Risky Discussion
Many of us are so afraid to discuss the hot issues about RSD because we fear reprisals such as losing a job at RSD or worrying about RSD students being picked on if the parents challenge RSD frequently. Many of us have different issues about RSD. More and more students of RSD are leaving because of the deteriorating quality of education and poor relationships between the RSD staff and the parents of RSD students.
It is hoped that this blog will help the RSD community to discuss their concerns without revealing themselves to capture the attention of the RSD Superintendent and the RSD Board of Directors.
Please click on "Comments" to read the messages. You can enter your message but it will not immediately published until the blog administrator approves its content. Be sure to explain your complaint without attacking or flaming anyone.
169 Comments:
There is something wrong in RSD when that many of our students are transferring.
Oh, definitely! There are many things seriously wrong with RSD!
Here's an example. Let's look at the following title:
Speech/Communication Teacher
What is the first thing that pops up in your mind? Answer: Speech, of course! The message here is that ASL comes after speech. Even though RSD's communication policy states that ASL is recognized as one of the languages used at RSD, it is NOT valued nor respected by certain staff members. The other day, I was in the LRC and witnessed two male staff members chatting without ASL or sign language while there was class going on there!
I heard a lot of stories that the superintendent did nothing to work out the problems with the parents or teachers. The problem is usually ignored or swept under the carpet.
I'm glad that someone set this up to show RSD that the problems are not going away.
We are wondering about the board of directors. Are they doing their part or what? We tried to talk with them but never really get their attention. I wonder if they care about RSD?!
You guys have pretty much nailed the gun on some of the issues.
There are other things that irk me.
It seems like the administration are not putting safety first.
A teacher has a severe alcohol problem and continues to teach at RSD. Staff and parents have made reports of alcohol smelled on the teacher's breath. What is the administration doing ? Nothing. The teacher still works there.
A staff was seen hurting a student in a public place. When the parent made a report to administration, there were no intensive investigations. No disciplinary action was taken. This staff member continues to work at RSD as if nothing happened.
ASL - there are MANY Speech/Communication teachers at RSD. Administration cannot even hire ONE ASL Specialist ? Is an ASL specialist really "unimportant"?
Are our kids safe at RSD ? Are the parents and staff concerns addressed ? Are disciplinary actions actually taken ? (The firing of Tim Talbott doesn't count - he was caught by the police - RSD had no choice but to put up a good front and say he was fired).
Should we be going on strike ? Pull our kids out of that school for as long as it takes RSD to wake up and meet our demands ? Invite the newspaper folks, TV stations, let them see what concerns staff and parents have that have been so long ignored by the administration ??
What do you guys think ?
Yes, we should be going on strike!
You should read the blog, "Starving for Access" http://starvingforaccess.blog.com/. It was very amazing because they fought for the deaf children and won. It might be a helpful information on what we can do about RSD.
I think the idea of this blogger site is a good opportunity for parents, staff, students, board officers, and administrators to express and to listen to the concerns about RSD and I hope that this would generate more interest in the welfare of RSD.
From my experiences as a parent, I quickly learned the key to the children's success at school was through the cooperative, open relationship with the teachers, meaning I'd be to be willing to listen to the teachers who spend more time with my children than I do, therefore, they know what is best for them. If I don't agree, then the teachers and I would make an effort to compromise to ensure my children's success. I am aware that there are many parents who have different expectations for how their children should be taught and I respect that. I agree that ASL is a good strategy for deaf children to learn on an academic level and I do wonder about an ASL specialist which seems to have disappeared into thin air, since having the ASL specialist could contribute a great deal to RSD's cirrculum. At the same time, we have to be aware that not all children could benefit from ASL (what works for a child might not work for another child, so to speak...)
I spoke with one parent a short time ago and the person said that lately it seemed that RSD's philosophy (mission statement) helped mainstreaming a more favorable choice. RSD works on ensuring that RSD meets the NYS standards of education, making the idea of mainstreaming easily attainable... harming the enrollment of RSD somewhat.
I do love RSD... it has been great to my children. I have enjoyed and still enjoy working with the teachers. Yup, there are different opinions of how school should be run, just like other schools. I hope that this website would help bring together parents and administrators and find a commone ground and then could help RSD improve.
Ok, I'm new here.
I agree with all of you about the things that are going on at RSD.
I'm not so sure about the strike thing, tho. I mean, take our kids out of RSD until our demands are met? Where will the kids go?? How are they are going to get an education? This strike could go on for a long time. There has to be another way.
Remember this is a parent/RSD issue, so our kids should never be involved. That is my opinion, of course.
What have been bothering me from the start is the lack of communicate between the administrators/board of directors and te staff/parents. For as long as my kids have been going to RSD, I have never met one of the board of directors. Don't take this personally, but I see the superintendent as a figure head. He is only around for the events, but I never see that person out doing things good for RSD. Maybe there is a lot I'm missing.
But the thing that really bothers me is the fact that hearing teachers do not use sign language when talking amoung other hearing. Really, as a deaf parent, I see it as an insult, not only to me, but to the kids too.
I can go on and on, but I have to stop because, I'm working.
Keep this up.
I have to agree with you about Dr. Mowl's being "figurehead"... I don't see much of him, but I hear that he is really busy in his office, so busy that he could not get out of the office. But it would be NICE to see more of him about the campus and more accessible to the students and staff.
Also, that strike would not be a good idea. It could hurt our children's academic progress, so I'd rather not see the strike happen. I personally believe that the administrators and the teachers would be more willing to work with concerned parents if we just give them a chance. If they receive only criticism from us, they might not strive to do their best. We all like to get compliments and compliments equal positive reinforcement for the staff to do best and then the students would do their best, knowing that their parents are involved. I know PSA is not an ideal organization, but with this blogger website, I am sure that we'd get more attention and more invovlement from the staff and administration, as long as we present our concerns in a positive way.
RSD needs a facelift! Theyre too busy focusing on speech. Look at the administration- Marilyn Curley, Nancy Heaney (both were former speech teacher)... Alot of teachers were converted from Speech teacher into teaching classroom. Of course their philosophy remains heavily on speech.
RSD has 13 speech teachers compared with NO ASL teacher. let me explain- ASL specialist as in RSD' definition meaning, teach staff how to sign. It doesnt mean teach students. There are ALOT of schools have ASL teacher for students to teach ASL literacy, Deaf studies... isnt it important for deaf students to learn about their identity. Maybe RSD should change its abbrevation to RSO (Rochester School for the Orals)....
Yeah! I agree with one part, "RSD needs a facelift." It said all.
Dr. Mowl's really busy?!!?? RSD is such a small school!
I've repeatedly tried this strategy of communicating with the administrators in a positive manner, but all they do is to nod their heads in sympathy, saying that there is nothing much they could do to address our concerns as parents of a Deaf child. Therefore, I disagree with the statement that the RSD administrators would be more willing to work with concerned parents.
I got an impressed with the way Dr. Mowl admnistrates the school like it was in pre-60's where ASL was in the closet.
"A teacher has a severe alcohol problem and continues to teach at RSD. Staff and parents have made reports of alcohol smelled on the teacher's breath. What is the administration doing? Nothing. The teacher still works there."
WHATTTTTT?????? Is it impairing his/her teaching abilities to students? Send him/her to AA meetings asap. Ohhhh, please don't let students suffer and smell with his/her breath odor!!
Now, I see there is a new Blog for RSD. Negative feedback worthless? I don't know whether this will help RSD or not.
BUT...
If anyone wants to improve RSD, just submit a written formal letter to the RSD Board of Directors. Then, they shall (not 'will') do something. In fact, a written letter has NOT ever been submitted in last five years.
