FULTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

FULTON is one of the very few schools catering for Deaf children in the Province of KwaZuluNatal and indeed the whole of South Africa. Due to the lack of funding and government curtailment the school finds itself having to lean heavily on assistance from private companies and individuals. The on going costs for the every day expenses of the school greatly exceed the fees paid by the parents of the children attending the school.

Many of Fulton’s children travel over long distances to attend school. It is too far for them to go home each day and so they board at the school during the week and most of them go home for the weekends. Their parents, in many cases, are unable to pay the school fees and so the school accepts them without and relies on charitable donations to make up the shortfall. Government funding makes few concessions to such specialist schools. In the case of teachers’ salaries the regular schools ratio is one teacher to 35 students, whereas the ratio at Fulton is 1:7 but preferably 1:5 plus the employment of Deaf assistants for the teachers. Considering that 1 deaf child requires the attention of 5 hearing children and requires constant eye contact for learning to take place, there is still a great need for teachers. It is the school’s greatest challenge to raise funds to cover the costs of these unique educational needs of Deaf children.

THE HISTORY OF FULTON SCHOOL
Fulton School opened its doors on 31 January 1959 as a State-Aided School, after being donated the main house; ancillary buildings and 10-acre property by Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Fulton, then retired residents of Gillitts. This generosity was prompted by their recognition of the need for a school for Deaf children in Natal. Its enrolment, on opening, was three young boys but growth was imminent and in three years it had risen to 17. The sponsoring body was the Anglican Church and, confident that the school would thrive, loans by the Education Dept permitted extensive growth. By 1976, classrooms, additional freestanding hostels, a hall and office block had been added and the enrolment topped 70, later to reach 100.

THE SCHOOL’S EDUCATION APPROACH
Internationally and nationally, Deaf education methodology has always been an area of intense debate and controversy. Today unlike 50 years ago, we have a body of Deaf education research that we can rely on to produce positive results: empowered, independent and intellectual deaf individuals. This research shows us that (South African) Sign Language is the natural language of Deaf children. Through this natural acquisition (where it is available) Deaf children are able to establish a language base necessary to acquire other languages such as written English. An absence of this language base seriously retards language, and also education, development. Therefore, Fulton School is committed to developing young Deaf children’s language base as early as possible. As the Deaf child moves up, other facilities are developed and expanded such as lip-reading, speech (where appropriate) and hearing practises (where appropriate), visual literacy and eye-care, it is the overall goal of Fulton to afford Deaf children the same exposure as any other child by adapting to Deaf children’s visual needs. This means that teaching methodologies and information need to be visually adapted through the use of visual aids, teacher training and Deaf assistants. Costs for these extra aids are high but it is money well invested so we are persistent in our efforts to raise money and find sponsors.

The staff are committed to keeping the high standard and will continue to strive for excellence in Deaf Education and remain the leaders in S.A.