Why Bother Saving Deaf Schools?
Some of the Deaf children don’t do well in mainstreamed programs. Often the regular teachers don’t have any formal training to educate the Deaf students. An increasing shortage of qualified interpreters impedes with the public education system’s ability to provide accessible education to these students. For mainstreamed Deaf solitaire, a lack of social opportunities due to communication barriers adds to their sense of social isolation.
Regarding the low scores produced by students in the Deaf schools, here is a dirty secret the mainstream education and oracy proponents don’t want you to know. The Deaf schools are the dumping grounds for those who don’t fare well in the mainstreamed programs. Unfortunately it is common to see the dumped children without language acquisition and academic knowledge, so the Deaf schools are given the extra responsibilities of rehabilitating the Deaf children and teaching them materials that should have been taught in the other schools in the first place. Deaf schools are also responsible for children that mainstreamed programs are not equipped to deal with: Deaf kids with additional disabilities.
Contrary to what some cochlear implant proponents claim, not all cochlear implants are successful. For some reasons, even when all the protocols have been proper utilizedly, the brains of some children fitted with cochlear implants cannot comprehend the rapid-fire speech encountered in the classrooms. These schools are not equipped to deal with students who need a visual language to learn the academic materials.
Several Deaf schools, especially those emphasizing on bi-bi programs, are thriving exceptionally well. Usually these are operated by Deaf or CODA administrators recognizing that these students only need a visual language, but aren’t disabled otherwise. DoD families from all over the countries are relocating to these schools, so their Deaf kids can get an excellent education. So this brain drain affects the test scores of other Deaf schools.
In other words, the mainstreamed programs fight to keep the cream of the crop while relegating those not performing well to residential Deaf Schools. The DoD kids, traditionally known for their excellent academic performances, are enrolled in the bi bi programs elsewhere.
If these Deaf Schools are closed, where will these kids go? The mainstreamed programs already failed them.
The last time I checked, each Deaf child still has the fundamental right to an appropriate education.
Some of the Deaf children don’t do well in mainstreamed programs. Often the regular teachers don’t have any formal training to educate the Deaf students. An increasing shortage of qualified interpreters impedes with the public education system’s ability to provide accessible education to these students. For mainstreamed Deaf solitaire, a lack of social opportunities due to communication barriers adds to their sense of social isolation.
Regarding the low scores produced by students in the Deaf schools, here is a dirty secret the mainstream education and oracy proponents don’t want you to know. The Deaf schools are the dumping grounds for those who don’t fare well in the mainstreamed programs. Unfortunately it is common to see the dumped children without language acquisition and academic knowledge, so the Deaf schools are given the extra responsibilities of rehabilitating the Deaf children and teaching them materials that should have been taught in the other schools in the first place. Deaf schools are also responsible for children that mainstreamed programs are not equipped to deal with: Deaf kids with additional disabilities.
Regarding the low scores produced by students in the Deaf schools, here is a dirty secret the mainstream education and oracy proponents don’t want you to know. The Deaf schools are the dumping grounds for those who don’t fare well in the mainstreamed programs. Unfortunately it is common to see the dumped children without language acquisition and academic knowledge, so the Deaf schools are given the extra responsibilities of rehabilitating the Deaf children and teaching them materials that should have been taught in the other schools in the first place. Deaf schools are also responsible for children that mainstreamed programs are not equipped to deal with: Deaf kids with additional disabilities.
Contrary to what some cochlear implant proponents claim, not all cochlear implants are successful. For some reasons, even when all the protocols have been proper utilizedly, the brains of some children fitted with cochlear implants cannot comprehend the rapid-fire speech encountered in the classrooms. These schools are not equipped to deal with students who need a visual language to learn the academic materials.
Several Deaf schools, especially those emphasizing on bi-bi programs, are thriving exceptionally well. Usually these are operated by Deaf or CODA administrators recognizing that these students only need a visual language, but aren’t disabled otherwise. DoD families from all over the countries are relocating to these schools, so their Deaf kids can get an excellent education. So this brain drain affects the test scores of other Deaf schools.
