Fernandes Blasts Gallaudet’s New Bilingual Policy
A Year After Protests, Gallaudet Sees Progress, but Key Dispute Remains.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Quotes of Dr. Jane Fernandes: Â
“The protesters objected to my vision that Gallaudet needed to become an inclusive deaf university, where all kinds of deaf people are valued and respected,” Ms. Fernandes told The Chronicle in an e-mail message on Monday. “The new mission seems to be aimed at creating the opposite kind of university-an exclusive one catering to those who grow up using ASL as their native language.”
Ms. Fernandes said that as provost, she had tried to balance English with American Sign Language, and now watches as the “current leadership embraces the use of ASL in a more monolingual context.”
That’s a mistake, Ms. Fernandes warns. Deaf students need to learn American Sign Language for their cultural identity, but need to learn English to become “gainfully employed” and otherwise succeed in the outside world, she said. The accreditors therefore are correct to ask Gallaudet whether it will find enough deaf students who will want to be educated in an environment dominated by sign-language, she said.
“Obviously this relates to the future demographic pool of deaf students in which currently 80 percent attend public schools, and 20 percent attend separate residential schools. Each year increasing numbers of deaf infants receive cochlear implants,” Ms. Fernandes added. “Many of these children will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.” http://tinyurl.com/2gdquq
Commentary: It’s peculiar to observe Dr Fernandes, a Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies, criticizing the new bilingual policy of ASL recently adopted by Gallaudet. A true linguist knows that a communication mode (Total Communicaiton, Simultaneous Communication,and  Cued Speech, etc) isn’t a bona fide language. Why would a linguist imply that Gallaudet is becoming ‘monolingual’ when the word bilingual means two languages equally embraced?
How is it that a paid employee of an institute is permitted to criticize it and mislead the public the real issues?  This castigation harms the reputation of Gallaudet. Doesn’t people realize the readers see the irony of an ASL professor lambasting the new ASL policy, putting the credibility of Gallaudet in doubt?
Dr. Fernandes will assume the teaching this Spring. Instead of showing good sportsmanship, Dr Fernandes seem to be holding a grudge as she hasn’t shown any sincere interest in reconciliation with the Gallaudet Community. I am now truly concerned about the possibility of Gallaudet healing and moving on to a new direction being adversely impacted by some people who are more content in stirring up old conflicts than try to find a healthy resolution.
Many deaf and hard of hearing students without any knowledge of sign language have enrolled at Gallaudet where they learned and mastered sign language. In that aspect, Gallaudet has always been inclusive from the beginning.
Cochlear Implant isn’t the ‘cure’ for all deaf children as claimed by the cochlear implant industry. We still see many children sporting C.I. who cannot find spoken English accessible so they must rely on sign language. Those who manage to achieve maximal benefits of cochlear implants prefer to go to hearing universities anyway as they aren’t interested in Gallaudet. The ultimate goal of the parents with C.I. children is to see them fully ‘integrated’ with the hearing society, with no auxilliary services.
Gallaudet was established to serve a specific niche of deaf people communicating in sign language. As long as there are Deaf people who use sign language, the need for Gallaudet is evident. MZ
PS. Please don’t bother to accuse me of being an ASL purist or a Deaf Culturist. These accusations are ludicrous. 
 MZ
A Year After Protests, Gallaudet Sees Progress, but Key Dispute Remains.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Quotes of Dr. Jane Fernandes: Â
“The protesters objected to my vision that Gallaudet needed to become an inclusive deaf university, where all kinds of deaf people are valued and respected,” Ms. Fernandes told The Chronicle in an e-mail message on Monday. “The new mission seems to be aimed at creating the opposite kind of university-an exclusive one catering to those who grow up using ASL as their native language.”
Ms. Fernandes said that as provost, she had tried to balance English with American Sign Language, and now watches as the “current leadership embraces the use of ASL in a more monolingual context.”
That’s a mistake, Ms. Fernandes warns. Deaf students need to learn American Sign Language for their cultural identity, but need to learn English to become “gainfully employed” and otherwise succeed in the outside world, she said. The accreditors therefore are correct to ask Gallaudet whether it will find enough deaf students who will want to be educated in an environment dominated by sign-language, she said.
“Obviously this relates to the future demographic pool of deaf students in which currently 80 percent attend public schools, and 20 percent attend separate residential schools. Each year increasing numbers of deaf infants receive cochlear implants,” Ms. Fernandes added. “Many of these children will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.” http://tinyurl.com/2gdquq
Commentary: It’s peculiar to observe Dr Fernandes, a Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies, criticizing the new bilingual policy of ASL recently adopted by Gallaudet. A true linguist knows that a communication mode (Total Communicaiton, Simultaneous Communication,and  Cued Speech, etc) isn’t a bona fide language. Why would a linguist imply that Gallaudet is becoming ‘monolingual’ when the word bilingual means two languages equally embraced?
