152 education
Learning continues in the community
Children learn from their families and friends the
skills they need to live in their community. By
watching how children and other people
talk, play, and work with each
other, children learn
how to get along with
others. They learn to get
places they need to go —
walking, riding, or driving.
They learn to buy and sell, to
pay bills, and to get things done.
They learn to gather wood, plant crops, fish,
weave or sew, make handcrafts, and many other skills.
With this
money we will
buy some fish
at the market.
Education takes place
in many situations:
at home, in the
community, and at
school.
When children participate in the community, they also learn about their
emotions and build self-esteem. Games they play with each other are
informal ways of learning to be part of communities. (Chapter 10 and
Chapter 11 describe ways to include children in the community and to
build strong social skills.)
As children grow older they become ready to go to school. Education
in school will build on the skills children learn at home and in the
community. What they learn at school also gives children skills that
prepare them for life as adults.
Going to school is important for deaf children
Education in school will improve the ability of children who are deaf
or cannot hear well to communicate, and can give them skills to lead
productive lives and to support their families.
At school, deaf children can learn to
read and write — often the only ways
that deaf people can communicate with
people who do not know sign language
or cannot understand their speech.
Reading helps people who cannot hear
well understand the ideas, emotions,
and experiences of other people. Writing
helps them communicate and share their
thoughts and emotions.
I’m going to write a
letter to my brother
who went away to
work in the city.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)