I'm not sure if this is ok or not..

[butisthismyname]

DD school play has been on this week. First performance was on Tuesday and when I dropped her off on Weds, her teacher said 'she did really well, but they all need to be a bit louder' DD said 'yes, we have to pretend the audience is deaf and stupid - talk slowly and loudly'. The teacher sort of laughed and said 'yes that's what I've told them..' and I wasn't quite sure how to react - dd is profoundly deaf in one ear and that is well know at her school. Not that this is the reason I think it was a bit I don't know whether it was a dreadful thing to say to year 2 children or not...opinions??

I always stand at the back and tell the class to pretend I am a deaf granny.

It is not supposed to be offensive, it is supposed to make them shout.

The stupid bit is a bit strange, but I guess she wanted them to slow down?

that's what I thought - like I say I'm not overly bothered just wondered what everyone else thought

I think it's ok. She was trying to get the children to understand that's all. Did your DD seem bothered by what she said?

No, not at all

I guess it's ok then. But i do see that if you stop and think about it it may not be the right thing to say.

Just out of interest (genuine curiosity, not being difficult) what do you think would be a good way to make the same point? It is very hard to persuade young children to speak up.

I would be offended by it. I grew up with deaf parents when the expression 'deaf and dumb' was commonplace, and spent my life explaining to people that deaf does not mean stupid. Also you do not need to shout at deaf people!! It actually distorts the voice and lip shapes.

I would have something to say to anyone who used this phrase in our school.

What's wrong with telling the children they need to speak up so that people at the back can hear them?

Hmm, I guess she could have said 'Right, it's a big big hall, and you need to make sure everyone at the back can hear so just talk really loudly and slowly so they understand'??

I think it's a stupid thing for the teacher to say, and a bad example for the children to make fun of people. Will they now be thinking that deaf people are stupid?

One if dd's drama teachers us deaf and she uses that fact when trying to get the kids to project

The stupid bit is sort of relevant in that you can't assume the audience knows Snything. You have to make it really clear what you are supposed to be doing.

I hope not - I've spent enough time getting dd to talk to everyone and explain her issues and dealing with the teacher!

I would be irritated by this. I see nothing wrong in telling people to speak up because there may be people with hearing problems in the audience (my mum has been partially deaf since childhood so I am used to speaking loudly) but I don't think it is appropriate to use the phrase "deaf and stupid".

Hmmm, about as ok as saying to a group of 3 and 4 year olds "you have to sing loudly or the Mums and Dads will be cross", which is what my daughter was told for her nativity play .

pardon!

Yes, she did look a little uncomfortable.

I haven't used that phrase - you just stand at the back of the hall and mumble and ask if they can hear you. They get the jist. Or you tell them its the only acceptable moment to shout at their teacher. They like that.

I think the teacher was very tactless.

The teacher could have used the two words separately but your daughter truncated them when repeating eg. "Now use your outside voices, as if the audience is all a bit deaf." Then later, "George you need to speak slower, as if the audience is a bit stupid and need time to understand".

Which became "deaf and stupid" in the mind of your (bright) daughter?