Here’s the latest article in Morganton about the attempted protest. To see the full article, go to this link:

http://www.morganton.com

Under “Today’s News” you will see “NCSD Suspends Staff/Students”

For the latest article in Morganton about the attempted protest, go to this link:

http://www.morganton.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MNH/MGArticle/MNH_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354758186&path=%21frontpage

Interpreters have a big job at ncsd, why? Because there are many people in administration who cannot sign well. The newspaper says LL takes classes. Ha Ha! Try signing other than “how are you?” with her! And that will soon be 4 years of classes!

How can you have quality education with teachers who are hired without any knowledge of sign language AND who are NOT required to go to sign language classes?? The children suffer because they don’t understand the teachers.

People in the community know that they don’t see ncsd students walking around in the community without a bus there. Older students can’t even walk across the street to go to Pizza Hut, even with a light and crosswalk installed.

If you really want to help the students who tried to protest, contact any high school students at other deaf schools in the southeast or MSSD. They all know how to contact each other. Try to contact them and ask them for an interview. See what you learn.

People in the community don’t know alot, but if you can get to the students, I’m sure they will be happy to express their concerns. Please help ncsd’s students.

As it would seem, a strong rank of apathy are among the North Carolina alums, parents and staffers and yes, we need to combat that in North Carolina and many places all over the country.. As for the North Carolina Deaf “leaders”, it may be due to the fact so many of them have “died” trying and/or fighting..

This is something that has been happening for over 10 years, the former Superintendents as in Gary Mowl and Kent Mann have discovered that fighting against the mighty North Carolina Political machine are well, truthfully career killers..

This woman, L.L. is obviously an appointee of the Mighty NC Political machine again and will the state be willing to push her aside due to the weak rallying cries of the Carolina Deaf population ?

Remains to be seen…., I do feel that the KEY to forcing changes at NCSD belong to the Students and their Parents.. Deaf or Hearing, they are still the KEY to defeating this whole thing.., if only they can be heard all the way over to Raleigh…

The “problems that goes way deeper” as I’ve heard from several close contact of long time staffers at NCSD, are that there are instances of Incident Reports being torn up, not resolved nor reported.. Also with the Deaf staff at NCSD receiving more dire consequences for improper actions, failures and oversights more than their Hearing counterparts..
So it is again something deeper than just that L.L. and her staffers, the Dean of Students, Jody Self, Business manager and most of the Administration being unable to sign or communicate with the students they are there to help, to nurture and to educate, to begin with…

Again, ANY attention on this pressing issue, will fall on “deaf” ears at the state capitol unless the Students and their parents speak up, raise a STINK about these issues..

Again it is a matter of changing what others view us as, DPN 1 and 2 has raised consciousness on these issues on a national level but it is up to us, DEAF to keep pushing that trend further, exposing other ignorants (especially our country’s governments starting with local venues and all the way up to our congress) to what we are and what we can do..

Thoughts and prayers are with my fellow North Carolinan’s…

DEAF DIRECTOR NOW!
DEAF DIRECTOR NOW!
DEAF DIRECTOR NOW!

The students have a constitutional right to peacefully express their views, so long as they are not promoting illegal activity, and so long as they are not disrupting the function of the school.

Yes, Morse v. Fredrick is about Bong 4 Jesus which resulted that administrators can restrict students’ First Amendment rights. Since the case talked about drugs but the concept is about school CAN regulate or restrict what students do or say. In nutshell, Morse v. Fredrick does apply to restricting or regulating the freedom of speech or First Amendment like indicated by US Supreme Court at the discretion of the administration. My constitutional rights professor and few of my classmates had lengthy discussion about that case.

Many people didn’t realize that administration has been regulating/restricting students’ First Amendment for years…. Dress Codes and censorship in school media.

Protesting is not illegal but many cities required people to apply for permit to protest on city’s property or be charged with disturbance of peace. If I remember correctly, there is a case that is being heard by US Supreme Court about protesting right now or in few months. Am not sure…

Sorry for lengthy response and for getting off track little bit. But good luck to those students… They would have better luck if parents get involved…