Foiled NCSD Protest On News
NCSD was portrayed on the news last night. Despite the attempts of NCSD administrators to silence the Deaf students, local people are now aware of the problems there and are fully supportive of the students’ grievances. Yesterday am the police cars barricaded the gates of NCSD to prevent possible protesters from coming in. The barricades ended around noon with no disruptions.
From corresponding to several commenters via e-mails last night and this am, apparently there are more serious issues, not just the low quality of education. I’m waiting for permission from confidential sources before I could release more information on these issues in this blog. One representative of North Carolina Association of the Deaf will be doing an investigation today and see if the association can provide assistance. MZ
Update: Permission granted from one confidential source.
Some of the pressing issues are: Reportedly some students who read the newspaper article are distressed due to the reporting of erroneous information. Apparently the cafeteria food issue came up last year and is no longer an issue. Allegedly one issue is the hiring of educators with no knowledge of sign language. How can they teach the students if they lack language skills? This is more detrimental to transferred students from the mainstreamed programs with minimal language skills. According to this tipster, this administration had an extensive history of cover ups with the employees threatened to maintain their silence. Allegedly now the students are being threatened.
There are reported reprisals with few suspensions of staff employees and disciplinary measures for some students.
To leave comments in an article full of misinformation on NCSD issues, click on this: NCSD averts protest – The Morganton News Herald MZ
.
School Director Unable to Communicate with Deaf Students
“Linda Lindsey is the director of the school. She and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language fluently. They are unable to communicate with students and many teachers without an interpreter. ”
“On Monday, students planned to hold a protest march, but officials put a stop to that.”
Alumni and parents are speaking out on the issue. Click to read the full article and watch the videoclip.
School Director Unable to Communicate with Deaf Students | WBTV | Top Stories
.
Transcript of television Report:
“Failure to Communicate”
MAUREEN O’BOYLE (co-anchor): A controversy is building tonight in Morganton about who should be in charge of the North Carolina School for the Deaf.
PAUL CAMERON (co-anchor): Now the director and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language fluently. Students had planned a protest march today, but officials put a stop to that. And tonight, alumni and parents are speaking out. Steve Ohnesorge with the story from Morganton.
STEVE OHNESORGE (reporter, overdubbed narration): For people who can’t hear, this is their language. And for more than a hundred years, this is where many kids who speak that language have gone to school. Alumni President J.W. Bradley first went there in 1947.
J.W. BRADLEY (voice of interpreter): [Signing on screen: The school has a lot of history.] I really cherish the school.
OHNESORGE (narration): He and other alumni are concerned about where things are going here. Specifically that the director, Dr. Linda Lindsey, and other administrators don’t know sign language.
BRADLEY: They can’t sign at all. They don’t know about the Deaf culture.
OHNESORGE (narration): They can’t communicate with students and many teachers without an interpreter.
BRADLEY: The students have suffered.
OHNESORGE (narration): Dr. Lindsey came here almost four years ago. (She) has been taking sign classes, but is not fluent.
(Middle-aged woman in car): It’s hard to learn.
OHNESORGE (narration): But family members of students we talked with think knowing sign language should have been a requirement to be a director here.
(Older man in car): Yeah, they should know sign language. That has to–that’s all there is to it.
OHNESORGE (narration): This morning students planned to march in protest, but administrators told them last night they better not ["they better not" in the tone of voice of parent to child].
BRADLEY (voice of interpreter): They told them that they would be suspended.
OHNESORGE (narration): This morning, one entrance to the school was blocked–another set up with a police checkpoint. There was no protest.
OHNESORGE (narration): We were told to direct all questions to higher-ups in Raleigh.
OHNESORGE (on site): Those state officials tell us that the situation is being handled internally, here at the school for the deaf, that they are working on a solution. But they also tell us that while many administrators don’t know sign language, they say it’s not essential for their job.