How is it that a paid employee of an institute is permitted to criticize it and mislead the public the real issues?  This castigation harms the reputation of Gallaudet. Doesn’t people realize the readers see the irony of an ASL professor lambasting the new ASL policy, putting the credibility of Gallaudet in doubt?
Dr. Fernandes will assume the teaching this Spring. Instead of showing good sportsmanship, Dr Fernandes seem to be holding a grudge as she hasn’t shown any sincere interest in reconciliation with the Gallaudet Community. I am now truly concerned about the possibility of Gallaudet healing and moving on to a new direction being adversely impacted by some people who are more content in stirring up old conflicts than try to find a healthy resolution.
Many deaf and hard of hearing students without any knowledge of sign language have enrolled at Gallaudet where they learned and mastered sign language. In that aspect, Gallaudet has always been inclusive from the beginning.
Cochlear Implant isn’t the ‘cure’ for all deaf children as claimed by the cochlear implant industry. We still see many children sporting C.I. who cannot find spoken English accessible so they must rely on sign language. Those who manage to achieve maximal benefits of cochlear implants prefer to go to hearing universities anyway as they aren’t interested in Gallaudet. The ultimate goal of the parents with C.I. children is to see them fully ‘integrated’ with the hearing society, with no auxilliary services.
Gallaudet was established to serve a specific niche of deaf people communicating in sign language. As long as there are Deaf people who use sign language, the need for Gallaudet is evident. MZ
PS. Please don’t bother to accuse me of being an ASL purist or a Deaf Culturist. These accusations are ludicrous.  MZ
October 16th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
It sounds like Dr. Fernandes haven’t healed herself in order to move on. She has to accept herself first before she can accept others.
I think its great that we bilingual education because some people my be struggling with English while some are grateful to learn ASL. Teaching English and ASL is a good way to learn information as not everyone learns the same way as the others. I can understand some are not skilled ASL users and doing the best they an to their ability regardless where they come from.
Dr. Fernandes needs some serious help and needs to go back to counseling to resolve her issues before she starts blasting people just because we believe in one thing that is different than others. Also where did she get that information of percentage of where groups of people come from? Sounds like she needs to back up her words. Because I’m not buying it.
my 2 cents
October 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
It seems to me that Dr. Fernandes is advocating the removal of ASL, which is monolingualism, not bilingualism. Talk about hypocrisy here…
I see nothing wrong with having the faculty and staff being proficient in ASL. So what if 80% are from the mainstream programs? They have the choice to attend other universities if they do not want to learn ASL. The students can come to Gallaudet and learn ASL. It’s not like Gallaudet is barring the students who don’t know the language.
I believe there will be sufficient students who want to learn sign language… It seems to me that she’s trying to obfuscate the issue and deprive Gallaudet of what has made it a historical place – ASL.
Quite a shame…
October 16th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
She is really shuddering since the BOTs impeached her. Sounds like to me that she has not healed.
I honestly do not think she is ever ready teaching the ASL classes yet.
First she needs some help and see the counselor before she make the serious decision with her family.
I do not think she can manage with her new duties life after the BOTs impeached her.
Wonder what would MJ Beinvenu react about Jane’s comment in the article?
Oh, la, la, la……we’ll see.
White Ghost
October 16th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
She’s showing her war wounds.
Richard
October 16th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Jane Fernandes is getting paid her Presidents salary and this is how she behaves. Imagine if she was President. It’s time for the Board to revoke her tenture which was obtained with pressure from her and inexchange for political favors. The people who gave her tenure no longer support her. And we need to remove Irving Jordan’s name from the Student Academic Center. It’s a stain making students see his name on the building and on campus e-mails. Let’s hope the Board of Trustees does the right thing and corrects these two illegal actions by the previous Board.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
It’s absurd for her to claim Gallaudet is becoming “more monolingual.” That’s nuts. What about all the books (written in English) and the reading and writing (using English)?
Her words do not make any sense at all. She now has zero credibility.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I wonder if anyone will register for any of her classes?
