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Dobson fights to halt move of leading deaf school
Evening Standard21 Feb 2008
One of London's leading schools for deaf children could be under threat, as plans to move the school are set in motion.
Frank Barnes School near Swiss Cottage takes children from 16 boroughs and is the only one in the capital to teach primary-age children in sign language.
Camden council called it a national resource - but the school may be forced to relocate under new plans to rebuild nearby.
Local MPs Frank Dobson and Glenda Jackson are leading a campaign to save the school and have demanded a meeting with education minister Lord Adonis.
In the Commons, Mr Dobson has put down an Early Day Motion which has been signed by 18 MPs in two days. He said: "These plans would be disastrous for the teaching of deaf children and closure should be prevented."
"Camden says a bit of the school could be attached to a school in Haringey, but everyone agrees that if they move it or reduce it in size, an absolutely top-notch super-specialist facility would disappear or be severely damaged."
Kevin Courtney, secretary of the Camden branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Frank Barnes is a truly excellent school for the deaf acknowledged by Ofsted and Lord Adonis. We think the council should be building Frank Barnes as a London centre of excellence, not proposing closure."
Camden council has launched a consultation on moving the school. A spokeswoman said it was committed to teaching deaf children but that the school was underused and losing money.
Reader views (5)
Personally, I strongly believe in the importance of mainstreamed education. I am undeniably shocked how different method of the deaf education between England and Australia. In Australia, mainstreamed education is greatly favoured over deaf-only schools. Down here, there are only two deaf schools and is dramatically reducing their students count and could be closed within a year or two.
I am personally a Year 11 student of a Queensland high school, and I strongly believe that mainstreamed school is far better to provide the EDUCATION for the deaf students. I am doing five academic subjects, that it is unable to be taught at the deaf-only schools. Few years ago, I attended the deaf-only school and didn't like it, and moved to different school within a year later.
So why mainstreamed school is important? It gives the deaf students a total understanding of "hearing world", and the importance of bilingualism. Once when the deaf students leave the school, they will be used with hearing world already.
From my perspective, if all deaf students are to be put at the deaf-only school, it will limit their understanding of "life" out there, outside the school fences. So people will have a LIMITED understanding and awareness about the deaf people and its society. Compared to exposed environment at the mainstreamed school where hearies see deaf people involve strongly in hearing society and make hearing friends - so therefore, spreading the awareness of sign language and deaf culture
- Rob, Queensland, Australia, 19/11/2011 11:13
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im deaf myself and i think its wrong for frank barnes school to be closed down, personally i have atteneded only deaf school from 3 to 11 and i have benefitted the most from learning there, the environment is relaxed, the children are happier and get on well with their work, since then when i have left, i attended to a 70 deaf pupil school mainstreamed with huge hearing school, there are problems deaf children had to face up like me. deaf children become uncomfortable with the environment, they find it hard, i and my friends have been picked on and was involved in some scuffles. Although many people have said its good, we deaf people can see the real world but i am totally against deaf children attending to mainstreamed school.
- James Matarazzi, Birmingham, UK, 21/07/2009 02:53
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Sure, send your culturally and medically deaf child to a "regular school" and watch them as they suffer from isolation, lack of communication and therefore sufficient education to enable them to excel and break down the boundaries which exist and have existed between for too many years - you're right - you don't understand the problem.
- Alison F, Liverpool, UK, 28/02/2008 09:41
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If you are not deaf, please do not assume things; one needs to know about our (Deaf experience) viewpoint to understand there are times in life that we need our peer group.
The real issue is about Deaf Education. The school has an ethos which maximises the use of bilingual teaching, in British Sign Language and English. This is much needed in a multicultural city such as London in the 21st century. Families of deaf children need that option, not all 'regular schools' have sufficient resources or such qualified & experienced staff. It has an amazing team of deaf and hearing staff, all role models for the child and families, to hold forth for the child's lifespan. Glad to see that MPs are taking an interest, as it's a London-wide issue.
- Penny Beschizza, London, UK, 27/02/2008 23:41
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I'm not sure I understand the problem. If deaf parents can select a deaf embryo for IVF and implantation, they why would they need special schools? Deafness isn't a handicap according to the activists, it's a 'culture'. So no problem going to a regular school then.
- Sarah N., London, UK., 21/02/2008 12:26
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