Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education Advance Access published online on July 30, 2008
The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, doi:10.1093/deafed/enn030
The One Book
Marschark, M. (2007). Raising and Educating a Deaf Child: A Comprehensive Guide to the Choices, Controversies, and Decisions Faced by Parents and Educators. New York: Oxford University Press. 267 pp. $35.00.
Gallaudet University
M. Marschark (2007). Raising and Educating a Deaf Child: A Comprehensive Guide to the Choices, Controversies, and Decisions Faced by Parents and Educators.New York: Oxford University Press. 267 pp. $35.00.
The 2nd edition of Marc Marschark's Raising and Educating a Deaf Child is engaging and accessible for the "average college educated adult." The most important work of professionals concerned with the education and well-being of D/deaf and hard of hearing children is to bring our individual and collective knowledge to the minds and hearts of their parents, teachers, coaches, and even neighbors. It takes a village to raise a child, and Marschark's book could benefit many village members who heretofore probably knew very little about raising a deaf child.
Marschark explains that while the first edition of this book was written primarily for parents, it found its way into the academy. Although there is a 13-page list of references, I found myself thinking like a skeptical parent and wanting specific citations or at least footnotes for his many paragraphs that begin with "research has shown." While he does include some citations, I think he could have included more—especially for his frequent mention of studies that suggest that utilizing both spoken language and signed language with D/deaf children yields better results than utilizing just one or the other.
In the chapter on language development, Marschark does an excellent job of making this very complex information reasonably accessible for a parent or anyone who has not studied that field professionally. Throughout the book, he provides support for both signed and spoken language and especially drives home a sort of "why not" endorsement of signing from birth. He tells the reader that despite prevalent notions to the contrary, there is no evidence that early exposure to signed language will impede the child's later acquisition of spoken language. It is heartening to see a professional not affiliated with Gallaudet University or a Deaf Studies program address this longstanding misconception with scientific authority.
As a bonus, he gives a plausible explanation for why some may conclude that using sign with preschoolers often results in a less-than-rich vocabulary: "I, for one, do not ever recall having learned how to talk about abstract things like religion, politics, or the meaning of life in my Russian, French, Italian, or ASL classes. If parents are able to sign or speak only about food, toys, and simple social situations, their children are likely to have similar limitations, at least early on (128)." This welcome tongue-in-cheek humor graces the entire book.
On the issue of cochlear implants, Raising and Educating a Deaf Child offers a reasoned and balanced view, repeatedly emphasizing themes that (a) the jury is still out (not enough research has been done), (b) children always have and always will vary, and (c) numerous factors impact various aspects of a child's development, including how he/she will or will not benefit from an implant over not just the formative years but over a lifetime.
I could not think of any information, issue, or perspective relevant to D/deaf and hard of hearing children that Marschark does not explain in sufficient detail to convince a parent or any other concerned adult of the importance of educating oneself in order to provide optimal experiences in those limited windows of opportunity that whiz by when a child is growing up. This book provides an excellent beginning for any such person, and Marschark's frequent admonitions that the issues are "complex" should spur the reader on for a lifelong journey of learning and discovery along with the child.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||