Bennett teaches students how the different ways people perceive one another colors what they understand. mwm View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

View the Stafford County community page

This teacher's hands talk

Stafford County school teacher learns sign language years before a chance hearing test reveals that she has a hearing impairment.

By KRISTIN DAVIS

Date published: 12/17/2003

By Katherine Davis

A very country version of "Jingle Bell Rock" blasts through a boombox, and dozens of little hands fly into action. Fingers loop and bend and flutter. They twist and turn. Move up, down.

The hands dance. The hands speak.

On this December afternoon, three dozen youngsters have entered another world, into the silent culture of the deaf.

But the Grafton Village Elementary children hardly seem conscious of this as they follow their teacher who, at 38, is still a kid herself.

What the children know is that this is fun. Sign language is fun, and if they keep at it, they might grow up to help people who can't hear.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock, jingle bell swing and jingle bell ring.

The children, who range from grades kindergarten through fifth grade, can hear the music and the twangy lyrics. Some try to sing along.

Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun, now the jingle bell hop's begun.

The hands, with their elegant and sometimes awkward movements, are for people who can't hear.

The children, who coined themselves "Sounds of Silence," are practicing for a concert.

Without Randy Travis on the boombox, these signs would remain a mystery to most of the parents who line the back of Grafton's cafeteria, proudly watching their children grow more and more proficient in American Sign Language.

ASL is part of the Foreign Language Exploratory program offered at area elementary schools. Some schools offer Spanish, German or Japanese. Grafton, in Stafford County, offers ASL. The class meets twice a week after school.

"He loves it," says Laurie Baxter, whose eyes briefly glance away from her 9-year-old son Austen. "He has a good time. He likes to show us the songs."

ASL teacher ReBecca Bennett is at the center of it all. Small and energetic, she stands on the cafeteria stage, in front of a blue velvet curtain, and leads her choir of signing youngsters.

She bends her knees, taps her feet, rolls her shoulders and sways with the music.

"Enjoy it!" shouts Bennett, smiling. "Two of you are lookin' like you're dead!"

Her voice is clear and strong and musical. It's hard to believe Bennett herself is hearing impaired, and probably has been most of her life.

Follow us on

Date published: 12/17/2003