Deaf Children in Public Schools: Placement, Context, and Consequences (Gallaudet Sociolinguistics)

The gift of this book is that the author is a complex thinker who understands not only the linguistic needs of deaf children but the philosophical place and the psychosocial underpinnings of language and puts them in context. She understands not only the needs of the children but the needs of the school people and she takes time to clearly (and in an interesting style) bring us through the maze to a better understanding of not only why mainstreaming has not educated deaf children in the ways we hoped but how to move forward.

The tone of Ramsey's book is clear, straightforward, balanced and interesting. For anyone interested in the education of deaf children it is a MUST.


One of the first of its kind!   June 17, 2000
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

It has been thirty years since the coining of and implementation of 'special education' for children and students with disabilities. In spite of all this time, the research into special education tends to stick to the social values of educating children with disabilities with their "normal" peers in public schools. Most of this research has been made in disabilities such as orthopedic, mental retardation, and learning disabilities of all kinds.

Claire Ramsey is one of the first educational researchers to go into normal public schools with children who are either deaf or have severe to profound hearing losses. She spent time with the regular teachers, the special educators, the children, the interpreters for these children, and others who were involved in trying to give an education to these students. She fully explores the impact of inclusive education for students of this nature, and comes to conclusions that have been wondered about, but never written about or researched to the point of conclusions.

Like me, Ramsey sees the ultimate lesson to be learned is that the most important part of schooling should be giving every child, including deaf or hearing impaired ones, an education. This is in contrast to the social do-gooders who are not disabled who see public schooling as a social leveling device. For all their good intentions, these people only want to teach those who are 'normal' to be tolerant of those with disabilities. Unfortunately, this tolerance will not help the deaf and disabled get a job, make informed decisions about their lifestyles and health care, or allow them to progress in society. Only education does that...and Ms. Ramsey does a good first job in bringing this information to the educators of educators. Karen Sadler Science Education, University of Pittsburgh