I don't think it is cute or funny when a deaf student calls his interpreter "mommy". I wish the interpreter would listen to me and stop allowing this to continue. The interpreter often acts like a mother to the child with the hugging, caressing, and calling her student "my baby". I find it disturbing and creepy, but the interpreter thinks it is harmless. Never mind that the child is in 2nd grade.
Let's see what the student's real mother has to say about this.
~Mr. P
Let's see what the student's real mother has to say about this.
~Mr. P
You are insensitive. Most deaf kids can't communicate with their actual parents because they don't bother to learn sign language. Most deaf kids start learning language from the interpreter when they start school. Significant learning cannot occur without a significant relationship. This is especially true for language.
ReplyDeleteThe kid's mom dropped the ball. Who cares what she thinks of this? She should feel either grateful that someone is caring for and supporting her child, or griefstricken that her child is eight years old and calling someone else mommy. Do you have any idea of the LINGUISTIC age of that child? Because it is probably around two or three. This is not typical development. Atypical development sometimes calls for atypical behavior. You don't treat a two year old like an eight year old. If you have concerns, talk with the interpreter.
The child is eight years old! He is not two or three years old, an you don't see anything wrong with him calling an interpreter "mommy"? Linguistically he is at 7, according to his speech language pathologist.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame the child at all. There are things that have happened to him in his life which we are all aware of and sensitive to, and makes it understandable why he would act this way with the interpreter. However, I believe the interpreter is at fault for allowing him to call her "mommy" and for carrying on an inappropriate relationship with the child. She is infantilizing him. We had to remind her several times that he is capable of buttoning up his jacket on his own among other things.
You can have significant relationships with your students without having them act as if you are their parent and call you "mommy" or "daddy". There is nothing wrong with the interpreter to suggest that he calls her by her name.
I would never allow a student to call me "daddy". Why? Because I am not their father, I am their teacher, and they don't need to call me "daddy" to know that I care for them very much so. Imagine how everyone would react if one of my students called me "daddy". They would look at me as if I am a pervert or a child molester. But, it is perfectly fine for a child to call his interpreter or teacher "mommy" because they are linguistically delayed?
~ Mr. P
Even if the mom never signed, she is still the mom who feed, sheltered, made sure her child have education, etc.
ReplyDeleteInterpreters and teachers come and goes.interpreter should be an professional who listens and cares about the child. Not form a some kind of bond or unhealthy relationship that never meant to be.
I think the main problem is how professionals such as this interpreter see in deaf or disability children. Feeling sorry or pity, and it is not healthy for the child because they can't learn that way. -for example, a hearing child misbehave, a teacher would correct that child, but when a deaf child misbehave, they brush it off, and tell whoever noticed it, "have some empathy (or whatever the term is), the child is deaf" I hope that make sense. I think this interpreter have the same pity feeling toward the child and feel she have to baby him instead of being professional.
I know an interpreter who refers to her clients as her kids. these clients are college students she is few years older than them :X
ReplyDeleteMishka Zena
I think its highly inappropriate. I can care for a child and not be mommy or them my babies. As a language model, I need to step up and show different roles that I have. Maybe the child doesn't have language access at home but that doesn't mean there is no love. Also, how will the child succeed if he/she is coddled through life?
ReplyDeleteWe, as interpreters and teachers, need to be professional yet caring and being "mommy" doesn't cut it.
Anonymous @ June 13th: "Do you have any idea of the LINGUISTIC age of that child? Because it is probably around two or three. This is not typical development. Atypical development sometimes calls for atypical behavior."
ReplyDeleteLanguage delay should not excuse an interpreter to allow him to call her "mommy" or to treat him like a baby.
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Has the mother of this student every said anything? Why isn't the interpreter following the CPC? This is very interesting scenario. UGH!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the interpreter hasn't set a professional boundary. Whatever the relationship at home between the child and mother, the terp is still not the mommy. She is there as a facilitator and that's it. No 'mothering,' no tutoring, no teaching. If she is unable to keep her opinions under control, is she the right person for the job?
ReplyDelete