Waiver Day

Today we had what is known as a "Waiver Day," which means that the kids didn't have to come to school and that we had to sit through meetings all day. Actually, today's waiver day wasn't too bad. In the morning we had presentations about special ed., in which the interpreters participated. I had to speak about processing time by using the question, "Why is the interpreter still signing even when I've [the teacher] stopped talking?" This was a good one because most teachers don't realize that we have a "lag" or "processing" time when they are speaking. Some teachers are even of the mindset that if they have finished speaking and the interpreter is still flapping her arms, that she must be feeding answers to the deaf students. So, I gave a brief spiel about that. I also mentioned how impossible it is for an interpreter and by default, the deaf student, to keep up with a class if it is conducted in a rapid-fire question and answer format. The deaf student will always be behind and unprepared to answer when called on, until he has been caught up by the interpreter.
We also had a question about disciplining the deaf student: if it is the responsibility of the teacher, the interpreter, or both the teacher and the interpreter. Many teachers answered, "The interpreter." This is not so. It is the teacher's responsibility to uphold classroom and behavior management and that includes any deaf students in their class. Of course, there are times when the educational interpreter has to sit up and say, "Hey, I'm an adult and a staff member," and be a part of the disciplining or monitoring of student behavior.