Editorial

Editorial DEAF TEACHERS The right of qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing people to teach deaf children is an opportunity that has been denied or severely restricted in past years. Presently, it is challenged by laws in certain states that require that any teacher of handicapped children first teach nonhandicapped students. This requirement creates an almost insurmountable obstacle to an aspiring teacher who is deaf. Currently in England, the British Deaf Association is fighting this same issue. Because of the nature of the British educational system and due to the monopoly oralism had on teacher preparation, for centuries deaf people with few exceptions have not been able to qualify and get employment as teachers. There is a continuing need to prepare and employ qualified deaf people as teachers and administrators in schools for deaf children. They not only offer excellent role models for deaf youth, but they also help hearing professionals better understand deafness. Without continued vigilance on the part of professional organizations in deafness, regulations will be passed that will make it difficult or impossible for deaf people to teach. DEMONSTRATION SCHOOLS AT GALLAUDET COLLEGE There has been an effort on the part of the federal government to eliminate or curtail the funding of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. This effort raises a fair issue. Do these two extremely expensive schools represent the best investment possible of money being used to help deaf children? Has the contribution of these two schools as "demonstrations" been significant enough to justify their large costs? Do teachers around the country feel they have benefited by the research and demonstration done on the two campuses? These are among the questions that need to be asked, not of administrators at Gallaudet, but of outside representative professionals in the field. Then an objective decision could be made on this important issue. THE ANNALS In its continuing effort to better serve its readers , the American Annals of the Deaf has enlarged its number of reviewers and made other changes designed to provide the best possible journal. One of the other changes is the use of "blind" reviews, that is, the name and affiliation of the author are removed from the copy of the manuscript that the reviewers evaluate. The intent is to ensure fairness in the review process. Under Dr. E. Ross Stuckless, new Chairperson of the Joint Annals Administrative Committee, and Mr. Hugh Summers, Executive Director, overall procedures have been evaluated. Changes have been made to facilitate effective operation and to maximize service to readers. AU connected with the Annals, the Editor in particular, welcome reader comments, criticisms , and suggestions. Through A. B. Crammatte 's column or the way readers choose, they may express their views and be assured of a response. McCay Vernon Editor A.A.D I June 1984 303 ...