Today I'm going to tell you a true story
that happened to me
when I was a drawing teacher
at the "La Puríssima" school
when it was still operating, not long before it closed.
"La Puríssima" was in Torrebonica,
between Sabadell and Terrassa.
It was around 1980 more or less.
I taught drawing
to boys and girls
from 10 to 16 years old.
In the morning, each grade
went to their corresponding classes according to the subjects scheduled.
There was a new teacher then, who was a very good person.
The school was still adapting to the new inclusion and diversity law.
And was in the process of converting
from a religious school for the deaf to a lay school
and was hiring lay teachers, some with an interest and
a little knowledge of Catalan sign language, as was the case with this teacher.
One day, the teacher in question
who wanted to learn Catalan sign language
came into my class
and asked me for help.
He wanted me to explain a history text to
his students
boys and girls 12 to 14 years old.
He had tried for more than two hours
to explain it without success.
So, he asked me if I could try
since I am deaf, we would understand each other better.
I left in the middle of my class
and I went with him to his.
I carefully read the text
and in less than 15 minutes,
I had explained it.
They liked it and some laughed.
The teacher was flabbergasted.
He had tried to explain it for over two hours
and it only took me 15 minutes.
It was if he didn't believe I had done it
so I told him to check.
All the answers they gave
were correct.
The teacher was impressed.
In two hours he hadn't managed
to do what I did in 15 minutes.
I still remember the poor teacher sitting there shocked.
This story proves
that for there to be learning
teachers and students
must share the same language.
If I hadn't helped him
not even with more than two hours would the students have understood.
Imagine this situation
throughout all your schooling!
The students are left to fend for themselves!