Open Forum

I'd like to offer my congratulations to the Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale High School wrestling team for earning a spot in the State High School

Wrestling Tournament. All of the players, coaches and parents should be very proud for the way the team carried itself throughout the tournament.

We often hear about the excesses of sports in our society, but we shouldn't forget the important role high school athletics play in the lives of our kids and how valuable it is for them to feel what it's like to be a part of a team and a community.

It's also important for them to feel like they belong to a community and I was proud to see the level of support provided by the community.

Like a lot of us, I know I'll carry memories of this with me for a long time.

Thanks again and congratulations.

State Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba

District 11B, Long Prairie

Deaf awareness

"Hey, Megs, check your battery!" said my best friend from middle school, but all that has changed; we are in high school now, and he no longer understands me. He does not see me anymore; he sees a person with a hearing loss he attempts to understand, but he could never understand precisely. Hearing society pushes things such as: oral speech, speech therapy, cochlear implants, hearing aids, FM systems, and not wanting us to sign. The reason these things are considered offensive or intrusive is hearing society pushes them on us to make us hearing per se, and must say that without knowing anything about our way of life.

The solution is having a Deaf Culture class for elementary students. Why elementary and not later on in school so that Hard of Hearing and Deaf? So hearing society gives us more of a chance to be accepted for more of our lives. If hearing problems were understood by hearing society especially as children. Future children would not have to endure the ignorance, which several before me and continuing today have had to deal with. The types of criteria that would be good for hearing and non-hearing society would be: introduction to sign language, learning who put sign language and other important historical events into play, treatment and education of early deaf people, the accomplishments of deaf people, and the opportunity to interact with children who are hard of hearing and deaf.

Another way to make elementary aged children aware of cultural differences is by making it mandatory to attend Deaf Awareness days one time during elementary school. Central Lakes College's "PAH" Club is hosting "Deaf Awareness Days" on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, 2002. This is an excellent opportunity for the hearing and deaf communities to interact with one another at Central Lakes College-Brainerd campus. For more information about this educational Expo, please contact Nancy Cross at Community Action, 829-5278.

Megan Wegman

Lake Shore