I know I wouldn’t.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Ahh, the return of the Queen of fallacies. ASL doesn’t have to be cultural, please. It IS the language for Deaf people. Deaf people do see value in English too. If JKF believes in the “need to learn English to become “gainfully employed,†why is she returning to Gallaudet? She couldn’t be “gainfully employed” else where? Double standards. Also, hearing people will only see the Deaf person’s disability first regardless of the level of English the Deaf person has. Some do see pass that by basing judgment on whatever qualifications or skills person has.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Jane Fernandes is not authorized to speak on behalf of the University. This is another reason to remove her.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Looking back to the time of initial protest, it was worst to see that MJ and Dr. Behan used their work time (paid by government) walking out and to sit on protest. I think both of them are very discriminatory people that like to non-verbal harrassing and to look down people who are not fluent ASL users. They are the ones that Gallaudet President shall fire for doing something on their work time againist their employer, the Gallaudet University! Im surprised nobody has the power to fire MJ and Dr. Behan. They do not deserve to teach at Gallaudet since their attitudes are terrible toward others who are not from Deaf Family or from mainstreamed settings background! Dont u agree!
October 16th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
JKF is bad news. Poor sportsmanship. Her criticism of bilingualism is on an ad hoc basis, and it does not hold water. What an academic integrity! Her tenure must be revoked without delay!
October 16th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
MJ and Ben Bahan did a great service to Gallaudet because the IKJ and Jane Fernandes admin. were destroying Gallaudet and lieing to the government. Since the new admin. things are so much better at Gallaudet and people are working much harder and progress is being amde in so many areas. Also, Ben and MJ are the top two favorite professors on campus for prospective students to meet with. Their support during the protest will be remembered forever in Gallaudet history. Plus they are both wonderful people, nothing like you say.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
“Dr Fernandes seem to be holding a grudge as she hasn’t shown any sincere interest in reconciliation with the Gallaudet Community.”
The irony here is just wanting since many people in the Deaf and Gallaudet community who do want JKF back in the first place prior to this letter starting back since last year. Even if it means just teaching “they” don’t want her back. The same for IKJ and KK.
Just like Wolfer said, is “Gallaudet practicing Deafhood?” – http://journeytoidentity.blogspot.com/2007/10/gallaudet-practicing-deafhood.html
Who holding what grudges here I’d ask? She has the right thing in mind about “Deafhood” (just to spin back onto ya’ll) that “Gallaudet needed to become an inclusive deaf university, where all kinds of deaf people are valued and respected..” But yet it seems that “Deafhood” requires that ASL be a part of that picture.
Which is it folks?
October 16th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Correction:
“The irony here is just wanting since many people in the Deaf and Gallaudet community DO NOT want JKF back in the first place prior to this letter and starting back since last year. Even if it means just teaching “they†don’t want her back. The same for IKJ and KK.”
October 16th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Oh, no. According to the information with tenures at Gallaudet, it also contains the rightful termination of faculty members if they repeatedly trash Gallaudet’s position in the public view.
Fernandes did it. Better to terminate her, MJ Bienvenu.
This woman is an embarrassment to Gallaudet and even worse, to ASL and Deaf Studies Department!
%&$@#!! Remove her already!!!
Thanks for the link, MZ!
Cheers,
R-
October 16th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
See Jane gone? See what Jane did? See Jane bad one! Gally does NOT want Jane back at all! She needs to move on and get job elsewhere!
The welcome mat at Gally is taken away from Jane.
Bad Jane!
Bad girl!
October 16th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
rubyshop, as a person from a hearing family and a mainstreamed student, I had no trouble with both MJ and Dr. Bahan. I don’t know of any Dr. Behan on campus. And aren’t they salaried? Meaning that they get paid for the work they do over the year. That means all of Gally’s professors are eating, sleeping, and horsing around during “work time”.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Anyone surprised ? Definitely not me!
She is an ASL & tenured instructor. She slandered ASL. It is ironic!
Stupid of her!
October 16th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
*nods in agreement with Deaf Pundit*
Sigh.
I’m tired of the negative stigma she’s spreading around about ASL and making the Deaf Culture look bad.
Time for her to teach something else?
Perhaps English?
October 16th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
How can Fernandes be a Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies when she doesn’t have the fluency skills using ASL?
Right now, we have other people too, deaf and hearing, telling the world their opinions about the bad side of ASL while they don’t have the fluency skills in ASL.
You have to have the fluency in ASL to understand ASL!
John Egbert
October 16th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I agree with John Egbert’s assessment. I couldn’t fathom how could JKF be an ASL Professor when she’s NOT very fluent with ASL???? Hey, after all she was booted out of presidency because of that along “not deaf enough”.
I was kind of stunned to find her back to Gallaudet after the fiasco. It’s time to terminate her “contract” with Gallaudet and show her the door. Hope that the knob will hit her on her way out. Buh-bye!
Misha
October 16th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I am dismayed about her comments in the news. What kind of role model is Jane Fernandes to bash Gallaudet for making progress on adopting bilingual practices? It is obvious that she has bittersweet feelings about her termination and it is her way of getting back. That woman needs to see a shrink!
