Karen Barkley

Abstract

This study examined 22 of the 62 Teachers of the Deaf Educational programs listed in the American Annals of the Deaf (Vol. 142No.2) with regard to recruitment of teachers with minority ethnic backgrounds. The underlying hypothesis is that teachers serve as role models for their students (Deaf, African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Native Americans). Therefore, the ethnicity of all qualified and talented educators should be as diverse as the student population it serves. Thus, the question: Using enrollment as a base to determine the number of minority students qualifying for the professional role as an educator of the deaf, how are current teachers of the deaf programs preparing to meet the diversification needs of school districts nationally? The statistical base prompting the study is a comparison of the ethnicity breakdown of deaf children (The Office of Demographic Studies, Gallaudet University, 1989- 1990)with the ethnicity of 4,487 teachers of the deaf were surveyed in 1981by Jenesma & Crobett. Only sixty-three percent of the student population was white as compared with ninety-four percent of the teachers reported. "Only 5% of the sample reported that they were members of a nonwhite ethnic group" (Jenesma, 1981). This is a current educational concern that appears to contradict some of the principles defining multicultural education, providing a diverse education. A survey was sent to all 62 Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) programs listed in the Annals. Responses were received nom 22 programs. Questions focused on recruitment practices, patterns in recruitment styles and enrollment figures. Results suggest that the majority of programs who responded do attempt to recruit minority students. Enrollment of these students over the three years studied (1996, 97, 98) was 19%,20% and 18% respectively. Barriers to recruitment described by the responding programs include lack of interest in TOD careers on the part of minority students, location of the university, and poor student qualifications. It is hoped that the fmdings from this study will yield Multiculturalism:RoleModels

Publication Date

9-26-2005

Document Type

Master's Project

Student Type

Graduate

Department, Program, or Center

Master of Science of Secondary Education of Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (NTID)

Advisor

Foster, Susan

Advisor/Committee Member

Bateman, Gerald

Comments

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Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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