OHNESORGE (overdubbed narration): But parents we talked with don’t agree. One passed us a note saying conditions there were *very* oppressive. Bradley says he cares so much for the school. (He) wants only the best for it. And he thinks the best thing right now is a change at the top. In Morganton, Steve Ohnesorge, WBTV News3.
CAMERON (in studio): Now school officials tell us that the police presence this morning was not a lock down. It was to make sure things were calm on campus, and to limit outsiders from coming in. State officials say they will continue to look– [End of online video.]
Transcript prepared by Brian Riley.
First MZ report: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2008/02/25/ncsd-students-civil-rights-violated/
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
NCSD was portrayed on the news last night. Despite the attempts of NCSD administrators to silence the Deaf students, local people are now aware of the problems there and are fully supportive of the students’ grievances. Yesterday am the police cars barricaded the gates of NCSD to prevent possible protesters from coming in. The barricades ended around noon with no disruptions.
From corresponding to several commenters via e-mails last night and this am, apparently there are more serious issues, not just the low quality of education. I’m waiting for permission from confidential sources before I could release more information on these issues in this blog. One representative of North Carolina Association of the Deaf will be doing an investigation today and see if the association can provide assistance. MZ
Update: Permission granted from one confidential source.
Some of the pressing issues are: Reportedly some students who read the newspaper article are distressed due to the reporting of erroneous information. Apparently the cafeteria food issue came up last year and is no longer an issue. Allegedly one issue is the hiring of educators with no knowledge of sign language. How can they teach the students if they lack language skills? This is more detrimental to transferred students from the mainstreamed programs with minimal language skills. According to this tipster, this administration had an extensive history of cover ups with the employees threatened to maintain their silence. Allegedly now the students are being threatened.
There are reported reprisals with few suspensions of staff employees and disciplinary measures for some students.
To leave comments in an article full of misinformation on NCSD issues, click on this: NCSD averts protest – The Morganton News Herald MZ
.
School Director Unable to Communicate with Deaf Students
“Linda Lindsey is the director of the school. She and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language fluently. They are unable to communicate with students and many teachers without an interpreter. ”
“On Monday, students planned to hold a protest march, but officials put a stop to that.”
Alumni and parents are speaking out on the issue. Click to read the full article and watch the videoclip.
School Director Unable to Communicate with Deaf Students | WBTV | Top Stories
.
Transcript of television Report:
“Failure to Communicate”
MAUREEN O’BOYLE (co-anchor): A controversy is building tonight in Morganton about who should be in charge of the North Carolina School for the Deaf.
PAUL CAMERON (co-anchor): Now the director and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language fluently. Students had planned a protest march today, but officials put a stop to that. And tonight, alumni and parents are speaking out. Steve Ohnesorge with the story from Morganton.
STEVE OHNESORGE (reporter, overdubbed narration): For people who can’t hear, this is their language. And for more than a hundred years, this is where many kids who speak that language have gone to school. Alumni President J.W. Bradley first went there in 1947.
J.W. BRADLEY (voice of interpreter): [Signing on screen: The school has a lot of history.] I really cherish the school.
OHNESORGE (narration): He and other alumni are concerned about where things are going here. Specifically that the director, Dr. Linda Lindsey, and other administrators don’t know sign language.
BRADLEY: They can’t sign at all. They don’t know about the Deaf culture.
OHNESORGE (narration): They can’t communicate with students and many teachers without an interpreter.
BRADLEY: The students have suffered.
OHNESORGE (narration): Dr. Lindsey came here almost four years ago. (She) has been taking sign classes, but is not fluent.
(Middle-aged woman in car): It’s hard to learn.
OHNESORGE (narration): But family members of students we talked with think knowing sign language should have been a requirement to be a director here.
(Older man in car): Yeah, they should know sign language. That has to–that’s all there is to it.
OHNESORGE (narration): This morning students planned to march in protest, but administrators told them last night they better not ["they better not" in the tone of voice of parent to child].
BRADLEY (voice of interpreter): They told them that they would be suspended.
OHNESORGE (narration): This morning, one entrance to the school was blocked–another set up with a police checkpoint. There was no protest.