For an institute to allow an employee who publicity put down his or her own workplace tends to be investigated and released if found responsible for hurting the reputation. Imagine a Sprint worker bashing Sprint and declared in the news that Sorenson is a much more inclusive VRS, do you think this worker will have his or her job? Why should it be different for Gallaudet to take her bashing comments? That woman defintely has no integrity and respect for bilingual practices.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Let Jane quack and she will be sitting on a rocking chair in front of nobody, collect federal paycheck. She is nobody else and will need to talk with Roehm. Roehm can be her new best friend. Both will eventually become nobody. We learned so amusing from the two who didn’t know that they have no life. Aren’t we getting smarter these days?
October 16th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Barb: her freedom of speech…and this is what she will quack….quack….quack. She might know that some another camp will quack…quack….quack…while the world is watching something important so we have to fight against the hearing supremacist – who fished Jane’s words and spread the public. They know Jane has nothing but sells herself for $5
October 16th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
No employer in the world is obligated to keep an employee who acts to threaten the existence of the company, and who also lies, cheats and plays cynical administrative power games.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Obviously, MJ has a reason why she hired JKF first place. We need to ask her what’s going on… Her teaching ASL?
ACK!
Jane must go! Go, Jane, go!
deafk
October 16th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Fernandes seems to be working hard alienating everybody at Gallaudet, even at the expense of her credibility as an ASL and Deaf Studies Professor. What is she trying to accomplish with these interviews? Jeopardizing the accreditation status of Gallaudet by exacerbating the highly fragmented social climate on campus even further?
October 16th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Jane MUST GO!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
What’s the next plan of action? Write letters to the editor exposing Jane’s fallacies?
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a respected journal which we need to express our views to educate their readers.
drmzz – loved this tagline: “the return of the Queen of fallacies”.
I once teased Ridor that he would make a great drag queen of fallacies!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I’m stunned to read what Jane had stated. What is she thinking? Doesn’t she realize that her comments can hurt her? Jane must GO!!!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
To #7:
Maybe some students will, out of curiosity, take
a course to see who the real Fernadnes is. They
will assess her sign language proficiency.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Hush! Run Jane Run ….. Jane is not accepting of who she is. I can’t understand why MJ and others have chosen her to work with them. I am sure both Gallaudet and Clerc aren’t too happy from up here. It has to do with $$$ and etc. Jane needs to be removed from that department because ASL is not her native “tongue”. I am a strong supporter of ASL and I don’t think I want to work in that department because I was raised as a Deaf oralist in my hearing family. I learned ASL at 19. Deaf applicants with a strong Deaf family and ASL – a must.
Sigh … I hope the students are NOT going to take her class.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
JFK isn’t working toward unity of purpose, but attempting to prove her own ideas correct. This is not what Gallaudet needs. Her saying that ASL is needed only in a cultural sense and that English is needed for the world of work is a dangerous oversimplification that underestimates both languages.
ASL is more than just a cultural expression; it is a language of instruction that maximizes the flow of information and understanding. It maximizes the interaction between professor and student, and among students in processing the information. It conveys learning, validation, emotions, affirmation, information, growth, and yes, culture.
English is more than just a language needed for employment; it is used in education to obtain and record information, and to retrieve and rewrite it. It is used to connect to the outside world and to obtain information throughout life in a visual way.
True bilingualism is use of both languages to their fullest extent and does not demand that one replace the other; but that both have their place. Classroom discourse in ASL can cause papers to be generated in English. Provocative articles in English can generate lively debate in ASL. The goal should be full and satisfying exchange in both languages.
JKF’s error is in not understanding the dynamics of higher education, and not understanding the unique Gallaudetian system of intellectual discourse. Among other things, including leadership and working toward common goals.
“Not Deaf Enough”, my eye!
October 17th, 2007 at 2:02 am
I could not believe that JKF stilldoes not move on after she was terminated last year. Duh.
I wonder who can stop her bad negative statements about Gallaudet’s school? Or her right to say anything? Huh? I hope not.
I hope she does not interupt Gallaudet’s healing.
*head shakes*
October 17th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Don’t forget Jane tried to teach a freshman level class last year. She was sooooo bad that the freshman students voted to have her removed after just one month. That’s really bad! Now there is no way she can teach an ASL class. She can’t teach period.
October 17th, 2007 at 7:25 am
I’m somewhat shocked at the reaction here. Has anyone read the damn article? We have a lot more to be concerned about than the opinions of one individual (why can’t you respect the right of one to express their own opinions)?
