 Meet Mabel Davis, the only deaf Head Teacher in the United Kingdom and member of the General Teaching Council. However, that’s not all she is...
An amazing lady with an extraordinary career, Mabel has broken down social barriers and pioneered groundbreaking teaching methods that have left people from her pupils to Tony Blair awestruck.
In this unique episode of See Hear, presenter Emma Coleman - in a one-to-one interview - explores the exceptional life of Mabel, both professionally and personally. She reveals the remarkable philosophy which has taken Mabel from a classroom teacher to one of the leading figures in the international world of education. An exponent of total communication, a method which uses sign language and speech to teach deaf children, she has overturned outdated attitudes towards the education of the hearing impaired. The rewards have been incredible with children at her school, Heathlands, meeting and often exceeding standards for the National Curriculum.
 Yet her logic is a simple and effective one, “The child’s needs are all that matters. If the child’s needs are being met, it’s right for the child. That is the only valid argument.”
As Emma Coleman discovers there are numerous dimensions to this cultured lady. She has afforded success not only in her career but also in her artwork, particularly in sculpture, which has won her not only a great deal of pleasure but also artistic acclaim. Mabel shares with Coleman the good and the bad memories which have taken her through years of hard work and determination to influence and change society’s outlook on deaf individuals. As she shows there has always been much frustration, but also plenty of laughter.
Rhona Mills, a work colleague aptly describes her as: “A very vivacious, very powerful woman. Enormous commitment to the education of deaf children and to providing opportunities for deaf children. A very robust and attractive personality.”
In honour of one its most impressive guests, See Hear pulls out some rare footage from previous programmes as chosen by Mabel herself. This includes scenes from the historical International Congress on the Education of the Deaf in Manchester in 1985. This exciting event saw two opposing conferences take place in protest of the apathy and ignorance hearing impaired individuals were treated with. As Mabel notes, this was indeed an important turning point.
See Hear offers an exclusive opportunity to find out straight from Mabel herself all that has encompassed her phenomenal life. Even now she is still filled with energy and words of encouragement which will inspire and enthuse viewers. As she says, “I think if you really, really, want to succeed in something, you have to focus, and work really hard to get it.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 April 2006 )
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