Of course, negative feedbacks can seem to be more informative.
We are wondering about the board of directors. Are they doing their part or what? We tried to talk with them but never really get their attention. I wonder if they care about RSD?!
I have to make my comment in the reference of the comment as shown above. From what I was told, the board members are fully controlled by Dr.Mowl. He strictly forbids anyone who is seeking to associate with a board member. The agenda is always set-up and fixed by him during every meeting. All Deaf board members except one have been resigned over the years. One former board member has expressed his concern to me about the way Dr.Mowl handles his priorities. He commands all board members to seek obtaining funds to support the school. That is his main goal for them. He ignores many problems raised from staff, parents, and students. In the past, I tried to convience Dr. Mowl to have a parent representative from PSA to attend a board meeting. He firmly replied, NO. That is real opposite to any other school boards that are the only one who assess the school superintendent's performance.
Since my daughter has started at RSD, her ASL has improved greatly. I know there are issues but it might be more helpful to talk about things rationally and not just all out attack people. Nothing changes when people work out of anger. People need to work out of concern for their children and a desire for things to change. Reading these blogs make me really sad at the negativity. Lets talk about how we could change those things we are not happy with as parents. Personally attacking people is not the way. I am so pleased with what my child receives at RSD for the most part. I do agree that we need more communication among parents. I do agree oupr childrens safety is number one. Its good to talk about these things but I am not sure what is going to be accomplished by calling RSD an oral school or putting down the speech teachers. What about getting together to remind everyone to sign at all times or reseraching ourselves ASL specialists and times when teachers could work with them?
well answer this for me
If rsd is such a great place then why are so many families deciding to pack up and move on to other deaf schools that have much better ways of teaching , equipment, after school activities and sports programs?
you ask where has everyone been during pta meetings well from what i hear the answer is simple ive heard time and time again from many different people who have experianced problems with this school that time and time again issues have been brought up to either the school board or Dr. Mowl himselfe time and time again and sadly nothing has been done ...
here is my question to you it is actually quite simple .. how long do you think people are going to stay here and put up with it all knowing that no matter how hard they try to make things better nothing ends up happening instead they end up feeling ignored
its inevitable unless rsd makes a big turn around and things start changing more and more families are going to start turning to other schools then what is rsd to do ?
thats all i have to say for now i think its great that people finally have a place to come to and express their feelings about rsd and actually be listened to
you all have a good day and im sure we'll be chatting more later
Again, as I said earlier, I learned that working closely with teachers and with school administrators did lead to the success of children at RSD. Less involved parents tend to think differently. Just ask teachers, ask them how you could help out, etc., and the teachers would be very happy to share their observations and their suggestions with you. Just go ahead and try asking your child's teacher.
I am hoping that this blog would lead to more frank and more productive comments on how to improve but lately it strikes me as a more website for dissatisfied parents...
I have learned to be less judgemental, meaning more respectful of other parents' wishes for their children... since we all come from different backgrounds and we all want the best for our children. Again, I stress the importance of having a relationship with the children's teachers and the children will succeed at RSD. If the teachers and administrators continue getting criticisms, it could harm the children's chances of succeeding at RSD.
I'd like to respond to this concerned parent:
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This forum seems to encourage negativity rather than promote for a better solution to make RSD a positive place for our children.
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Response:
Those who have logged in their comments are realistic and see this forum as an opportunity to vent. I also predict that RSD will see this forum as a "wake-up" call. Unlike you, I believe something good will come out of this.
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I have a child at RSD and I am sadden to learn that others have chosen to express their concerns in this world of cyberspace.
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Likewise, I have a child at RSD and have been having problems that have not been resolved. RSD has forced us to resort to the power of the Internet for further dialogue.
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Let me ask each one of you, where were you during the PSA meeting?
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Let me answer your question with another question: Where has the RSD Supertindent been when we have had our PSA meetings?
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I am just questioning to those who have chose to exert their energy toward this medium of communication.
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What exactly do you propose that we do?
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Apparently, one who created this blog has nothing better to do other than destroying something wonderful we have.
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We all know that RSD is a good place, but could be much, much better. I don't think the bloggers have malicious intentions. Rather, they see this as an important opportunity for bettering RSD.
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I want to encourage each one of you to bring your positive energy or your concerns to RSD. This can be done by showing up at the PSA meetings.
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I don't think you've been attending PSA meetings. Come to them and see for yourself.
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I will rest better by reminding each one of you that we all need to roll up our sleeves and focus on improving RSD for the betterment of our children.
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Like you, some of us have been having sleepless and/or restless nights. What exactly do you propose that we do to improve RSD? Been there, done that. I have been in regular communication with RSD, and my legitimate requests have not been met. Tell me how come.
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I will continue to direct my energies on something that is tangible such as engaging with a face to face meeting with the teacher and school administrator.
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Keep it up. I've been doing the same. BTW, this blog is tangible!
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Remember this, at the end of the day, ask yourself what can you do for your child.
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Don't we all?
Hello, as a former student of RSD-I only wished I had left RSD earlier during my younger years than to stay and graduate. I could regale the readers with horror stories of what I've had to endure through RSD. Now, as a parent myself, if my kids were deaf, Hell would have to freeze literally before I place my kids in there!!!
The teachers have had a bad habit of not signing in front of deaf kids. As a student that could read lips very well, I once caught two teachers talking so badly about a student and it really hurt me. One of the teachers caught me lip-reading her, she whirled around so fast and arm-pinched me and hauled me to her room. She stood there yelling in my face for 20 mins. I told her calmly that she should hve not done that. That what she and the other teacher said was not very polite and nice and it was downright mean and cruel. Needless to say, I got put on lunch dention for one whole week.
When I complained to my mother about this, she got furious. She met with the principal of High School, and there she encountered unbelivable walls, and vague reasons why I was put on dention. She left feeling unstatified and said to me, "there's this thick code of silence going on in there. Its like the teachers and the principals are working together!"
She is right.. and I'm still seeing that even today.
I think RSD personally has gone from bad to worse to downright nasty! I think like someone said RSD is no longer Rochester school for the Deaf. It is now Rochester School for the Orals!
This school year, my child was transferred to a public school in my district. She had attending RSD since she was 18 months old. Now she is a teenager. I am amazed that she excels every subject she is now taking. Her weak subject is math. She did ok at RSD. Now, she is doing great at the school district. I asked her, how you did it. She replied, the note is so clear. I always thought a direct instruction and a teacher with signing should be better. I was wrong. Now I question RSD.
To those who think highly of RSD, I think you are acting out ignorance. My impression is you are Hearing and have a minimal communication with your Deaf child. I happen to be Deaf and raised by well educated Deaf family. I also attended RIT and earned Bachelor degree and now hold a very good job and raise a Deaf family. I have been very active parent working closely with the teachers. My children have been complained about the way they are treated unfairly. I also have heard complaints among the teachers. I think the school is not OK.
I still never forget the moment I met a Deaf lady at a store. My Deaf children were with me. We all introduced each other. Just the first name. She asked me, Is your
children Deaf. I replied, yes. Then
she asked, are they attending RSD. I replied, yes. She paused for a few seconds. As we were about to end our conversation. My children were walking away. As I was following my children, all of sudden, she gave me her dirty facial expression at me and said, why are you sending your children to RSD and left abruptly. My children didn't catch her comment. It had been awhile I had still pondering about her comment. Since, I was introduced to this blog, I really do understand the lady was trying to say something to me.
It is my understanding that RSD has been practicing total communication as a communication mode for every-one on the campus.