Gallaudet has made steps towards meeting ONLY one of the 8 goals set by the MCSHE? There’s still poor climate at the university. They’re not happy with the new curriculum, etc…I would be more concerned about that… we are at the brink of losing our accreditation and all we are doing here is bitching about Jane Fernandes. That tells a lot about our priorities here, doesn’t it?
In any case, what do you think MSCHE will perceive if they learn that Jane is contiuually harrassed when she comes back in January? Gallaudet certainly does not have a climate that shows respect for divergences in opinions, and it’s really showing here.
I am more concerned about that!
Gallaudet’s accrediation is truly at risk and all of the inane comments here aren’t helping any. You say that the solution here is to have Jane fired. That shows how narrow-minded the posters here are… get a grip on what’s more important… bashing Jane or making sure Gallaudet gets reaccredited.
Like Jesus said… ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’ (Luke 23:34)
October 17th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Interesting.
For what it’s worth, the state legislature in New Mexico passed a memorial to ask why Deaf people do not participate in democratic processes. The two primary reasons given were lack of intepreters and closed captioning.
This memorial seems to support Fernandes’ contention that ASL is a cultural language and that English is the language of the day, since we live in America. All things behind equal, the reality of the matter is that English AND ASL should be integrated into the educational format of Gally. And it should at the very least be reflective of the overall population of people with deafness.
And this is where things get murky: if you promote deafhood, then you must also reject Deaf culture’s rejection of the medical model. You cannot be Deaf and be engaged in deafhood since both contradict one another.
Many of your comments reflect the exclusive nature that is found in Deaf culture, especially towards people with different views and political opinions. Perhaps this is why people protest the AGBell Foundation and attack it as if Deaf culture was threatened entirely by a different educational focus.
Perhaps we should start requiring Deaf people to pay for their own interpreters across the board, for school (post-secondary education only), employment and medical/legal functions (in case you didn’t know, the federal government DOES NOT have to provide interpreters for deaf people in civil cases). I can assure you the focus would NOT be on ASL, but more so on how to properly use English to save money, time and headaches that are associated with expensive interpreter services.
Sadly, the more you advocate ASL over English, the more you advocate for continued dependency of Deaf towards interpreters, who also happen to be hearing people. Perhaps this is why so much hatred and anger exists towards the hearing world by too many Deaf people.
A drug addict incapable of overcoming his addiction will start to hate his drug dealer because of the power the dealer holds over the addict. Over time, the addict will first loathe himself and then the dealer, and quite possibly other people as well, and then we begin to discuss oppression and self-repression.
Focusing on ASL focuses on continued reliance upon other human beings (interpreters) for communicational needs. At least the state legislature, which was directed by the NMAD, the NMCDHH and NMRID to pass the memorial, states as much. So, Fernandes may not have been all that wrong, after all.
*shrugs innocently and kicks a small pebble*
)
Paotie
October 17th, 2007 at 8:32 am
#36
Respect for someone’s right to express an opinion is not the same thing as respecting the opinion itself.
If you don’t understanding the difference, then *you* have a problem, not us.
October 17th, 2007 at 8:35 am
To #36, I read the article. But I’m not sure how I can help improve things at Gallaudet. And I know that JK won’t help improve things there either!
October 17th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Ugh!!!!!!!!!
Just when Gallaudet is on the right track- this woman opens her poisonous vermin’s.
JFK needs to shut up. Period. Enough of that.
What good is it for her and the community for her to openly make mis-guided statements?
I, also, need to respond to the above Has anyone read the article? Person.
I have been on campus many, many times lately. And I can tell you that moral never been higher than it is now (it’s really fantastic!). I have friends on both sides. Everyone is working very hard to make Gallaudet the best it deserves to be.
It takes a lot of hard and persistence work to fix the problems that IKJ and JFK wrought upon Gallaudet. It’s remarkable to see and feel how far Gallaudet has come since last Fall (when the BoT revoked JKF contract).
You need to go on campus and see for yourself. And you need to say to JKF to stop re-opening the wounds that she inflicted.
We would like to move forward-but JKF and her cronies’ keep re-opening the wounds. She NEEDS TO GET A LIFE.
I’d say this about her:
Every time she and IKJ say something, they sound vindictive. It verifies what the protesters have said all along: she and IKJ are mean and vindictive people.
It’s funny that you use Luke 23:24. I could say the same thing about you.
You, obviously, don’t know much about the situation at Gallaudet.
Raphgael J. St. Johns C-87, G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I forgot to mentioned one example of my “We would like to move forward” statement is a couple of weeks ago the student body on campus initially wanted to have a campus wide event of what happened on Friday 13 (“Black Friday”) in honor of those got arrested. But after discussing between all sides-it was decided that in the interests of healing (going forward) nothing should take place.
