My post regarding language models for Deaf children was with regard to
interpreters in the K-12 setting. Obviously the best language and role
models for Deaf children would be Deaf role models - but that isn't going to
happen in a K-12 setting with interpreters unless you have Deaf
interpreters - anyone seeing a school district hiring two interpreters per
class happening any time soon? Doubt it. It would be great, but not
realistic. So, you took my comments out of context or weren't following the
thread.

I am NOT RESISTANT to interpreters getting education - either currently
certified OR future interpreters who WANT to become certified, I am just
DISGUSTED that people are seemingly saying that an A.A.S. degree is not a
valid degree. IT IS. I am not saying that it is the be all end all of
degrees, but it should be recognized as a degree - especially if it is a
degree that is IN INTERPRETING.

I really don't care if they grandfather in currently certified interpreters
or not. That is not the point I am trying to make. I am just saying, if
they want to make a requirement like this BA/BS thing - they are going to
need to make sure that BA/BS programs are offered all over the country
instead of 26 versus 85 like Beth Ann quoted. AND - these BA/BS degrees
better be in an Interpreting or Deafness related field because I stand by my
comments that a person with some other degree BA/BS (Modern Dance) but no
interpreter training is still not going to make that person a better
interpreter than a person with an AAS degree in INTERPRETING and no BA/BS
degree.

Tired of beating a dead horse...

Tammy

Tammera J. Fischer, CI & CT; NAD IV
Certified Sign Language Interpreter
(503) 267-4861 (V)
----- Original Message -----
From: terperto
To: TERPS-L@...
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Non-Degreed Interpreters [was: Non-Degreed ITP Instructors]




on 10/14/02 3:30 PM, Tammy Fischer at tjfisch@... wrote:

The most highly qualified interpreters SHOULD be the language role models
for Deaf children.
-I thought Deaf adults should be the language models for Deaf children.
No matter how good we get most of us are not native users with native
competence.

There is no incentive for interpreters to do so - and at $12.50 an hour,
who can afford it? YES - Interpreters should STILL go on and pursue
advanced training for the good of the profession and their own abilities to
do their jobs, however this idea that we all go out and get degrees and the
educational world will suddenly welcome us and pay us a bunch more money
just doesn't bear out in actual practice.
-No, not yet, but not everything is for those in the field today. Have
some vision, leave a legacy. Besides I have yet to see anyone acknowledge
that in all likely hood currently certified terps will not need to go back
to school! This is for the future, future certification, future tests,
future pay, future respect, future standards. The benefits of the future
are established with the hard work of today. So no, it won't "suddenly"
happen, but it will happen.
Tammera J. Fischer, CI & CT; NAD IV
Certified Sign Language Interpreter
(503) 267-4861 (V)