I was attending a Deaf school that adopted total communication. I was not comfortable using it. It was alike talking two different language at the same time such as English and Japan. Not a long time ago, the school changed the communication policy using Bi-Bi language. Now,the school is among one of the best Deaf schools in nation by a review. I consider a total communication is more favor to Hearing teachers who are so resisting to ASL. That reduces Deaf student's copmphresive skills. See the url address below for the definition of total communication.
http://deaflinx.com/options_tc.html
WOW WOW WOW, What I am reading above, its all TRUE.. I never experienced in deaf institution but wished I had.. because of communication is the KEY! However, I am glad that I was raised the way I was and was able to learn more about Deaf Culture and involving with community as well during college and today..
Now my children is deaf so that gave me the chance to raise them to have the best education and communication skills involving. I am not showing that for one of my children because she is relying on ASL. My other children is doing good since he has the potential of both ASL and total communication. We have complained to RSD (especially to Mrs Curley) about the teacher not being ASL, and many other things along with it. I asked about ASL Specialist and they told me they dont have one! What a SHAME!!! I have spoke with other parents in different state and they told me that their deaf school have asl specialist for teacher, student and parents.. RSD have one! NO all they have are MANY SPEECH TEACHER. come on wake up MOWL.. WAKE UP!!!! you dont need at least 11 speech while many other school only have 2 or 3 speech but have more ASL. Your wasting lot of money on paying the salary to SPEECH not ASL. What a SHAME!!!
Again, to response some comments about attending to PSA mtg.. I went to most of them this year as I was very concerned with my children needs and want to help them to have better education or communication. We mostly expressed our feelings and the board brought to MOWL about some concerns etc.. but from what I am seeing is that MOWL is going from one ear to another!!! or from EYE to back of his eye.. This is not getting anywhere.. Why should I write letter directly to MOWL because I believe that he would read it and put it away.. I am not showing that he is sharing with the Board of Director.. Also again I found that all Board of Director are Hearing?? is that true.. that makes sense.. where is deaf board. and why did deaf board resigned because they dont listen to them except for themselves and MOWL..
I am glad for this blog because it showed that MOST have concerned and similiar what we are going through.. and I just HOPE that RSD will wake up otherwise they will lose more and more student.. it is imporant that they are exposure to ASL language because they will understand the concept then in the meantime, they will do well throughout school. Reason I am saying this because when i was raised i didnt do well in english then when i was in college, I finally pull up and do better because of communication in ASL and it changed everything and realized that I regreted that I didnt go deaf school so now my children is deaf i want to give them the best education but are they?? no thats my concerned.. so
RSD need a Facelift and improve it for better asap or they will lose more and more.. then there will be no RSD.. whos fault is that? RSD system and MOWL..
Thanks for listening and I do have more to say but this is enuff!!
Im glad everyone is taking the time to vent. I'm obviously concerned by the number of negative comments on this site.
My biggest question is - what are we going to do about it ?
Mr. Mowl has told the PTA that none of the parents have written or spoken to him about any complaints or concerns they have. Not one.
I'm not so sure about that. I have emailed him a few times regarding concerns I had and all of these times, he backed the teacher up and said he agreed with the teacher's actions.
Obviously, Mr. Mowl has no interest to make sure parents are satisifed. He should remember that it is the parents who keep the kids in school and his job safe.
Seriously, everyone. We need to discuss how we are going to get our issues resolved so that our kids get what they need.
Some of our kids will not succeed in a mainstream school, for a reason or another. Some of us are forced to leave our kids at RSD because of the services they have there. But we cannot just let things remain the way they are.
I propose that a draft letter be typed up and a checklist of complaints be included. The parents should then check out the items they are very concerned about, sign it and send all of these letters to Mr. Mowl, the school district AND the School Board.
What do you guys think ? This would resolve the " none of the parents contacted me " comment that Mr. Mowl presented to the PTA. Then we can wait and see if Mr. Mowl takes any action to address these issues/concerns.
I am a deaf parent of grown hearing children, and recently we fostered a deaf child from another country for one year. I have to tell you...RSD was very helpful to me. Communicating with the teachers and asking for assistance in how I could help this child do better in school was met without resistance. I could name some of the teachers in the high school level who were very willing to work with me. When you show concern and willingness to work closely with the teacher and the child, they will go out of the way to help you. At least they did for me. I even attended PSA meetings, altho' I'll admit they left something to be desired. Not many parents came, so how could teachers work closely with families if they don't seem to show concern just by attending?
RSD can be a wonderful school, but it takes open communication and willingness to work together to make a better learning environment for our students there. Good luck with this blog site...I hope to see more positive comments that we can build on and improve the situation...this may be what we need. I'm sure other schools that seem to be doing well went through the same thing you're going through now, so "don't desert the ship"!
When is the next PTA meeting? Where? What time?
TBA
I seconded the last comments about writing up draft letter with checklist.
And I also think that we need to show the community about what RSD is all about because its bothers me bec when i tell them that my children goes to RSD they gave me looks like one of comments say. Even my work place, i had several clients or staff, they asked me where my kids go or ask me to send my kids to mainstreamed because heard that RSD is not doing well and its getting worse.. What should I feel about that?? I defended for RSD bec i know that they do have good education somewhat but not overall like the safety, asl, staff etc..But again, maybe the community is RIGHT.
Like for example, there are several deaf who graduated in deaf education, they didnt get the job at RSD because of not being certified but they have SKILLS to communication while most recent staff that they hired had certification but not signing skills. Which one is better, I believe the new face of deaf teacher will help children and even understand how to teach better. I am not saying that current RSD hearing teacher is not good, they are very good bec they worked with children for many years and know ASL but for new hearing staff like new PE teacher didnt know signging, but improving in long run. PE teacher is not so bad because lot of physically involved in PE with lot of gesture etc..but in a classroom we need a good role model, good communication, and good education teaching deaf or hard of hearing student, not someone that dont know signing or have slight signing in english but will improve. NO thank u, it will delay the children education like what happened with one of my children as well. We need more deaf teacher or heairng teacher that have EXCELLENT signing skills..
Rochester is one of largest community of deaf and hard of hearing.. and it should give RSD a good reputation but its NOT!!! They are giving NEGITIVE to us. Please help out to make this better and stronger.
Lets do this to help RSD to improve the school itself for our children and community sake!!
Dear Parents Who Have Been Saying Positive Things about RSD:
Let me quote two statements from two sources as they are self-explanatory:
From Harlan Lane's The Mask of Benevolence (p. 44):
"The hearing experts are frequently opposed to deaf teachers and conspire to block their entry into the profession by denying them access to training programs and selection for job vacancies. Organizations of deaf people think they would be as good as or better than hearing teachers and seek their admission into the profession....the fundamental divergence is this: hearing experts generally do not concede to deaf people a major say in the conduct of deaf affairs , especially as their ideas are so contrary; deaf people do not see why hearing people should have the determining say in matters that concern deaf people. So it is ever with the colonizers and the colonized."
Second Source: Educating the Deaf by Donald Moores (p. 233)
"Deaf and hearing who work with families must demonstrate great sensitivity and understanding to hearing parents. Those of us who think of deafness as having a strong cultural component must remember that such thinking may distress some parents who want to consider their deaf children as part of their own cultural, ethnic, religious, and social identity and not part of a Deaf culture that will be transmitted by people outside of the family structure. Parents must be helped to understand that such an identity can supplement (again, I repeat SUPPLEMENT) rather than conflict (again, I repeat CONFLICT) with the family identification. Miller (1992) has noted that deaf professionals can be especially effective in this area.
