Jeffrey W. Pollock
Jeff W. Pollock
The Utah Deaf Education Controversy:
Total Communication Versus Oralism
at the University of Utah
Total Communication Versus Oralism
at the University of Utah
Attached is Jeff’s version of “The Utah Deaf Education Controversy: Total Communication Versus Oralism at the University of Utah" document that he wrote for his Master’s level “History of Higher Education” at the University of Utah.
Jeffrey W. Pollock. The Utah Deaf Education Controversy: Total Communication Versus Oralism at the University of Utah. May 4, 2005.
Jeffrey W. Pollock. The Utah Deaf Education Controversy: Total Communication Versus Oralism at the University of Utah. May 4, 2005.
A Protest at the University of Utah
Dr. Grant B. Bitter
Beginning in 1962, the controversy between oral and total communication was heated because of the oral training implemented by Dr. Grant B. Bitter, an avid oral advocate and professor, in the teacher preparation program within the Special Education Department at the University of Utah. Under the direction of Dr. Bitter, the program made a profound impact on the oral philosophy movement at the Utah School for the Deaf and the mainstreaming growth in the education of the deaf.
The Utah Association for the Deaf (UAD) and its local Deaf community were concerned about the oral-only curriculum. They asked that a total communication curriculum be implemented in the program and requested a meeting with administrators of the University of Utah to express their concern about this issue. However, UAD, particularly Lloyd H. Perkins, were largely rebuffed in their attempt to meet with them. Their requests for a meeting were disregarded.
The controversy became public in November 1977 when members of the UAD, led by W. David Mortensen, UAD president and probably the best-known political activist, protested outside the Utah State Board of Education office and in front of the Park Building on the University campus. It was not until April 1979 that the Utah State Board of Education passed a motion directing the University of Utah to add a faculty member to teach total communication classes. The emphasis at the University of Utah was however largely oral.
With UAD’s constant pursuit, a new Deaf Education program, with an emphasis on total communication, was formed at the Utah State University in 1985, under the direction of Dr. Thomas C. Clark, a founder of SKI-HI. In 1991, this program was changed to ASL/English Bilingual program under the direction of Dr. Freeman King. It was a victory to UAD. For years, UAD had fought relentlessly to realize this program.
The Utah Association for the Deaf (UAD) and its local Deaf community were concerned about the oral-only curriculum. They asked that a total communication curriculum be implemented in the program and requested a meeting with administrators of the University of Utah to express their concern about this issue. However, UAD, particularly Lloyd H. Perkins, were largely rebuffed in their attempt to meet with them. Their requests for a meeting were disregarded.
The controversy became public in November 1977 when members of the UAD, led by W. David Mortensen, UAD president and probably the best-known political activist, protested outside the Utah State Board of Education office and in front of the Park Building on the University campus. It was not until April 1979 that the Utah State Board of Education passed a motion directing the University of Utah to add a faculty member to teach total communication classes. The emphasis at the University of Utah was however largely oral.
With UAD’s constant pursuit, a new Deaf Education program, with an emphasis on total communication, was formed at the Utah State University in 1985, under the direction of Dr. Thomas C. Clark, a founder of SKI-HI. In 1991, this program was changed to ASL/English Bilingual program under the direction of Dr. Freeman King. It was a victory to UAD. For years, UAD had fought relentlessly to realize this program.
Jeff's Biography
In 2007, Jeff Pollock established--and directed-the Davis Applied Technology College ASL-Interpreting Program. He has been a consultant, in various capacities, for the Utah Interpreting Program since 1995, as a former member and chairperson, and (2012) co-chairperson, of the UIP Advisory Board. Jeff’s career has included teaching ASL, Linguistics, and Deaf Studies at the high school, community college, and university levels, coordinating interpreting services for the University of Utah, and as instructor of the U of U ASL Teaching Program. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy, and is a Certified Deaf Interpreter.
He has served on the Utah Interpreter Certification Advisory Board and Advisory Council for the Utah Schools for Deaf and the Blind.
Jeff likes snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, motorcycling, and any other sports that involve standing or sitting on something and going fast! He has competed in three Deaflympics (1999 Davos, Switzerland; 2003 Sundsvall, Sweden; and 2007 Salt Lake City, Utah) and would have competed in 2011 Vysoke, Slovakia if they weren’t cancelled. He is a certified snowboard coach.
He has served on the Utah Interpreter Certification Advisory Board and Advisory Council for the Utah Schools for Deaf and the Blind.
Jeff likes snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, motorcycling, and any other sports that involve standing or sitting on something and going fast! He has competed in three Deaflympics (1999 Davos, Switzerland; 2003 Sundsvall, Sweden; and 2007 Salt Lake City, Utah) and would have competed in 2011 Vysoke, Slovakia if they weren’t cancelled. He is a certified snowboard coach.