[Pibe-division] A Modest Proposal

[Carlton Anne Cook Walker]

I believe that Sheila has hit the nail on the head.  If one does not teach a
subject, one will likely lose proficiency in that subject.

But this leads to the next question -- are there ANY other teachers who can
spend 10 years NOT teaching a vital part of their subject matter?  Though I
am no expert in the various specialties in K-12 education, I cannot think of
another field in which this could take place.


Perhaps looking a another low incidence disability would be useful.  Like
TVIs, Teachers of Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing have to learn a
totally new communication mode with which they were likely unfamiliar
growing up.  However, unlike TVIs, these teachers must be competent in Sign
Language upon graduation.  Moreover, I am guessing (though I do not know for
certain) that there are very few Teachers of Students who are Deaf/Hard of
Hearing who go more than 1 or 2 years without any students who use Sign
Language.  Why is this?


In fact, it seems to me that braille instruction is far more supportive of
independence than is sign language instruction.  Braille PDAs (such as the
Braille Sense, the PAC Mate, and the BrailleNote) allow students to
independently create and read digital information from regular educators  In
contrast, Sign Language communication in the regular classroom typically
requires a translator.


Sheila's point about the rustiness of braille skills should also be
highlighted.  How many TVIs with rusty braille skills will find that a
student with low vision (or who is totally blind) needs braille
instruction?  A few, perhaps, but those who allow their braille skills to
get rusty are not likely to thrill at the prospect of having to teach
braille.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that so very many
Learning Media Assessments find that, "braille instruction is not
appropriate for the student at this time."



Now, for my modest proposal: a new certification.  Though I know there are
good reasons not to do so, I believe that the dearth of quality braille
instruction mandates that students may only receive braille instruction from
an individual competent in braille.  This is really not so revolutionary --
every other subject matter (including non-native language instruction)
requires competence from certified teachers.  I am envisioning a TNVS --
Teacher of Non-Visual Skills.  Also, in conjunction with this change and to
reduce the current issues of teachers determining what they will teach, I
would mandate that only a TNVS could determine that braille instruction is
NOT appropriate for an individual student.



O.K., now rip me apart!  :)



Carlton


-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker, cTVI, NCLB
105 Creamery Road
Boiling Springs, PA, 17007
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/attachments/20100615/99ed4d14/attachment.html>