Unfortunately, RSD has not tapped into the talents of d/Deaf professionals in the Rochester d/Deaf community in easing the anxieties of hearing parents of their deaf children torn between the two worlds (hearing vs. deaf)! Instead, it has been RSD's practice to be sure that deaf children maintain his/her identity by norms of the hearing society. This can be truly damaging to the well-being of a deaf child.
Two teachers were hired: Science teacher, PE teacher both are HEARING with no signing background... whats wrong with hiring Deaf teachers where they can be a rolemodel to RSD students. SAD!
Greetings!
It is soo wonderful to see the passion in many comments and the clear care and concern for future Deaf children. In many cases, people care enough about RSD to find a safe place (this blog) to share feelings.
If you wish to ORGANIZE for change, then that is a second step. You need to find the most important shared concerns and present them to the administration. Again and again. It will be important for Deaf and hearing parents to work together...and expect a lot of resistance from the administration...then plan for various strategies together...
Right now, it seems that we are collecting information about what concerns people have about RSD. There are many different concerns, but one I see that keeps coming up is about the lack of respect for ASL at the school.
If the mission states ASL is respected, then how? How can it be when ASL is considered one of many forms of 'communication?'
The World Federation of the Deaf has a resolution which states it "opposes the violation of the linguistic and human rights of Deaf people still common worldwide..and reaffirms that Deaf children have a right to bilingual education in their indigenous sign (their country's) and written languages..."
It looks like Rochester School for the Deaf, a school founded to educate Deaf children, actually violates the linguistic and human rights of Deaf people...Who can justify such a thing?
As an Alumni of RSD, I do not see any Unity Rapport nor Support between the Superintendent and Rochester School for the Deaf Alumni Association Board Officers along with Alumni's.
However, The Superintendent should be an educator, mentor and friend to RSD Alumni's at all levels as well as concerns and improvements in relations on the behalf of RSDAA.
Since RSDAA's motto is "RSD is our home". I couldn't fathom as to why RSD's Spring Festival is being held at Sea Breeze every other year.
Only and One issue truly puzzles me from the day I read "Building Future" as whoever added a new job title as CEO towards to Superintendent/CEO without our knowledge. Although I find this very degrading, insult and offensive to RSD Students and RSDAA Alumni's. CEO title cetainly have no business nor place in RSD. In the highest level of Education field, Only Superintendent or Headmaster was called for.
By the way, CEO title at RSD's exactly like incorporating present students/staff into human robots and/or converting RSD into some kind of business filled with corporate greed. No wonder why America is being corrupted by the Big Shots and giving away our Freedom of Speech.
Lastly, RSD students are our next future generation and we need them to carry on RSDAA the next 100 years.
i'm a student of RSD. I go to two different school. Mainstream school in the morning, and RSD in afternoon. I had seen a lot of differences. I felt more comfortable, and more fexible in mainstream school. They made me felt like they were second home to me while RSD is nothing to me. I had going to RSD since i'm 18 months old. They never made me felt comfortable there. There were always tension between staffs and students. I think all staffs can't really communicate with us students since they are low-level intelligent. They should get a ceritifcate for teacher assisant. I hate to see inappropriate behavior at school, for example.. several staffs showed that they are homosexuality. They talked behind students' back front of us which isn't really appropriate. They bascially turned us off. Staffs need to grow up and be role model to us. I got no role models in RSD. When I go to mainstream school, I saw a lot of role models there, and they are insipiration.
I attended RSD in the 1960's and 1970's. I have bittersweet memories of the school. Classmates so dear to my heart made my going to school each day bearable. On the other hand, I did not look forward to going to school because of some teachers who picked on students for trivial reasons. I'll never forget the memory of my friend sitting on her knees and her hands behind her back for about 15 minutes. The reason she was asked to do so by this teacher is that she kept doing her math problem wrong. This image of a terrified classmate is still vivid in my memory even though it happened about 30 years ago. Unfortunately, I can cite many, many more instances of such abuse. However, based on what I have read in this site, I don't think parents who are happy with their children at RSD would want to hear any more horror stories.
My hearing mother, who is now 71, regrets not saying anything to the RSD administrators about my negative experiences at RSD. Her main reason for not being involved is that she was not an expert in the field of deafness and was intimidated by the experts in the field. The passivity she demonstrated while I attended RSD keeps coming back to haunt her. I don't think she has forgiven herself for not reporting to the school for the black and blue marks on my cheeks...I was only 4 years old. Even though my mother was very upset, she thought the teacher was just doing his job.
Anyway, my ultimate point here is such abuse/oppression still exists at RSD in subtle forms. The community of RSD alumni is a close-knit one. We regularly get together at school events. We also share and discuss RSD events and incidents; we analyze them for any possible evidences of abuse/oppression. For example, the hiring of a non-signing gym teacher was a recent newsworthy item. We were deeply disappointed that a hearing individual was hired. The main reason for our disappointment is that there are a very, very limited number of deaf role models at RSD. That is bad news. There are plenty of stories and concerns by the alumni that have not been acknowledged by the RSD administrators.
Parents, deaf and hearing, please DO listen to your children if they express comments about RSD that don't seem right. I'm sorry for having to share my comments, but you deserve to know the real truth of what's going on behind the closed doors of RSD.
Yours for Humanity
"By the way, CEO title at RSD's exactly like incorporating present students/staff into human robots and/or converting RSD into some kind of business filled with corporate greed. No wonder why America is being corrupted by the Big Shots and giving away our Freedom of Speech."
Speaking of title CEO, I think this is not making any sense to me at all because he is not acting like the one. He was supposed to be very concerned for his customers. All the businesses always concerned about the customers because they want them to come back to the business. How? all they have to do is to make their customers happy. Since he did not make any effort to make his customers happy, he does not deserve the title CEO at all.
There will be an open forum about the blog issue next Thurs the 9th of March at 6 pm here at LRC and they will share their wishes,concerns and frustrations at RSD.
Open Forum? Are you sure that they want us to come to the meeting? Maybe, they will figure out who did this or/and this. So, they can use the information to counterattack us. I think, they should reply our concerns on the blog site first. That way, we will know for sure that they are taking us very serious insteading of shrugged his shoulders or sweep it under the carpet like he always did in the past.
Will the "CEO" and the RSD Board representatives be at the open forum?
With the variety of comments made here, I was looking for immediate, practical and useful suggestions that could be put to use. Let's see some of that. Examples that have been put forward are: hire more deaf teachers. De-emphasize the seniority of hearing teachers that continue to show less flexibility. Investigate areas where physical or emotional abuse might have occurred. Let's hear more. Mine would be to involve more participation in open, honest, and democratic exchange between teachers and parents where no topic is taboo for discussion.
These questions raised are troubling. As a parent of a deaf kid, I have wondered if my dear alma mater was doing right by my kid. Always I have asked for input and background, and every time the school was made to be the right party and my kid the wrong party. But I wondered: did the school truly do right by my kid? Was the school so overprotective of its institutional patterns that my kid suffered? I have had these questions come up in my mind over and over again in the past years and they still bother me today. But where else could my kid get a better education? I do not know.
I am uncertain whether it is right to have the open forum at RSD while more comments are growing at this blog. I would sugguest to cancel the open forum unless we hear from Dr Mowl and or the board.
We probably have to wait till they really want to talk with us.
Who heads the open forum? It has to be headed by a netural moderator. I mean no body represents RSD. Even not on RSD's turf. It has to be held somewhere. Otherwise, we are having "open forum" at this blog already. I have seen many views already being discussed. Perhaps, we can talk what is the next step. I have no confidence in Dr. Mowl and the board.