In other words, the mainstreamed programs fight to keep the cream of the crop while relegating those not performing well to residential Deaf Schools. The DoD kids, traditionally known for their excellent academic performances, are enrolled in the bi bi programs elsewhere.
If these Deaf Schools are closed, where will these kids go? The mainstreamed programs already failed them.
The last time I checked, each Deaf child still has the fundamental right to an appropriate education.
In other words, the mainstreamed programs fight to keep the cream of the crop while relegating those not performing well to residential Deaf Schools. The DoD kids, traditionally known for their excellent academic performances, are enrolled in the bi bi programs elsewhere.
If these Deaf Schools are closed, where will these kids go? The mainstreamed programs already failed them.
The last time I checked, each Deaf child still has the fundamental right to an appropriate education.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:50 am
You hit one nail squarely in the head, there are not enough interpreters or ASL/BSL teachers to make many deaf schools viable. We have in retrospect a huge UK BSL learning program, yet, Scotland in the UK reported half a dozen interpreters for 300 deaf people. That’s just for ’street’ access and state sponsored access.
Many went ‘private’ and pick and choose who they support, so stay in cities, or towns leavong deaf schools and out of town deaf with nothing at all in many cases. They follow the money…
Sign take up by hearing in the UK is stalling, not least by the horrendous costs of attaining the high qualifications needed. They are finding out sign isn’t as easy as it may look, and you need plenty of cash too !
Deaf schools are failing because staff aren’t there, and students are being mainstreamed. I advocated in the UK, some of our unemployed hearing people who are interested in training in sign language and deaf support, should get this training free and paid for via the state, to fill the gaps, and for the state to recognise access and equality won’t work without it, and their obligation via law cannot be met either.
The issue is BSL being treated like a ‘hobby’ language, and not a vital means of support communications a lot of BSL deaf need as basic. Also, hearing groups and people are profiteering by sign classes, colleges took them up as an ‘easy option’ for University students to gain extra kudos to whatever vocation they were training for, most never went any further than abc, and 123 signing, and forgot the lot when they qualified.
They reduced BSL to little value as a result, they also made problems for families of deaf children and adults, who were made to pay, to effectively communicate to their own.. Deaf would learn sign and other means at school, parents and others had to pick up how they could..
Naturally many who are involved in the deaf worlds have a family member deaf, but too few of them want to make a living from it. Because acquiring sign languge is a ‘vocational’ skill, and a highly trained one, the expense is detrimental.
Anyone can learn sign language ? maybe anyone can learn the basics, but few can teach or support professionaly,although some often try !
February 10th, 2009 at 9:30 am
MM, we do have many interpreters. The shortage is usually experienced more frequently outside of the major metropolitan cities.
However, in the recent times, the interpreter shortage has been experienced pretty much all over the country, due to the growing popularity of the Video Relay Services. This coincides with more students attending mainstreamed programs rather than the Deaf programs than before. This shortage is affecting universities and colleges, too.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Perfectly said!
The schools of the deaf often produce most normal and productive deaf beings as compared to too many mainstream and oral products.
The diluted “deaf” identity will greatly affect the deaf individual from experiencing the real blossom of deaf life and psychological well-being, etc.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
February 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I feel badly for deaf school around the USA, I think they should not close it down because not all deaf student has the ability to fit into mainstream school.
There is not enough school for “Normal” students so that might is the reason that they cannot close down some unless they are force to.
We should take action NOW.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
You summed it up very well. My deaf son has the implant and he attends Illinois School for the Deaf. He also has ADD and had so much difficulty focusing on an interpreter all day in the mainstreamed classroom.
My other son who is hard of hearing also attends the same school. He now has more socialization opportunities.
I don’t consider our school as “dumping grounds”. It is a great school with a phenomenal program!