Jane Fernandes and IKJ should have taken the hint.
Raphael J. St Johns C-87, G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 9:38 am
I dont understand?????? Last year JKF got terminated from Gallaudet as President of Gallaudet University… and now she will be teaching as Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies this coming Spring 2008…. I am sure many students, faculty and staff dont want JKF comes back to Gallaudet again. She is NOT welcome at Gallaudet anymore????? She needs to see counselor!!!!!!
Hey, what will he do teach at Gallaudet???
October 17th, 2007 at 10:02 am
I’ll just ignore Raphael’s responses except to say that I am a Gallaudet alumnus and I do know what’s going on… in fact, I live in the Washington DC area.
First, we need to acknowledge that in the eyes of the MSCHE, Gallaudet is making zero progress towards the 8 areas of concern, except for academics (raising the bar on admitted students isn’t that hard to do).
Well, Deaf Pundit, here’s what we can do… stop hyperventilating at everything Jane does. Gallaudet is a university and a university is supposed to represent active discourse on a variety of subjects. There’s no one answer to everything about everything under the sun and the university, as a collective body of scholars, students, academics, etc. need to understand and respect that there are many different viewpoints.
There is no need for all of us to get so self-righteous here.
Gallaudet is a university, not a country club.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Both IKJ and JFK are tenured professors. Yes- IKJ retired form the President position-but he still has tenured as Professor in the Psychology Dept. Thus, he was on Sabbatical leave form Jan, 2007 until Dec. 2007.
He is coming back to teach in January, 2008-unless they can arrange something else.
JKF is also a tenured-in the ASL and Deaf Studies Dept. She also has been on Sabbatical leave. And like IKJ, she is supposed to come back in January, 2008-unless they can arrange something else.
Raphael J. St. Jonhns, C-87 G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Ignore? You need to go Galaudet and see for yourself…. If you live in the Washington Dc area like you said you do…then you’ll see everything I said is the truth.
Raphael J. St. Johns, C-87 G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 10:10 am
And you are wrong about the MSCHE- in their eyes-we are making progress. I know this because I’ve met with several people who have met with recent teams of evaluators. They were very impressed by how far we have come.
Raphael J. St. Johns C-87, G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 10:34 am
#43
Don’t try to spread false news. Gallaudet is making tremendous progress.
You need to do the responsible thing and do research on what is going on. You can start by reading this report:
http://ims.gallaudet.edu/pdf/20070914-0003.pdf
The Davila administration is confident that Gallaudet’s accreditation will be restored:
QUOTE (http://tinyurl.com/2qo7k2):
We are confident that with the work that has been done and planned, as well as the commitment from the entire community, Gallaudet will comply with all MSCHE standards by the November 2008 deadline.
UNQUOTE
In this vlog, Provost Weiner expresses confidence that our accreditation will be restored:
http://pr.gallaudet.edu/video/?vid=41
October 17th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I think she has been struggling to get healed her wound by saying her mind about monolingualism. Strange!I think it is good for intellectual debate about either monoligualism and bilingualism which is good for Gallaudet University! In fact, any opinion can be ughly or benefits! She brings up her opinion about monolingualsim through her frustrated. She has right to express her opinion whether like or not!
Challenge her not be afraid! I see why did she get tenured first place! My question who caused the problem that she get tenured? Who blamed? Obviously, people in Gallaudet University are not smart politic after all she got tenured first place!
October 17th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Guess you guys have no idea what is really going on. There is a motive. Why did it have to publish her article? Someone must be using Jane words against someone else at Gallaudet. I have to agree with Carl who strongly believes that it was another camp (probably hearing supremacists, etc.) You will be surprised how much the medical corporations are sending million dollars to people and spread the fires against the university’s vulnerable and diverse students.
Most sponsors/corporations may be afraid the truth will shed some light and telling the world that not every technology surgically will work. Students will find their identities being falsified for their years of education without community participation. This is only a bigger picture they are trying to muppet Gallaudet and exclude ASL, by selling hopes without showing who they really are.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:15 am
McConnell, I had no problems with the return of these administrators on campus to teach. However after reading this article, I do have serious concerns whether they intend to initiate more political unrest and sabotage the healing progress Gallaudet have undergone.
About Deafhood and ASL, you will need to ask someone else as I am not familiar with this process.
Has anyone read the article, I’ve received consistent reports about the high morale on campus. Yes, MSCHE did comment on poor social climate and deep fractions among the Gallaudet Community. This is reflected in GallyNet where few subscribers continue to harbor the bitterness and anger. GallyNet seems to be stuck in a rut, with no healing seen so far. This apparently had driven out most of the other subscribers. I do get the impression the disgruntled people on campus are in a very small minority, though.