I would add concerns/topics of :
ASL Specialist - when will one be hired ? I don't want to hear $$ is an issue. I understand some speech teachers have left RSD recently. This can cover the ASL specialist' salary.
Physical Abuse ? What are our rights if the principal or superintendent feel they have done all they can ? Whats the next step? Who do we call if we continue to have concerns ? School board ? Child preventive Services ?
We get a list of "our rights" from school district regarding IPEs. We need to develop "our rights" list from RSD so we know what the right procedures are in complaint processes.
Alcohol Abuse by teacher - concerns are not being addressed. Again, what are our appeal processes ? Do we contact Child Preventive Services (CPS)? Who is next in line if our complaints to Princiapl/Superintendent falls on deaf ears ?
Teacher/staff talking in public - not using sign language - Demand those teachers/staff attend a sensitivity workshop. Give them an idea of how isolated students/other deaf staff feel when they do that.
Hiring practices - deaf vs hearing teachers ? When hiring occurs, should we consider having deaf parents participate in hiring committee so that their input is included and vote is fair. Maybe even consider having even numbers of deaf/hearing people on hiring committe. More fair decisions? Less chances for complaints.
Anonymous said...
Two teachers were hired: Science teacher, PE teacher both are HEARING with no signing background... whats wrong with hiring Deaf teachers where they can be a rolemodel to RSD students. SAD!
The answer: "deaf teachers are hard to find" Duh?????
"Perhaps, we can talk what is the next step. I have no confidence in Dr. Mowl and the board."
Right on !...Impeach him !...Let's Roll, Stomp and Conquer !...
I do love to hear more comments from current/former students. In their comments, they present testimony. They can be powerful in reference to our comments above. Now, let listen to their testimony and we act on their behalf!
To Steve (RSD Board President) and other Board members:
Aren't you going to do something about it??
Let's all show some fortitude and shear guts....start putting your name with your comments.
If nobody does, this blog process is a joke.
What degree do RSD require to hire for teacher position? MA degree and higher? Don't know if this is an issue of why difficult to find deaf person with MA degree or higher?
If not require, then shouldn't be diffcult to find!! Ya know.
Now it is a good time to focus on ASL specialist position. I have noticed that it has a bad turnover rate in last 5 years. I suspect it is most difficult position that nobody wants to take. The position is much alike a 4 wall room with no door. From what I have heard, most Hearing teachers are resisting the ASl specialist on recommending some areas that they need to improve. I know all of them have poor ASL even thought they think they know how to use it. In fact they are not, I have witness it. I have been to parent/teacher conference many time, the teachers misunderstand me many time. So I have to use total communication. It really minimze my expression and meaning.
Perhaps, Dr. Mowl found the position worthless. The position is still on hold and the $$$ feeding Dr. Mowl's salary. Have you noticed his salary has raised at average of 8-10 percent, annually. That is highest compared to administrators and teachers receive lowest salary increase. Let's talk more about it. I find this a valid case against Dr. Mowl.
Can anybody tell me why The teachers formed an union? I heard that they received a harsh treatment from Dr. Mowl. No salary increase...No recognization on their accomplishment of any given project...Rejects new ideas 99% time...many more...Now, with union, teachers are well pleased with salary increase annually.
As a parent, I have received Dr, Mowl's letter. I am not really impressed with the letter. To those who receive the letter, please comment it. Thanks!
The "CEO" of RSD has sent a letter to the RSD community about this blog site. I typed the letter as I think it is important for the RSD alumni and outsiders of the RSD community to see what he has said in the letter.
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MEMORANDUM
To: RSD Community (Parents, Faculty, and Staff)
From: Harold Mowl, Jr. (with his signature)
Re: Weblog
Date: March 2, 2006
I want you to be aware that there is a weblog posted on the Internet that tries to solicit complaints about RSD. I do not know who the authors of the weblog are, but they have a clearly mistaken notion that it is the place to discuss issues and effect changes.
Students, parents, faculty, and staff are always encouraged to share their wishes, concerns, and frustrations with RSD. Not every problem is solved the way they want, but fair and due consideration are always given, along with an explanation. RSD will continue to support positive dialogue between individuals and groups.
As you clearly know, RSD is not without challenges. RSD continues to debate trends, issues, and programs without losing sight that one of the cornerstones to our educational philosophy is to instill in students a belief that they have the capability, right, and responsibility to reach their greatest potential and to become active and involved members of their community. RSD continues to be proud of the achievements and accomplishments made by our students.
I am very proud to be part of the RSD organization as I hope you are. We have come together during some remarkably difficult times in the past. I think we have been able to do this because our focus has remained clear—to provide all students with the best possible education. In the coming weeks ahead, RSD will be busy preparing the students for the Academic Bowl in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Optimist Club Competition at RSD, the trip to Italy, Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and the many activities and examinations that normally occur at the end of a school year.
It is unfortunate that we must occasionally deal with negativity such as the weblog, but I want to assure you that RSD will not be distracted. To that end, the weblog has been blocked from the school campus.
Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. Thank you very much.
C: RSD Board of Directors
I as a student. I want to comment about the staff. They are always not fair. According to the student's handbook, the students must follow the staff's direction. Often I found staff's direction unfounded. I got punished for not following the direction. I mean staffs refer to teacher assistants. I found out all of them except two doesn't have a college degree. Their conversation level not that great. They act like a guard. we the students like a prisoner. They do not act like a role model to me as well as other students. Sometime, I was framed up by other student and got punished. I tried to explain to the
staff and a director that it was not me. They doesn't listen to my story. I now know their motive, they tend to listen to someone's story and believe it automatically. I found they are biased. Some of my friends who have a parent working at RSD, are usually not receive punishment and treated as a favorism. I am not really happy at RSD but I can be bearable with help of my friends. I really enjoy sociable with students but not the staffs and directors. To the staffs, Why do we, Americans have the judgement system, both sides must be listened before a judge makes a fair decision. RSD, here I feel the students are treated like we live in the communist country.
Recently I typed my lengthy comment and clicked on preview block. my comment disappears. DO you receive my comment?
Maybe, you click the "preview" button but did not click the "publish your comment" to submit to me.
RSD Mission Statement
Rochester School for the Deaf is entrusted, empowered, and funded to provide and enhance the educational and life growth experiences in an optimal environment for children and students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
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I found the mission statement is too general and vague. I have noticed Other Deaf schools have a strong bold point in their mission statement. RSD's mission is why the organization first created. It meets a needed indentified years ago. I think the same problems that the organization tried to address continue to haunt generation after generation. In that case, the picture so that the original mission must be updated and altered or change in order to address those new realities...
Hello, everyone.
It has been an awesome week of ups and downs. I'm so excited about the possibility of actually improving RSD.
The CEO's letter shows that he is nervous about what's going to happen. Understandably so.
I believe we have enough information from the site to proceed with a meeting with the RSD Board. However, we need to go to a PSA meeting first to brainstorm a list of major concerns and possible solutions to these concerns, and then write a formal letter of request to the RSD Board for a meeting with them.
Let me begin this process:
Concern # 1: 13 Speech/Communication Teachers, 0 ASL Specialists
Solution: Hire 4 ASL Specialists
Concern # 2: Lax (not strong enough)Disciplinary Actions Against Guilty Faculty
Solution: ??
Concern # 3: Lack of Deaf Teachers
Solution: Review policies of hiring practices (who does hiring, etc., who makes the final decision, etc.)