February 10th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Yes… that is the problem with the mainstreaming programs. We don’t know how well-resourced the programs are due to the different needs of Deaf children. I noticed that if there were a good number of KODAs in any schools, more increased chances for Deaf mainstreamed child/children to succeed in mainstreaming setting due to more awareness of deafness, interpreters, ASL, etc.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Where have you been all along before the grim reaper came along? Realistically, my compromise is a quality regional charter academy. For mere instance how about the “Dakota Academy of the Deaf” to serve deaf pupils in the Dakotas. I very much prefer that over just existing but languishing as been long the case with NDSD & SDSD. Remember pupils are entitled to quantity as well as quality and the notion of having enough pupils to field organizations and athletic teams is a must to make one’s experience as whole as is possible. You have to fully justify the fight with realistic pupil achievement.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Best is when deaf are clannish so we can continue our generation after generation. If deaf schools close, then our population is threatened by mainstream.
you may think this is stupid but if you look at history, this is one way how kingdoms control other kingdoms. For a time in England (Ed Longshank’s era) British nobles had rights to Scottish women so they can plant the seeds of future sons of England to lessen Scotland’s might.
So best is let deaf people have rights to deaf people and guarantee future seeds.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
http://www.deafvideo.tv/video/watch/40935/
of course, Adain is RIGHT!
February 10th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I am one from a deaf school for 16 years. I graduated in 1984. I went back to visit my old school two years ago and found out there are smaller number of deaf students today and just wonder what’s benefit for them? Today is better technology and bright future for deaf students if go with mainstream.
I am not against deaf schools but what are best for deaf children today . More than half of my classmates who graduated in 1984 are living on SSD.
Today time for change? I think so.
February 15th, 2009 at 12:19 am
“The Deaf schools are the dumping grounds for those who don’t fare well in the mainstreamed programs.” You quoted that. This is NOT a fact. I have been raised in a full hearing family with full sign language privileges. My family have been supportive and encourage to have me attend each deaf school, not mainstreamed programs. Does that mean I don’t fare well in the mainstreamed programs? Absolutely not. I fare well in the mainstreamed programs, however, deaf schools are great for exposure to ASL, interaction, communication, and sports. Any deaf school is NOT a dumping ground for those who does not fare well in the mainstreamed programs.
I blame partially on the “No Child Left Behind Act” law that hurts the tests across the deaf schools.
Other quote, “More than half of my classmates who graduated in 1984 are living on SSD. Today time for change? I think so.” So? Either deaf schools or mainstreamed programs have NOTHING to do with those who decide to go on SSD. I blame partially on the real world out there who would not hire deaf people on good salary. Many decided go on SSD, because it was comfortably more than what they earn in a low-life job that hearing put them with or go on entry level job. It sucks to have an entry level job. I think many Deaf would rather to be on SSD to get more comfortable money to cover their bills.
February 15th, 2009 at 6:59 am
This statement isn’t meant to apply to ALL. It’s a general statement that I’ve heard from the teachers of the Deaf schools. From what I’ve observed, I agreed. There are parents who will insist that their children go to Deaf school and will use their resources to ensure that they do. I am talking about them, but the average parents.
With the exception of FL, most states routinely place the Deaf students in the mainstreamed programs first. When the mainstreamed program doesn’t work, then they opt for Deaf school next. The Deaf schools are not being given the same considerations as public education schools. Most parents want their children to be mainstreamed as they feel living in home is the best placement for their children. However, they are usually not informed of Deaf schools as a viable option and when the parents want to use that option, they are given a lot of resistance, unless the child has multiple handicaps that will make public education too costly.
The resistance nowadays is much higher than in the past. It’s not a coincidence that the majority of the children are mainstreamed. I’ve heard stories from Deaf parents in specific states who have to jump through many loops before they can place their children in Deaf schools.
Where did I get this statement that Deaf schools are the dumping grounds? From the teachers of Deaf schools frustrated with the low academic knowledge and minimal language skills from older Deaf students, products of mainstreamed programs.
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hi, I posted a response to this on my current blog at http://manytribes.blogspot.com... would appreciate feedback!
