MIGHT fear us, was Re: Florida: Calling All Deaf Ad vocates!

[Alysse Rasmussen]

In a message dated 2/20/2004 4:16:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
mamandel at LDC.UPENN.EDU writes:
>From previous posts in this thread, I thought the objection was not "It
isn't a language", but rather "It isn't foreign". If that *is* in fact
the (stated) grounds of opposition, arguing "It *is* a language" will
not be useful.
Actually, if my "take" on the issue is right, the biggest deterrent is job
security.  You know :) ... Latin was replaced by German in the late 1800's early
1900's.  German was superceeded by French in WWI.  Spanish became "king" in
the late 40's early 50's.  Now sign language, with argue-ably inadequate
preparation on the part of some instructors -- is trying nudge in.

The majority of teachers I talk with -- one on one-- have nothing but respect
for another colleague.  A small minority are rather surprised to find ASL is
NOT English.  An even smaller minority are dead-set against it -- for whatever
reason -- and EXTREMELY vocal :6

When ballot votes happen (what EVER organization or group), I think many are
genuinely relieved to have "tabled" the issue for another group.

It's one of those dreadful "time heals all" situations that we all HATE
waitng on :)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/slling-l/attachments/20040220/c96a55b4/attachment.htm>