I would hope that Gallaudet is having deaf diversity workshops so tolerance and understanding can be raised.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Unlike late 1800’s, everyone in Gallaudet was happy and comfortable how it was established. Praise Laurent Clerc and deaf people to prove the world they were academically-educated scholars. They wrote beautifully in English and signed. This is how Gallaudet began and brought diverse students throughout the country in education. Today’s education is BROKEN: AGBell, Oralists, Fakes, Wannabes, Blurry ones, and Dreamers are admitted to confuse the system.
This is how Gallaudet has been working so hard to process a great force by learning and telling the truth: there are people, like Jane, will always bring false hopes or ideas in Gallaudet to cause problems.
A theory question: Let’s ask Laurent and Thomas, “What can we do with the deaf university?” I sense they would have answered, “Don’t change yourself or be screwed. Stay educated and be proud of who you are.”
October 17th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
“That’s a mistake, Ms. Fernandes warns. Deaf students need to learn American Sign Language for their cultural identity, but need to learn English to become “gainfully employed” and otherwise succeed in the outside world, she said.”
My goodness. Teaching in Deaf Adults Program, people are always telling me ‘Deaf adults need to read English for outside world’ but i know they are very ignorant or don’t really fully understand the history of Deaf education and self esteem in learning English. That JKF actually said that really shocked me – if I didn’t know she was in ASL department or herself Deaf and working at Gallaudet – I would have thought she had no experience with Deaf people or education, or literacy issues, or even bilingualism. Wow.
She sounded like learning ASL would be waste of time for Deaf wearing cochelar implants and growing up without ASL. Whew, that’s a scary thought.
I can’t imagine how the Department of ASL must feel – I am not speaking for them – but wow – having JKF back isn’t really going to help, will only stir up a lot of anger and frustration – leading to a lot of tension, when we have enough tension deailing with everyday issues with people who don’t undersatnd about Deaf culture or ASL.
Phew.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
i should proofread before posting. I definitely agree English is important. That’s why we are advocating bilingualism. JKF’s comment sounded like the Deaf population don’t want to learn English. Seems she’s missing the whole point of being at Gallaudet.
ugh.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
To: Deaf Socrate’s Trail Says
The reason why JKF got tenured was, according to several people on campus, because of IKJ influenced the process to get her tenure.
That was one of the many reasons why people were upset at the IKJ and the old BoT. If you read Dr. Johnson paper-he said it all: “those of us who worked…to receive tenure” were really surprise at the speed and ease that Dr. JKF received her tenure.
It wasn’t that people on campus weren’t smart, it was because IKJ ironclad ruled over the campus.
Raphael J. St. Johns C-87, G-00
October 17th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
TENURED Professor JKF? … It is impossible for Jane to be removed from that job. Is it? Kinda too late? *sigh*
October 18th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Here we go again….blame Jane instead of looking at what she says dispassionately. Bilingualism here has become a code word for ASL ONLY. ASL may be fine, but it’s not enough by itself for college graduates in this English-speaking country. There is little attention paid to helping Gallaudet students perfect their use of the English language here. True bilingualism is one thing. Gallaudet’s codified bilingualism is another.
October 18th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Please do clarify for us how Gallaudet students aren’t using English.
The students must read the textbooks printed in English They need to do homework, using computers.. which is in English. They take quizes and exams which are printed English. They are still required to take three years of English courses for credits and literacy is emphasized in ALL courses. *gasp* Imagine this…there is no written mode of ASL!! So please do educate us where English is lacking
The only difference is that the language communicated by teachers and students is ASL .. only because the other communication modes, i.e. Total Communication, Simultaneous Communication, Signed Exact English and so forth, aren’t real languages nor are they 100% accessible for the Deaf due to the signers’ tendency to drop signs in favor of voicing. This tendency had been documented repeatedly in formal studies. Spoken English isn’t 100% accessible because the Deaf people cannot hear the invisible sounds. The best deaf lipreader who doesn’t benefit from hearing aids could catch perhaps 30% or 40% of the spoken English alone. ASL is fully 100% accessible.
Jane’s words are clear to everybody who read the article. She is not addressing the issue dispassionately.
October 18th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Just read some of the posts on these deaf blogs if you’re wondering about English skills among Gallaudet students (and graduates). If you think the English requirements are sufficient at Gallaudet, you’re kidding yourself. Just remember….this is an English speaking country. Employers expect you to be able to communicate in English.
