The Blind Loving the Blind!

The Sound of the Piano is coming from a room nearby. it flows down the aging hall of the school building, interrupting my lessons on Braille. I have been staring at the dots wondering what is A, and which is B; for once I can imagine the frustration children have when they are learning the alphabets for the very first time.

My Tutor Ms J, who has been blind since birth, has been teaching various subjects to blind students for over 25 years. She is patient to explain how to use the Braille board. “It’s easy” she says, “you can learn it”. I am glad she can’t see the doubt and confused look on my face; I am saved by the bell, its lunch time.

She goes to the class next to hers and comforts a ten year old girl, who became blind last year. The little girl had bumped her head earlier in the morning, she still has not yet adapted to having no vision.

“She is like a baby”, says J says, “I feel so sorry for her”.

I am touched that she has the heart to feel sorry for another, when she has been the same way her whole life. Yet in a way, the little girl is a baby, born with sight, and now has to get used to living in a new world of total darkness.

She moves on to another boy to comfort him, he lay with his head on his table, raising it reluctantly and rejecting her soothing calls to go and eat something. I don’t understand Sinhala, but her soothing tone convinces me, the students, I am sure, must be reassured by such personal attention.

I walk toward the sound of the music playing. A boy not much older than my own 12yr old son was feeling his way through the rhythm of songs from Sound of music. I sit enthralled at how he plays the piano, though completely blind.

Other Children, saunter in, feeling their way through the premises without even a walking stick. Often they bump into walls or people, so they work in pairs to guide each other. The Blind leading the blind!

Would you choose Deaf or Blind Students?

As part of my Post Graduate Studies in Special Needs Education, i have decided to Volunteer for a few weeks in a well known School in Ratmalana. I walked into the premises not sure what to expect, half wanting to run back and continue my job hunt in more glamorous settings.

But i put one foot in front of the other, uncertain and insecure!

Walking through the gate, i spotted the sign, "The Ceylon School for the Blind". The office premises was dismal and bare. The typical rundown look of government offices in developing countries.

I got the directions to the Principals office, and found my way to the Principal of the Deaf School. But not before i had this split second to decide which type of impairment i want to work with. The School for the Blind, and the School for the Deaf lay side by side each other.

I saw a few blind children find their way around the school compound, one was feeling her way using the huge columns that held the tall white buildings which stood around a green field.

They wore the white uniforms typical of all government schools here in Sri Lanka, and i saw some others students, leading other students, whom i guessed may have been totally blind.

The premises had a Colonial ambiance that was charming yet desolate. I panicked at the thought of standing in a class full of blind students, who wont be able to see me , and wont be able to understand my accent, that is assuming they can speak English!

Walking further inside, i found my way towards the Section for deaf children, and decided on that split moment to work with the deaf kids, hoping that they could at least lip read, and i could use all sorts of graphics to illustrate my points while teaching. My accent wont be a problem, because they cant hear me.

I got a tour of the school, they were delighted to have me volunteer, and the teacher there immediately cut off periods from other teachers where i could come in and teach. I was glad the classroom was airy and colorful, and even more delighted to exchange smiles with some of the children, the only language that didn't need translating.

I watch the class teacher introduce a lesson to the children, using both sign language and spoken words. My apprehension grew, i don't know sign language!

Tommorrow, I will be going there to observe the students, and then collect the syllabus for the subjects that i am expected to cover.

Wish me luck

I will need it!

Parents as Teachers

D a young mother, quits her job to stay home with her five year old son to prepare him for grade one. He will be starting in a few months and she worries he might not be able to cope up with the school work so she plans to stay home and prepare him before he even steps into the class room.

P is a single mother who is often too tired to consistently work with her five year old son, who is also about to begin grade one. Her child's teacher informs her that he may have to stay behind instead of proceeding to grade one, as she feels he will not be able to cope well with the work load.

P's son, according to reports from his teacher, is poorly motivated to do his school work and this lack of intreast may lead to him becoming overwelmed. P is despondent and is plagued with guilt for not preparing her son better!

In most healthy homes, parents especially mothers take on the responsiblity of teaching their children the basics during preschool years and even as they approach the primary stage of their education. This gives such children an advantage over other children whose parents may be too busy or incapable of constantly encouraging, even sometimes forcing the child to learn.

Some teachers also send work home, for parents to do with their children. Every busy parent knows the hassle of finding time to ensure homework is completed in between busy shedules. Yet it is a "burden" most parents will gladly carry as they are committed to ensuring that their children meet the best academic standards.

Parental involvement in school work varies from complete neglect due to family problems, to the other extreme where parents do the home work for the child and stir up an excessively competitive nature in the child.