Show was something to see
Daniel Spring didn’t need sign language to communicate his feelings Friday.
The partially deaf sixth-grade student at Linwood Elementary School was grinning from ear-to-ear after performing skits and using sign language to tell stories and songs to the entire student body and parents at the north Spokane school.
“I kind of get embarrassed, in front of the crowd,” Spring, 12, said. “But it makes me happy when they applaud.”
The applause was quieter than at most school assemblies because it was in sign language – both hands shaken above the head.
Spring’s performance was part of an assembly called “Love In Any Language,” put on by the deaf education department at the school. It was standing room only in the gym, as deaf and hearing students worked together to recite the pledge of allegiance and the ABCs in sign language, and participated in square dancing skits and other sign-language friendly routines.
“This is probably the most popular school assembly of the year,” said Sheri Murphy, an interpreter at the school. “It’s an opportunity for the deaf kids to show off what they’ve learned and what they are capable of doing.”
Linwood is one of three Spokane schools considered “hubs” for deaf education. It feeds into Salk Middle School and Shadle Park High School.
If they don’t live near Linwood, the deaf students are bused to the elementary to take advantage of what is offered: integration in the regular classroom with a support network of other deaf students.
“This school really lets him shine,” said Spring’s mother, Lisa Rowden. “This assembly is just one way.”
There are 16 deaf and hearing-impaired students like Spring at Linwood, involved in nearly every activity. There is one girl on the drill team. Spring plays violin in the orchestra, and plans to play the drums at Salk next year.
The school trains teachers and staff to use sign language, and hearing students are encouraged to stay after school for sign language lessons.
“It’s great because they aren’t so isolated,” Murphy said.
“We are very fortunate to have a place where everyone works so well together.”