Concern # 4: Weak Curriculum
Solution: Bilingual/Bicultural Program
Concern # 5: RSD's Communication Philosophy not strictly enforced
Solution: Regular Sensitivity workshops for faculty and staff
Concern # 6: Safety of RSD Students
Solution: ???? Training of faculty and staff on inappropriate relations
Concern # 7: Poor problem-solving skills of the top administrators for concerns made by Faculty and Staff, PSA, Parents
Solution: ??? (The CEO's letter states that RSD regularly does that. Unfortunately, we know the real truth)
Concern # 8: No regular communication between the Board and various RSD groups (i.e. RSD faculty/staff, PSA, RSDAA)
Solution: ???
Concern # 9: Lack of respect of RSD for RSDAA
Solution: ????
Concern # 10: Lack of direction/Inconsistencies in response of certain administrators re: disciplinary actions of RSD students
Solution: Review incident reports???
Feel free to add more concerns and solutions. Also, feel free to add/edit to my notes.
Looking forward to working with you more later!
By the way, I thank you so much for your incredible support that you've shown. We've been through a lot.
We know Dr. Mowl very well. He tends to be very stubborn and inflexible. Many times we tried our best to present our cases to him to make the improvements for RSD. So are we going to get any real results by meeting with Dr. Mowl? NO! Someone made the previous comment about the problems and solutions. I like it very much but we must be sure that we talk with the RSD Board THIS TIME, not Dr. Mowl.
FYI, our blog is being read and commented upon by those who truly care about Deaf Education in Michigan. I cut and pasted a portion of their conversation in reference to this blog; see below. Thank you for your moral support, Fellow Michiganians!
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This is such a positive vibe, parents and others blogging with good intent, and the referent group finally underway. We need to research more blogs such as RSD. I am sure they are out there. I will keep looking and hoping this will come together.
Written by: i care at 2006/03/03 - 23:03:33
I agree that we need to research other blogs that are out there. Look at what one person posted int the RSD blog. Scroll down and look for Risky Discusions on the right and click on that. The tone is almost identical to the resistance that sprang up to this blog when it first started, and that is something to think about. We have the same problems, yet face the same resistance.
"This forum seems to encourage negativity rather than promote for a better solution to make RSD a positive place for our children.
I have a child at RSD and I am sadden to learn that others have chosen to express their concerns in this world of cyberspace.
Let me ask each one of you, where were you during the PSA meeting?
I am just questioning to those who have chose to exert their energy toward this medium of communication.
Apparently, one who created this blog has nothing better to do other than destroying something wonderful we have."
Too much DENIAL.
I think the need for literacy among the deaf is evident in some of the responses in this forum. Some of the English is hard to understand. There a great deal put on the ability to write a complete and meaningful sentence with correct grammar. That is why Speech and LANGUAGE teachers are important.
To "I think the need for literacy among the deaf is evident in some of the responses in this forum. Some of the English is hard to understand. There a great deal put on the ability to write a complete and meaningful sentence with correct grammar. That is why Speech and LANGUAGE teachers are important,"
===================
Ah, how ironic! I see that you have problems writing complete sentences yourself! You forgot to insert a verb in the third sentence. Oops!!
This forum seems to encourage negativity rather than promote for a better solution to make RSD a positive place for our children.
---------------------------------
I really do sympathy with parents who vent out their comment negatively. It is been awhile that we all have been frustrated with RSD. I would say I have been frustrated with RSD for almost 20 years. After venting out, I now feel so better and cool down. Now, I am seeking for unity among all parents seeking for a solution...
TO the author of "I think the need for literacy among the deaf is evident in some of the responses in this forum. Some of the English is hard to understand. There a great deal put on the ability to write a complete and meaningful sentence with correct grammar. That is why Speech and LANGUAGE teachers are important,"
Overemphasis on speech is the main reason why the deaf have been having reading/writing problems. Ever since Deaf education was introduced in this country, speech has been the primary method used by teachers of the deaf to teach literacy. With this in mind, how come the deaf continue to graduate from high school at the 4th grade level? You practically shot yourself in the foot by suggesting the importance of speech teachers.
May I also recommend you to read the article given below?
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Posted by Moderator at 23:48 in | Link | Comments (1)
Tuesday | January 24, 2006
The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education
One of our regular blog contributors requested that this article be posted. Enjoy!
The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education
By Patricia Raswant
Some school administrators, teachers, and hearing parents with deaf children often stigmatize members of the Deaf Community. They look at members in the Deaf Community as dimwits, backstabbing, deceptive troublemakers, SSI recipients, name-calling, spreading nasty rumors and other humiliating terms. Sadly, they do not consider well-educated deaf and hard of hearing adults to be their equals in educational decision-making. They refuse to acknowledge the cause of their “holier than thou” attitude is the product of deaf adults as dimwits, backstabbing, deceptive troublemakers, SSI recipients, name-calling, spreading nasty rumors and other crushing terms. A Total Communication system that graduates most deaf students at a third or fourth grade reading level is the consequence of internalized oppression in deaf educational establishments, which keeps the Deaf community on the fringes of our society.
According to Micheline Mason, “Once oppression has been internalized, little force is needed to keep us submissive.” Internalized oppression means the oppressor no longer has to suppress us because we do it to each other and ourselves, which is known as crab theory. With intention, divide and conquer has had been at work in the Deaf community. Ah, how can deaf people with a third or fourth grade reading level become productive citizens in our society, let alone in the Deaf community? By not acknowledging that the Total Communication system fails, those administrators, teachers, and hearing parents with deaf children in many ways are the oppressors that lead to internalized oppression in deaf educational establishments and the Deaf community. Do school staff and parents care? Are they aware of their roles as oppressors?
The rationale for their clinging to the Total Communication system is that, in their quest of speech training would benefit only the selected few at the cost of the majority of deaf students. Basing on my experience, observation and common sense and some teachers’ quotes in classrooms have validated this. But, if you insist, I could research and locate the literatures to support this hypothesis. Another reason for clinging to the Total Communication system is they know they can never acquire American Sign Language but would rather be terrible teachers to deaf children, perhaps they care more about their status and know they could not secure a new teaching job in a public school? Plus, they have proved to us that none of them would want to see their deaf students to surpass them or any hearing people.
Hence, school staff practices a low expectation of deaf children, including those bright selected few; refuses to fully empower them and the dumb down curricula limit deaf students’ potential. They resent their few deaf colleagues whom deaf students look up to. (The roots of backstabbing, name-calling, spreading nasty rumors and other humiliating terms appear to begin with those naïve selected few whose speech are good and whose parents are hearing in which school staff recruited as child posters and at the same time manipulated them as informers.) Most members of school staff do not want their school to make a transition from the Total Communication system to ASL/English bilingual education because they look down on ASL; and thereby would loose their power as subtle oppressors in maintaining the effects of internalized oppression in the Deaf community.
Anyone who stands up and speaks up against internalized oppression is often attacked or viewed as a whining troublemaker and all other degrading terms attached, suppressing their freedom of speech, as well as accusing of mud sliding. Conformity is enforced and valued. By now, you ought to see how internalized oppression in deaf educational establishments and the Deaf community work quite advantageous to those audists in the hearing aid and cochlear implant corporations, they make a lot of money off deaf and hard of hearing people through the insurances and government agencies, still only a handful deaf and hard of hearing people ever become wealthy. They manage to censure our freedom of speech, and intimidate us into thinking that we have no right to our own language, American Sign Language. Why, most of us in the Deaf community agree that people do have the rights to wear a hearing aid or cochlear implant, or be an oralist. Yet, they continue to restrict us from speaking out. Something is wrong here, isn’t it?