OHNESORGE (narration): We were told to direct all questions to higher-ups in Raleigh.
OHNESORGE (on site): Those state officials tell us that the situation is being handled internally, here at the school for the deaf, that they are working on a solution. But they also tell us that while many administrators don’t know sign language, they say it’s not essential for their job.
OHNESORGE (overdubbed narration): But parents we talked with don’t agree. One passed us a note saying conditions there were *very* oppressive. Bradley says he cares so much for the school. (He) wants only the best for it. And he thinks the best thing right now is a change at the top. In Morganton, Steve Ohnesorge, WBTV News3.
CAMERON (in studio): Now school officials tell us that the police presence this morning was not a lock down. It was to make sure things were calm on campus, and to limit outsiders from coming in. State officials say they will continue to look– [End of online video.]
Transcript prepared by Brian Riley.
First MZ report: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2008/02/25/ncsd-students-civil-rights-violated/
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
February 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I wonder what Linda Lindsey is thinking now, now that she has learned that the Internet is bigger than she is. Hehe.
Shows what a lousy administrator she is. A) She can’t communicate with her students and B) She doesn’t even see the world for what it is and that in a matter of 24 hours her attempts to supress became widely known across the Internet.
Woe is Lindsey!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
MZ,
The news team of WBTV made incorrect translation of the elderly deaf guy, former NCSD graudate(???). He said “This school have a lot of HISTORY”, not “needs”.
Please send out the correction of the news broadcast transcript to the WBTV Channel 3 as soon as possible. They ought to issue an apology to the viewers about the inaccurate translation of elderly deaf guy. Thanks!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
February 26th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Bryen and MZ,
Yea, you are absolutely RIGHT about Dr. Lindsey! She should be NOT hired in the first place at the NCSD due to her signing incomptency!
Enuff about too many UNQUALIFIED hearing people working at the educational system of the deaf!!
Why can’t the hearing people get jobs at their own peers??
We must keep pressuring the NCSD and the state of North Carolina or make it to be an issue of the 2008 presidential campaign what is the f**king wrong with our country’s hiring practices of too many incomptent and unqualified individuals?
The GOP and GWB and his cronies ought to approve the idea of hiring the DEAF consulting firm to run the state school of the deaf if they strongly believe in the free market and “trickle-down” captialism. Just an idea! That doesn’t meant of me undermining the quality of deaf education.
I just like to prod Mike McConnell from time to time. How come didn’t Mike McConnell, the so-called authority on deaf people, respond to this NCSD crisis?
We need to prepare and send in the deaf reinforcements to the NCSD campus and the state captiol. The state Health and Human Services Department, too!
Could you believe that the state Health and Human Services run the educational facility like the NCSD, not the state Education Department? Unbelievable!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
February 26th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I don’t think it’s worth the trouble to get the correction RLM talks about; it’s harmless and there’s both “history” and “needs” there.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
MZ – Thank you for always being on top of issues like this… I’m sure the Big Dog in Morganton thought she could just sweep this under the carpet and pretend everything is “beautiful” at NCSD.
Its true that NCSD is not the same school it was in 1950 or 1975. As with all residential schools, mainstreaming has had a huge negative impact on the students who attend, and as one person pointed out, nowadays is the “failures” from mainstream programs who get dumped to the residential school campus. This is not only sad, its cruel and inhuman!! Of course, the children of NCSD grads attend also, because their parents know the quality of education that USED TO be available there…
If many teachers and administrators cannot sign fluently, that is a travesty and NC should be ashamed of itself! As RLM said, why is Health and Human Services responsible for an EDUCATION program??? Perhaps to avoid the fact that the education being provided at NCSD is sub-par, and to hide those facts NC decided to remove NCSD from being considered an educational program???
I wonder…
February 26th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
#2) RLM,
You’re right. J.W. Bradley signed: “This school has a lot of history”.
