Do you think British Sign Language should be taught as a GCSE?
Polls
17th August 2018
17th August 2018
A GCSE in British Sign Language could be introduced in the UK – and it’s all thanks to a schoolboy named Daniel!
Twelve-year-old Daniel Jillings is deaf and uses British Sign Language (BSL) as his first language. He’s been campaigning with his family for BSL to be made an official GCSE, so that he and others like him can have the same opportunities as their friends. The Government originally said it would not introduce any new qualifications until the next general election, but thanks to Daniel’s tireless campaigning, ministers have now changed their minds.
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said last week that the Government would consider any new proposals that are put forward. The decision to consider a new GCSE in BSL has been described by Steve Haines from the National Deaf Children’s Society as a “powerful signal to deaf children everywhere”. In other GCSE news, teenagers across the country will be getting their results this Thursday (23 August). We wish them lots of luck!
Do you think British Sign Language should be taught as a GCSE?
78 Comments
plane · 6 years ago
I think British sign language should be taught because if you want to come on news channels you should start learning it.
claudine · 6 years ago
It creates a fairer world for all children!
unidist · 6 years ago
love sign language!
claudine · 6 years ago
But the money used to create a new GCSE could be spent on a really important subject like maths!
joep101 · 6 years ago
I definitely think that BSL should be a GCSE. After all, the government tells us to treat everone the same - no matter if they can see or hear; we cannot do this unless we can study and learn sign language.
natalija · 6 years ago
I think that British sign language should be taught as a GCSE because it might be needed in some pupils' jobs.
hc-524219 · 6 years ago
I think yes because if someone is mute and can’t talk, then the only way they can speak is to use BSL if they are in ??????? even more, if a student suddenly turns mute (for some reason) after they were taught sign language in their GCSE’s then it might be sooo useful for them.
First to comment!
wolfie2007 · 6 years ago
I think they should as sign language is very important and should be recognised as an educational skill.
fridayfun9 · 6 years ago
Yes
Definatly sign language is some people way of communicating so you can learn if you have a sibling or relative or even a friend and be able to talk to them
a_gamer · 6 years ago
Yes because it would help communication with people with hearing problems and sign language looks (see what I did there)like it would be interesting to learn
pixiedog · 6 years ago
My sister actually needs sign language and I am actually needing some help so this would be amazing
shreddeddo · 6 years ago
of course because then deaf people can have the same chance to do something they are good at
crazycats · 6 years ago
I think English sign language should be taught in GCSE because you would be able to talk to people who wouldn't be able to speak to you in proper words
fluffball5 · 6 years ago
Everyone should have the choice to help someone else so I think it should be taught as a GCSE.
rollersk8t · 6 years ago
I think that Sign Language should be a GCSE because personally, my brother is deaf and uses sign language. Sometimes when people try to speak to him he cannot hear them. If they knew sign language, he would know what they were saying straight away.
owly · 6 years ago
Why not? GCSE sign language would be a great bonus for some other GCSE level students. It's unfair for deaf children to not be able to take any GCSEs in what they specialise. Some people are good at French so they take that, others are good at sign language, let them take it!
batc2 · 6 years ago
I think that it should be taught as a GCSE because it will inform everyone about this topic and help them to understand more.
anyab · 6 years ago
Definitely
Sign language can help understand and interact with others who may not be able to speak or write
starblaze3 · 6 years ago
Definitely. It will really help deaf kids all over britain
lhogben286 · 6 years ago
YES! It gives people of different ability's the same chance in life and promotes equality
swace · 6 years ago
I think British Sign Language should be taught as a GSCE because so many people around the world are deaf, and if people could talk to them in BSL it would make them feel welcome and valued. :)
ron · 6 years ago
I think it's good for people that have dissiblitys
hagrid · 6 years ago
First comment!!!!!!!!
hagrid · 6 years ago
I think that BSL should be taught as a GCSE because if it is then people who are deaf will be able to communicate with more people.
malimoo · 6 years ago
I believe that sign language is as important as learning another language
apple92 · 6 years ago
I’d love it to be taught because if someone is deaf or has communication difficulties,it would help all of us.
lavender08 · 6 years ago
It would be so helpful to communicate with other people who have speaking difficulties and you could interact with them a lot.
dolphine · 6 years ago
I think that sign language is an important skill, but it would be really hard to test because everyone who would be taking it is fluent and there’s no theoretical part. So I think that it should not be introduced as a GCSE but there should be more lessons on it in school.
Newsryland · 6 years ago
Yes
Just because someone cant hear doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to study.
They are still students and should be able to find a subject that suits them.
Come on even Cbeebies have shows with sign language in them.
How long does it take for schools to catch on?
lets make a change. :)
daisy101 · 6 years ago
I believe it should be taught because it is a different type of language as you don't speak it-also it would be probably the only time you would get the opportunity to learn it.
bladekp12 · 6 years ago
Yes as it can help people to expand their communication ,which would open more opportunities.