Let’s fret no more. We must assert. There is a respectable website called “Community Toolbox” that takes you through the healing process from the effects of internalized oppression; and you will notice that many ethnicities, gender, people with disabilities, and other groups also experience the effects of internalized oppression. The Community Toolbox website emphasizes this: “Teachers and administrators should understand the importance of integrating the histories and cultures of many groups into the curriculum. School staff should understand how to treat children equitably and have high expectations of every student.” I hope there will be workshops on eradicating the effects of internalized oppressions for all members in the Deaf community as well as deaf students. I believe that once we confront and tackle our nemeses, we will at last heal our own Deaf community from the terrible effects of internalized oppression, and move into the mainstay of the society, away from the fringes. The majority of the future generations will graduate from ASL/English bilingual schools at a collegiate reading level!
Works Cited
Hawkins, Larry and Judy Brauner. (1997). Educating Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Total Communication.
http://ericec.org/digests/e559.html
Petitto, L.A. (1994). Are signed languages “real” languages? Evidence from American Sign Language and Langue des Signes Quebecoise. Reprinted from: Signpost (International Quarterly of the Sign Linguistics Association), vol. 7, No. 3. 1-10. French and Spanish translations available on request.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~lpetitto/
Raisin, Claire and Richard Townshend. “Deaf Tall Poppy Syndrome.” Publication and Conference Proceedings at Reach Canada. Equality and Justice for People with Disabilities.
http://www.reach.ca/shared_future/eng/raisin.htm
Concern # 8: No regular communication between the Board and various RSD groups (i.e. RSD faculty/staff, PSA, RSDAA)
Solution: ???
---------------------------------
As a past PSA president, the excutive board agreed to set, Building Bridge through COmmunication as a theme during a school year. We tried so hard to give out informative through Building Bridge news letters, workshops, etc. Unfortunately none of these worked out. My sugguestion is having the administrator runs the school democracy. Collaboration is the key word. All of these groups, parents and teachers, must feel like colleagues in the effort to change the school...
there is a thing called reverse audism....blame blame blame
Forgetting the verb was obviously a typo...and I said the need for Speech and Language teachers is important meaning that the teachers are responsible in many ways of helping the students learn and use language whether is be ASL or English. They help with the components of language so students can write, read and use language more efficiently. YOu people see what you want and not what is really there.
Did you guys know that Dr. No aka Dr. Mowl makes over 150,000 dollars? He sits in his office and does nothing but listen to all the complaints? How sad!
As a friend of a student that goes to RSD I am really upset that these students are not being treated with respect. I am a hearing student and I dont think that this is fair for them to endure. (As one person mentioned) getting this issue out to the public would be very helpful. I know that other school districts would most likely be willing to support your cause.
RSD Town Hall - Save the Date!
The RSD Community (Students, Parents, Alumni, Faculty/Staff, and Board of Directors) and the general public are invited to attend the Town Hall Meeting to be held at Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf on Lyell Ave. at 6 pm on Thursday, March 9, 2006. Come join us to meet and relate to concerned members of the Deaf Community to discuss issues and share ways of improving RSD for the sake of Deaf students attending there. This meeting will be a "no-bashing" zone. Interpreters will be provided for non-signers. Come one, come all!
As a past PSA president, the excutive board agreed to set, Building Bridge through COmmunication as a theme during a school year. We tried so hard to give out informative through Building Bridge news letters, workshops, etc. Unfortunately none of these worked out. My sugguestion is having the administrator runs the school democracy. Collaboration is the key word. All of these groups, parents and teachers, must feel like colleagues in the effort to change the school...
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Why do you think your efforts were unsuccessful? Did you do a survey to find out why? That would have been helpful.
Ample research shows that Deaf children from Deaf families are better readers and writers, suggesting a strong connection between ASL literacy and English literacy!!! Also, look at all of the Deaf administrators of RSD--they are bilingual. Come to think of it, all of them come from Deaf families and/or siblings.
HERE IS A SUGGESTION. Many of the respondents on this list have expressed concern that could have come from specific incidents concerning their child/friend/other at RSD. May we have a committee of PARENTS ONLY who are empowered to take incident reports and analyze them with a bias toward the child (as opposed to an apparent bias toward the institution). This committee can then act as (1)advocate for the child, (2)advocate for the concerned parent/writer, and (3) advocate for a specific change that is either general for the whole school student body, or specific for the type of child being considered. This committee would act as a balance in the picture which at present only involves the administration and the board of directors. This, I believe, is the missing element.
"It is unfortunate that we must occasionally deal with negativity such as the weblog, but I want to assure you that RSD will not be distracted. To that end, the weblog has been blocked from the school campus."--Letter to the parents from Dr. Mowl.
Friends, I did not see as much negativity as would ordinarily be seen in this type of weblog. In fact, I am hearing much more concern than negativity.
Dr. Mowl, this is addressed to you personally: are you also blocking the involvement of the school community in this dialogue by blocking the weblog on campus?
Are you stopping what could be a lively and healthy discussion?
Are you promoting the paternalism and institutionalism that the respondents are complaining about by blocking the weblog?
Dr. Mowl, please take this opportunity to show the support that you, as a deaf man, are giving the parents and the students of the next generation deaf community. Open the campus to a honest exchange that promotes acceptance of responsibility and self-review. Sit down and listen to individuals whenever and wherever they find you. Promote individual concerns by hearing them out and acting in cooperation to resolve concerns.
I know you can do this, Dr. Mowl, simply because you are deaf like myself. Please open it up.
I am an proud Alumni of RSD. When I spoke to some former board members, I found out that RSDAA had made financial contributions to RSD and doesn't know where the money has gone to. From what I can see, they have not received any acknowledgement from Dr. Mowl or anyone in top official positions as to how the money has been used so far.
RSDAA also has not received any official recognition as to our contributions in any of the RSD newsletters or on any plaques that they know of.
RSDAA is concerned about this whole situation regarding the education and safety of our RSD students. I strongly encourage positive comments and suggestions regarding the enchancement of the students' education, social skills and quality of life while they are students at RSD.
From my point of view, in the past RSD and RSDAA did not have a good working relationship and I think that can be much improved up on.
TO the RSD Board members, are you following up on this and doing something?
There is a neat website maintained The Center for ASL/English Bilingual Education and Research (CAEBER). It offers a wealth of resources for those who are unfamiliar with the concept of using both ASL and English in the instruction of Deaf children at all levels. Check it out.
Regarding some of the comments about hiring more d/Deaf teachers and why it's hard to find them...
First, let's remember we're still under the obligations of No Child Left Behind. A Master's degree is not all that it takes -- teachers are also expected to be certified. What constitutes a "highly qualified" teacher varies from state to state, but a degree and certification in education seems reasonable to expect.
Also, from my own studies, I know that knowledge in the content area is critical. Teachers need to know their stuff AND they need to know how to teach it. (Those are two very different types of knowledge.)
I believe someone earlier said something to the effect of "none of the hearing teachers can communicate ASL". (I don't want to scroll through over 80 posts trying to find the right one again.) This is simply not true. While I agree that there are teachers whose signing skills leave much to be desired, there are also those who are very proficient. Many deaf adults I know have very "English" signing.
I understand there are other reasons for wanting to hire more Deaf teachers, not least being that they could serve as a role model to the students, might have common experiences, etc.
But if there's a teaching position, and one Deaf applicant isn't certified, doesn't have quite the depth of content knowledge, but is strong ASL/Deaf Culture ... and one hearing applicant is a certified teacher, knowledgeable in their area, but is weaker in ASL/Deaf Culture ... how do you make a choice between those two? It's like the lesser of two evils.
Ideally, we should have teachers who are strong in both -- deep knowledge of content area, the teaching skills to convey that knowledge to the students, AND the communication/language skills to do it fluently with deaf students. The teacher's hearing status should be (in my opinion) a little lower on the priorities. And teachers who meet all those qualifications ARE difficult to find.