Thanks for seeing that.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Wow, Dr. Lindsey was hired FOUR years ago???? That is really unbelievable!!!! Had she learned ASL during four years, she would have to use it with ease. Four years is plenty to learn ASL!!!! She would have to be booted out after one or two years of “failing” to use ASL. NCSD committees need to check every staff’s backgrounds before hiring any of them to do the job.
And also, where did the money come from when Dr. Lindsey planted the trees and landscapes???? From the state? Donation? What? Something isn’t right.
They need to check on that.
Dr. Lindsey shouldn’t oppress the students’ rights to have a whole access of communications with staff by using ASL. All staff should be required to learn ASL, period or they’re free to leave.
Keep us posted with more new updates if any. Thanks.
Misha
February 26th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I remember our old Va School for the Deaf played football against North Carolina School for the Deaf and when after finish Games after I went to walk around in NCSD Campus so beautiful.I think that is a good for Deaf School to learn for Education in Campus too. and Dont have to abuse on NCSD.
Because I wont forgot in NCSD for two times at Football in Morganton,NC from 1974 and 1976.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
“But they also tell us that while many administrators don’t know sign language, they say it’s not essential for their job.”
If this is absolutely true, this statement raises a red flag indicating that the administrators don’t perceive having sign language skills a priority. May I say that AUDISM is the root of the problem since it ties up to how they think that communicating with Deaf students is not as crucial?
We need to have a more stringent system, ASLPI for example, to evaluate signing skills and provide ongoing ASL classes/interaction opportunities that will help improve their signing skills. It is still no excuse, period!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Beautifully said, DiGigi!
RLM
February 26th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
“But they also tell us that while many administrators don’t know sign language, they say it’s not essential for their job.”
Because they have newly hired oppressed CODA interpreter who has said he can make Dr. Lindsey and school looks wonderful because they have wonderful “interpreter”. This interpreter is a power starved, and oppressing CODA. He is a short man, who tried to make himself visable. Words has it that he’s abusing his role as interpreter and abuse his power. I was told he told Dr. L that she doesn’t learn sign or use sign because she have the best “interpreter”. “cough” “cough”
They have several teachers who can’t sign, Dean of students who can’t sign. New dorm staff who can’t sign at the Elementary dorm. Dr. Lindsey doesn’t care if they can communicate with the students.
Audism is a “big time” at this school.
We need to go and help this school.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hired only four years ago? Where were deaf North Carolinians? Sleeping when Lindsey was hired? At the expense of deaf students?
Any school or any university in France would not hire anyone who does not know French!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Please let’s not be too hard on Deaf North Carolinians.
Keep in mind that the Deaf empowerment is still very new. It’s only little over one year that Deaf students their protest against the injustices at Gallaudet and won. The ripple effects are still beginning, spreading slowly all over the country.
Let’s give them our support
February 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
they mentioned that Dr Linda Lindsey has been planted the trees, gardens and landscaping around the campus. I doubt that she had been study in deaf education instead of landscaping major. Get rid of her now.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I don’t think deaf people were permitted on committee to hire LL. After she was hired, people thought she would only stay a short time. Look at the history of ncsd’s previous supts. (5 different supts in the past 10 years or so!)
February 27th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
North Carolina people are trying to fight this. They are proactive but was threaten so many time. I too was threaten if because of my job.
So LL needs to go so does the rest of the adminstration level people. Dorm director can’t even maintain control inthe dorm….