10emoore · 6 years ago
It might help remove stereotyping people when it comes to sign language and other mental problems. It can also help create a more diverse community.
jedi1234 · 6 years ago
I do believe that British Sign language should be made a GCSE because its basically English for the. people who use it.
liddie12 · 6 years ago
Sigh language is very useful
liddie12 · 6 years ago
Definitely
Sign language can help understand and interact with others who may not be able to speak or write. It would be so helpful to communicate with other people who have speaking difficulties and you could interact with them a . Why not? GCSE sign language would be a great bonus for some other GCSE level students. It's unfair for deaf children to not be able to take any GCSEs in what they specialise. Some people are good at French so they take that, others are good at sign language, let them take it!
ravenclaw1 · 6 years ago
I think BSL should definitely be taught because it will help us communicate with people who can't hear and we never know when we'll come across a deaf person , so it will be useful!
koalalover · 6 years ago
I think British sign language should be a GCSE as a lot of people do use it regularly but usually only family members understand.
sophette · 6 years ago
Yeah definitely!!! It would be very good for everyone.
oceangirl5 · 6 years ago
Yes, because it would be a useful skill to have and deaf people would benefit from it.
aces10 · 6 years ago
It would be really useful to learn sign language and it is really fun!
cmi_hall1 · 6 years ago
I think it should be taught in schools because it can often come in very handy in and out schools.?
oritime · 6 years ago
Yes because someone could lose their voice suddenly and not know what to do.
sammyseal7 · 6 years ago
Yes it should be taught as GCSE because so many people communicate using it. And not everyone has to do it
dog1000 · 6 years ago
yes as when we get older we will start to meet many more people and maybe we will become friends with a deaf person and it would be very difficult to communicate with them . However, if you knew how to talk sign language then it would be so much easier for you to talk with them. :D
happy101 · 6 years ago
I think it would be great for people with hearing difficulties
cotton77 · 6 years ago
yes because it might help disabled and people who are deaf
flossingg · 6 years ago
I think it is rly important.
country456 · 6 years ago
I think sign language should be taught because it means more deaf children can easily join in with conversations
caramac4 · 6 years ago
I think British sign language should be taught as a GSCE but it should be an option as not everyone will want to learn it or need it.
But for the people who do need it it is a great idea
flossingg · 6 years ago
I dunno
mabmab8 · 6 years ago
I think you should have the option to learn it so you can understand a much wider verity of people
radishes10 · 6 years ago
Yeah , it's a good idea for deaf and non deaf people. Like sign language translators on tv have to learn it somewhere, And it also makes it a lot fairer for the deaf people.
karolyn123 · 6 years ago
I think it should be part of GCSE’s because everyone should be treated equally. It would be also nice to communicate with some of my distant family members. I wouldn't want to feel lonely and isolated if I was born deaf or unfortunately became deaf. It would give students greater opportunities too.
minion36 · 6 years ago
IMAGINE how many people can talk ... then think how man can't. Sign Language is a challenging skill to learn and those people who can do it should be given the opportunity to prosper further - especially because its a life skill.
zeushades8 · 6 years ago
Yes cuz if we want to communicate with deaf people this is key. Think how many kids whose families are deaf. This would really help them
tka10 · 6 years ago
it would be good for everyone
rosiem · 6 years ago
I think that you definatly 100% should.
You should because you never know in the future whether you're gonna become deaf. In that case sign language would be EXTREMELY useful!
muzza_meme · 6 years ago
Cause it’s hard to learn
penguinbow · 6 years ago
N-O spells NO
halimirza · 6 years ago
Yes,because what if you lose your voice? how are you going to communicate with other people?
geckogamer · 6 years ago
every one shuld have a chanse to be able to talk to everyone
poppy08 · 6 years ago
Sign language is important imagine life if you were deaf
pawsomecat · 6 years ago
No because you'll have more work
oceangirl · 6 years ago
Why wouldn’t they
oceangirl · 6 years ago
?
anika2111 · 6 years ago
I think sign language should be taught because it allows people who are deaf to feel more comfortable.
uniquepika · 6 years ago
I’ts important to be be able to communicate with everyone.
catlady123 · 6 years ago
i know that its important to learn new things but its not to important to sign language unless you want to its not something you do everyday... unless you do it everyday???
herbology · 6 years ago
Yes! If people learn it, it will give them a chance to communicate in person without speaking! And it will give people who can't speak the chance to chat.
ronhamster · 6 years ago
because what if people cant even talk.
bigfatcat · 6 years ago
It’s a nice idea but a waste of thought because not that many people would take it and some could easily decide to do other things that will affect their career more.
brownie12 · 6 years ago
Some people have been saying how the moeny should be spent on the more important like maths but I have a question. Do you not think for a deaf person this could be being one of the only ways for you to communicate with other people would you then not find it important ? Also perhaps it wouldn't be so popular at first however what if that is what you want to study ? Would you not be sad that they didn't have the GCSE you offer ? why should people who want to study not as popular things be over looked ?
krabbit38 · 6 years ago
No, even though I like it and sometimes use it. It should still be taught in school though. : ) ; )
krabbit38 · 6 years ago
Also agree with uniquepika and a_gamer.
cmdavey · 6 years ago
I think it should because what if you see or meet a deaf person and they ask you something how would you
know what to do
elephant_m · 6 years ago
Not everyone wants to be a news sign language reporter and other jobs with sign language in it, so why do we need sign language to be part of the GCSE program?!
trudie · 5 years ago
It is useful and helpful
hcew · 5 years ago
This is a brilliant idea. I am a young carer and this would be a massive step in disability rights.