October 18th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
That is true, but it is not because of Gallaudet. Most of the deaf people weren’t exposed to a real language during the critical period of language development, especially those raised by hearing parents without knowledge of ASL. Many of them were first taught orally and after that method failed, they were switched to Manual Coded English (TC, SC, SEE, etc). So they didn’t have a firm grasp of a real language for who knows how long. For them, mastering English is an ongoing challenge for the rest of their lives. Many other post-secondary schools also deal with this problem. Some of the most literate Deaf people I know came from ASL-using deaf families where these children were exposed to a real language (ASL) from birth and master English later on.
It’s not the ASL that creates the problem with English literacy. You are barking on the wrong tree. Lack of access to a real language during the critical period of language development and afterwards is the real culprit.
Gallaudet recently upgraded the demands of English literacy among all courses. Unfortunately that wasn’t done under Jordan nor under Fernandes. I commend on Davila and Weiner for increasing the academic rigors for this fall.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Mishka ..
English is the language that is required to function in the United States. ASL is NOT the cause of illiteracy rates among Deaf people. Poor education is the leading cause, although many Deaf people have delayed language acquistion.
Why defeat your logic by blaming everything and everyone else but the Deaf people themselves? Look at the blogs in which Deaf people write. Many don’t know how to think critically. Many don’t know how to write a decent argument in English. Many can’t even read a paragrah of a higher-ordered English.
Ladd himself states he had to dumb down his papers for Deaf people.
So, you want to promote people as being “Deaf and Dumb” and blame everyone, including Fernandes?
The fact that Gally had to “upgrade” its English demands very directly acknowledges that Gally has had a poor English focus in the past. At the very least, the English demands in the past were weak and now, apparently, need to be raised.
And yet, you don’t blame Gally at all?
Paotie
October 19th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Xtreme -
I agree with you – “bilingualism” is code for ASL. Mishka herself supported your claim with the statement that Gally raised its English standards recently.
And round and round we go!
)
Paotie
October 19th, 2007 at 10:00 am
I think we have a brother of Richard Roehm here *sarcastic*. Nothing more needed to be added
.
Other than that, obviously, written English is needed to get along in this country. However to demand spoken English from Deaf people is the very definition of A-U-D-I-S-M. Sorry you can’t see it since you are in so much a denial that it aches my brain.
Oh before you ask why I seemingly am ruthless here. It is because of your disrespect to Deaf in general and to their success in particular. Fair is fair.
Enuff said.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Paotie,
Your bigotry and distorted logic is very, very, very obvious!
Deaf people are involved in an epic struggle to take control of their own destiny and make improvements at Gallaudet and in deaf education, yet *you* try to turn everything inside out.
You confuse cause and effect. The cause of education problems in the deaf community is the ineffective methods that were imposed on deaf people by oralists since the 1880 Milan conference.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Hello. I work in a hearing company. I read the reports written in English. And I write in English. At Gallaudet, bi-bi doesn’t mean that the books there have to be written in ASL. It doesn’t make sense for the Deaf Radicals to ask for ASL books. Universities are the last places where deaf students can ask for reasonable accommoations. Once in class at Gallaudet in the 1980s, a student asked the teacher to interpret in ASL the written English test questions. No-no-no. And those deaf students, deaf staff and deaf faculty members who are very skilled at ASL and love ASL need to teach those who have limited knowledge of ASL. Notice how mnay Gallaudet students transferred the last 2-3 years. And CSUN and NTID recruiters are using their work-related success stories (writen English) to recruit.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
to Paotie, Mishka, Xtreme, if you can show me proofs that reading a book is “hearing” among deaf kids, I like to know. Were there ever a deaf honor rolls nationwide in Silent News? No. We need to emphasized reading books is good to improve the written English language. Our “spoken” (signing) language is any form of sign language.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Gallaudet environment must “speak” ASL in order to communicate with anyone on-site. How do they communicate each other if they “speak” English? Think about this again. Should everyone else be taught or greeted orally (lipreading, etc.)? Should they use telephone without relay services or interpreters?
There we go. ASL is a communication mode to be used in many settings on campus. Problem solved?
October 21st, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Literacy and comptency of written English wasn’t emphasized during Jordan and Fernandes Administration. When Davila took over, he immediately started working on increasing academic rigors.
The emphasis of written English among the whole curriculum is the focus this fall. Literacy of the deaf people depends on their educational and communication upbringing and their motivation to improve their English skills. Sadly the deaf education system in this country is abysmal failure due to lack of exposure to a real language during their critical period of language development. It’s unfairly to place the blame on the deaf people when deaf education and hearing parents failed to meet their language needs during their growth. If we examine deaf children of deaf parents, they fare much better.
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Paotie Says in #60:
“Ladd himself states he had to dumb down his papers for Deaf people.”
Paotie:
From what source?
November 27th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
The papers were written for academic scholars, not for the average person. No dumping down of his papers occured.