February 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
MZ writes:
DPN terminated Dr. Elisabeth Zinser of UNC at Greensboro exactly 20 years ago — not a year ago — for NOT knowing sign language. I am afraid that people who forgot 1988 must repeat a history course.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Dr.Lindsey not only has more than enough “background” to run the school,but has devoted her life for the past 4 years to do so…She works 80 hour weeks,responds to calls in the middle of the night,and cares about the campus beauty,(the trees).From an admin standpoint,she does not have to be fluent in signing because her position is to run the facility, not be a communicator.The nature of her position is very involved,both with things that are seen and unseen by the students.Her #1 priority since day one has been to make ncsd the best it can be from the top level down,and she has strived to do so.Anyone, who would like to work a week in her shoes,I challenge you to do so,and for those who don’t appreciate what she has sacrificed to do her job,SHAME on you.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
If she is doing very well, why has a protest been planned? Threats, lousy education and poor communication between the employees and the students don’t make a good administrator. SHAME on her for treating Deaf students so poorly.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
By the way, ISD, CSD, and MSD are fine. No protest there at all. She go back to school and learn how to be a better director.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
When people have problems with our country, they blame the president,but in fact,the congress make the decisions that run this country.The president is merely a position in which someone serves as an “administrator” for the people.Maybe the students in the school should place less emphasis on the “administrator”and deal more with the other areas in which blame could be given…also,anyone blogging here may want to refer to the may 2006 article in the north carolina journal for woman written about DR. Lindsey,it may change your opinion and need for casting blame.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
It’s amazing LL can work 80 hours a week, but on rare occasions when she is around students, elementary children have asked who is that woman?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
You okay about teachers hired with no sign language? Destruction of documents illegally? Lousy education? Intimidations of students? Ohhhh!!!
Who cares about trees? Education important, not trees!! Maybe you are Dr Linsay or her friend.
We listen to Deaf students. They experience first hand what they suffer.
Buck stops with Director.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
To Concerned4school:
Give us some examples of “other areas in which blame could be given”. We are open to discussion and learning about the full situation.
Can you give a link to the article you refer to?
February 27th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Didn’t the NCSD admins. see what happened with Gally’s protest? Students voice have more power than those who do not listen. Often times, we have to stand up for what is our right and identity as deaf person, and this is a blatant and direct insult to us all as a deaf group in this sorrowful nation.
We need to show support for all of our future deaf leaders of tomorrow, and other staffs who are facing the same dilemma in deaf schools. Take it from me…I was “kicked” off a school board (all were hearing and I was one of the two deaf Board members) just because I said some things that were of my concerns and they didn’t like it. Whoop dee doo!! Not that I’m miffed about it but it shows…true audism at work!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Wow it’s not fair for them. They should not be suspense because we did this last May for protest and we walk away from the classes without teachers and staff know. Even off-campus! Two volunteer deaf staffs supervised us on street last min to make sure everything is safe and didn’t stop us to march. When we got back to school at noon, my new principal didn’t suspense us but we host the event as community service like punishment. That’s it.
SJW Protest Leader
February 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
the coda interpreter who works at ncsd is pal with LL. power hungry idiot. he thinks he is hte best. hes not going to get away with it today.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Okay let go cut the new trees bury ground as soon they can.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:27 am
The reason why the CODA interpreter wants Dr. LL to stay is because he interprets for Dr. LL at all times and he gets to know EVERYTHING! That is his way of having the “power” in Dr. LL’s shoes. He didn’t want Dr. LL to go because once she leaves, he is back to being an “interpreter” for everyone. He knows our next director will know sign language and he/she won’t need him anymore!!! Sorry to say this about him but its the truth!!!
March 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Where has the deaf community been???? It takes a village to raise a child and even more so for a deaf child.
Why aren’t there more deaf staff? Well the answer lies in that there are no deaf applicants when positions arise. The community needs to get involved and give back to their deaf “chidren”. I know of administratiors who want and will hire deaf staff if they would apply.
Also, where is the community involvement, I never see deaf community memebers volunteering time to come and work with students, keeping traditions alive. These students need involved role models… leading afterschool groups like boy and girl scouts.
common stop criticizing and get involved if you really care about deaf children in North Carolina.
If there is too much controversy instead of support the state may just close the school and there where will the deaf children go….. stuck isolated in special ed classes with no peers, no deaf adults to mentor them… it would be very sad in deed. Think about it.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
[...] Zena Endless Pondering « Foiled NCSD Protest On News NCSD Director OUT [...]
May 27th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
no close side ncsd school for deaf