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Montville High adds American Sign Language; students demonstrated classroom work
Summary
The district introduced American Sign Language as a new high-school world language offering and students signed brief remarks to the board during a presentation on May 13.
Montville Township High School introduced American Sign Language (ASL) this year as a fifth world-language offering and students demonstrated signing for the Board of Education at the May 13 meeting.
Tamara Spitzer, supervisor of world languages and ESL, told the board the district had added ASL to the high-school program "with your amazing support." She described ASL as both a language and "an entire beautiful microcosm within The United States." Spitzer introduced Christine Gordon, the ASL teacher, who presented students to sign brief remarks and answer questions about learning the language.
Several high-school students described classroom challenges and rewards. One student said the fastest-fingered fingerspelling is difficult to follow but rewarding when understood; another said mastering ASL sentence structure — which differs from English — has been personally satisfying. One student told the board they encountered and communicated with deaf peers in extracurriculars such as judo, and said that experience reinforced the value of learning ASL.
Board members praised the course and encouraged the program to grow. Board member Mike (Board member) noted the course offers practical, real-world skills. The board confirmed its expectation that the program will expand if sustained interest continues.
The presentation included a short student Q&A and a note that this ASL offering is the first year the district has taught the language at the high school level.