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hey everybody!! Pardon me! Wipe my eyes!!!! I read this repeatly and puzzled me!! I am really in very shock!! Hey! Hey! Wait a minute!!
WAIT A MINUTE!!!! EEEKKKKKkkkk!!
Remember in any schools stated “Not let any child behind!” What does this mean? I believed this mean that “any schools” cannot be shut down for any reasons…. Am I right or wrong here?
“Why this has to bother the Deaf Schools?”
Hey, There are so many public schools for the hearing in too many areas as why cannot it cut down on the hearing have too many that Deaf do not have…. Why this have to bother Deaf’s needs? Why hearing people who are trying to take over our DEAF’s education?? Why hearing are forcing us to wear their jerk junks stuffs?? Does this means that hearing people who are trying to wipe us DEAF/Hard of Hearing people out of this world or what??
We DEAF/Hard of Hearing people always do cherish our own ASL as our very openly communication, our very comfortable communication and understandable communication!! Deaf schools are teaching all DEAF/Hard of Hearing students to learn both ASL and English then leave us our Deaf schools alone!!!!!! We Deaf people are trying to improve our education for our Deaf children as we cannot let any of our DEAF/Hard of Hearing children behind!!
Of course!! I pray hard in one of these days that I could become a millionare!! Then I can help and save all DEAF Schools!! Sometimes, I wish this world can just twist to make many hearing people to understand our struggling life that we not need any more barriers! We DEAF/Hard of Hearing had enough!! Enough is enough!!
How do I get your comments here? I need to know if any of you agreed with my comments or should I adjust on any?
Thanks….
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 am
Joseph, I checked your post and it’s terrific. Deaf Schools offer ample opportunities for socialization and leaderships for Deaf students that are too often non-existent or minimal in the mainstreamed programs.
Lulu, you raised many good points there. You don’t need to adjust any. Deaf students do have the right to Deaf schools. The hearing people have no idea how isolating mainstramed programs can be for Deaf students.. absolutely no clue at all.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hello everybody again,
Please answer these questions below here for me and help me to understand your answers here….
Why should we Deaf/Hard of Hearing people continually struggling with our “wars” to break our very strong barrier walls down for many years till we finally got our rights??
Why cannot we Deaf/Hard of Hearing people have our own “ONE” biggest switch where we can just turn the whole voices station (radios, tvs, and cell phones) down in this world to educate the hearing world about how our inner feelings?
Are not hearing people trying to wipe us all Deaf/Hard of Hearing people out of this world with their own stuffs?
Where else would hearing allow us all Deaf/Hard of Hearing children to learn and getting much better education for their future sake? Any benfits?
How can any hearing people be able to communicate with our Deaf/Hard of Hearing “youngest” children since they some do have their own sign language that are differently than ASL and even than English? How can any of these professional people such like these doctors, polices, judges and CPS be able to communicate with any of our Deaf/Hard of Hearing children if they not have any education?
Honestly with everybody here, this is about my life here…. Of course, I can share my expernices in my own life that I been went through with so many different kind of very frustrated situations and I been on strikes with some groups in many years in the past to break the barriers of communication till by now on, I am about worn out? Should I retired? Not yet? Should I keep my voices raise louder or what?
Thanks for your time if you can answer any of my questions above here…. Please share your comments here to help me understand better….
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hello everybody….
Here is your information that I just mentioned earlier in my comment above here about any Deaf/Hard of Hearing “youngest” children have their own sign language that I found one of these websites that I would like to share it with you all.
Look at this website….
http://deaf4all.com/?lang=gb&sid=2387e6b2d37a68d785a577469a7be09849a31ac298473&cat=4&sub=113&ql=view&id=855
This explained the same exactly things with my own 4 Deaf children and the others, too. This means that I was not only one struggled with some other different kinds sign language till my all 4 Deaf children get older…. Whoa-whew! We can always communicate!!
I believe it goes the same as with any hearing infants or toddlers! They have their own baby voices and repeatly coosing, etc…. Smile….
June 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
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