Warmest Greetings to all

Warmest Greetings to all!!

My name is Heather ad I am your local environmentalist/humanitarian...

But I am more than likely going to step on alot of lines with the articles I write to try and make them fit that title.

I am an eclectic Jewish 20 something chick of the 90's, who is very open minded about almost all things.

Why am I an eclectic Jew? Well I was raised with Judaism but I hold alot of beliefs from the traditional Jewish ways to that of the Metaphysical world.

If you have any comments for me then feel free to write to me at [email protected].

With that being said let's move on to this weeks article....

Nowadays it seems as if almost everybody is talking about how the foreigners should learn the English language when they migrate to the United States.

I recently was told by a close a friend of mine that QUOTE, "They should learn our language"

My question is why aren't those Americans practicing what they preach? There are a growing number of deaf Americans and a shrinking amount of people who are learning sign language although it is offered in many schools and colleges.

My suggestion, teach it as a language like Spanish or French as an elective in school as part of the language requirements to graduate high school or even begin the basics of it in grade school.

The success of the long-running public television program "Sesame Street" has served as a guide for many years. By exposing several generations of English speaking preschoolers to the basic Spanish vocabulary. Almost everyone, young and old, who have watched the program for any length of time can at least count from 1 - 10 in Spanish. And in the last few years they have began exposing the viewers to actors with disabilities and who are deaf requiring the use of sign language.

American Sign Language, (ASL), is the native language of many deaf individuals. Colleges and Universities across our nation are adding programs in sign language studies to their Foreign Language departments.

Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) greatly increased the need for qualified sign language interpreters to provide deaf individuals with full access to private and public events.

Yvonne Williams, the lead pre-school teacher implementing the program:

"Signing has become an integral part of our preschool program at Coast Episcopal School. Because it is learning through movement, our young children have responded with enthusiasm and enjoyment."

A need for proficient hearing signers increases as deaf individuals become more and more involved with the hearing world. And as society's use of sign language grows.

Many community agencies are training hearing individuals to sign as well. young children, compared to most adults, have several advantages when it comes to learning sign language though.

They are generally uninhibited in the use of gestured expression and body language. But all in all it is an important language for young and old to learn and enjoy.

This is a part of our American society and our language. Let's take the time and learn it.

~HC

****Sorry if this seems jumpy or muzzled but I had a very upset dog barking at me the whole time!!****

I am burning this candle on this page for a sad but much needed reason:

I am sending my condolences to the families and friends of the unfortunate victims of the Texas A&M bonfire accident. My husband attended that school and was atop the bonfire pile in 1997. Our prayers and thoughts go out to you all who have suffered a loss on that unfortunate day!