Hello.
I am from a group called Outside Agitators and we are currently struggling with the Michigan School for the Deaf. Maybe some of you have read about our struggle at:
http://starvingforaccess.blog.com
We know that someone from this blog has posted in our blog, and we would like to find you. We would like to help you. We can offer some ideas on how to organize and advocate for change. It is to our mutual benefit to work together.
I left a message for you at the Starving For Access site. Please come and find it. Go to the thread about the Referent Group (the most recent thread) and scroll down until you see the message to "RSD Blogger."
It is our hope we can all work together.
Looking forward to your reply!
OA#8 (Outside Agitator #8)
wow... I graduated RSD eleven years ago, I had no idea about this. This is truly sad - I heartly miss my times with RSD, I dont really pay attention to teachers and staffs. I treasured my time with sports, leadership, role model to the students, my grades and develop close relationships with classmates. What has happened to students? The students should make their times the best as they can so in next ten years they can remember back then and laugh with old RSDer's. And, majorly what heck happened to teachers and staff? NOW is the time for you (PARENTS) to speak up and do something for your children before RSD probably will shut down and your kids will wonder why. This is so sad..........
Response to "Many deaf adults I know have very "English" signing:"
Some d/Deaf people have this tendency to use Signed English when communicating with hearing people and ASL when commuicating with d/Deaf people. Interesting, eh?
Hello, all.
I see over 85 messages here. I had to read all and tried to understand some of them. I hope this Blog would help RSD in some ways; even though, most of these messages are futile.
Like I said far above, no one has submitted a formal written letter to the Dr. Mowl & the Board in last five years.
We need to build a NEW bridge between US and Dr. Mowl & the Board. From what I have heard that there were some bridges built, they said the bridges didn't work. I am not sure about it because I don't have enough information.
But, may I suggest few things below?
1) We need a negotiator (or two hearing and deaf negotiators) who can meet with Dr. Mowl. Meeting with him (Dr. Mowl) should include some discussions:
a) Will he be willing to hear us by formal written letters?
b) If he accepts this, then ask him what procedure we need to do? ie. Develop a formal letter including Identify a Problem (one problem at a time), Explain the Problem and Suggest Solution(s). If he wants to add, go ahead. Do compromises!
2) If succeed, then start a formal written letter. Identify/explain a problem!
Last, STOP futile messages! This will not help. DO negotiating with Dr. Mowl. Make sure that he know what we want. He can be obviously under pressure from this Blog.
Thank you
Hello RSD Parents, Students, Teachers, Alumni, and Administrators:
I want to first congratulate the authors of this blog for setting it up. It requires courage to stand up and say, "We have a problem and we want to work towards a better education for our children."
Education for Deaf/HOH Americans means opportunities to develop full languages in ASL and English, to forge everlasting friendship with peers and mentors, to participate in extracurricular activities, and to grow into productive adults who can give back to the community.
We must defend and demand the right to the opportunities listed above, because unfortunately, they are not naturally occurring rights afforded to us on a daily basis.
To simply ask for the right to your natural language (if it is American Sign Language) might incur stress and threats upon you- why is this so?
We must always ask, "Why are they doing this to us?" And we must always ask, "What can we do about it?" Then we must always say, "OK, I will not allow them to deny me of my most basic human rights so, therefore, I am standing up and seeking others like me to forge alliance and advocate for our children!"
Be strong, stay strong, and with persistence, we shall prevail. Together.
Ryan K. Commerson
Think about this quotes: "You never really know a person until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them."
Try to connect this with the situation taking place in RSD.
Also, remember it a sin to kill a mockingbird -Harper Lee
Hi! My name is Christopher Heuer. If this message is approved I'll be signed on as "Anonymous" but that's only because I haven't quite figured out how to sign on as a "blogger" or "other" yet.
I don't see this forum as negative. I see it as positive and a driving force for change. I think that this kind of thing is new, where people meet online to discuss ongoing concerns, and sometimes those who run or work in our schools, or the parents of children who attend our schools don't quite know how to respond to it.
Nonetheless this kind of thing has been happening for centuries... concerned groups of people meeting to discuss ideas and to take action. I don't think we should see such a thing as a threat. I think we should just see it as a "given." Certainly the entire field of Deaf Ed could use as many concerned people as it can find, because we're up to our neck in problems, aren't we? And so far we've depended on our administrators to guide us through and out of those problems. But maybe we need something more. Consider, if we want a given institution to change from a TC philosophy to a Bi-Bi one (I don't know what RSD uses--I'm am just speaking hypothetically here), then we have a lot more challenges than just changing THAT SCHOOL. For example, where will we hire teachers who are trained in Bi-Bi? That's an issue of coordinating with colleges and teacher training programs, etc.
So you see, we need something more. We need organization far beyond just local communities, because this is a national issue. It will require a major concentrated push to start getting Bi-Bi implemented across the United States. And in front of us are a whole host of challenges.
Are you interested in sharing ideas? You can find me any time at www.starvingforaccess.blog.com.
I would also like to add that I am not into "Crab Theory." I believe in being respectful. I believe in solving problems. I believe in helping my community.
I hope to see some of you over at the site I just listed. I hope we can discuss ideas!
Thanks!
Chris Heuer
We need to UNLOCK RSD's school Board. Parents and staff MUST be able to attend the board meetings and interact freely with each other as the school boards do in public school districts.
If communication and changes are going to occure then the Board needs to know the isuess that are facing RSD students, parents and staff. The Board has the power to enact change that could eliminate the need for Blogger sites like this one. And, we must support the teaching staff who work under a very controlling and manipulative administrator...Dr. H. Mowl.
Comment on " Ideally, we should have teachers who are strong in both -- deep knowledge of content area, the teaching skills to convey that knowledge to the students, AND the communication/language skills to do it fluently with deaf students. The teacher's hearing status should be (in my opinion) a little lower on the priorities. And teachers who meet all those qualifications ARE difficult to find."
I agree that qualified teachers are hard to find, but RSD has had no problems hiring hearing teachers without ASL skills and requiring them to learn ASL on the job. I personally believe that ASL is one of the most important qualifications of a candidate interested in teaching at a school for the deaf. Why can't RSD hire Deaf teachers without certification and requiring them to acquire one while on the job?
An essay written by two former RSD students in the April-May 2003 issue of the Deaf Rochester News describes their disappointment that RSD hired a teacher without sign language skills, questioning RSD on its practices in hiring new teachers. They also raised other legitimate concerns.
Unfortunately, Dr. Mowl was not receptive to the issues raised in the article. He sent out a memo dated April 9, 2003 to the RSD faculty/staff denouncing the authors of this article for their misstatements. Wow!
Hello, OA#8 (Outside Agitator #8)
Thanks for your message to me. BTW, I'm not the blogger.
I apologize for not giving you due credit for the posting of "The Corollaries of Internalized Oppression in Deaf Education"
by Patricia Raswant in this blog.
There is a Town Hall for the RSD community this Thursday. Do you have any advice for us all as we prepare for this meeting?
Yours in Struggle, Concerned Citizen
Please go to
http://www.ndaa-apri.org/publications/newsletters/update_vol_18_number_4_2005.pdf
Mary Wambach's article shows that physical and sexual abuse in schools for the deaf is very real. The RSD community should find it useful.
OA#8 here...
It's okay if you aren't the initial RSD Blogger. I'm happy we're communicating anyway.
First, don't be upset or suprised that Dr. Mowl blocked access to this site on campus. That is to be expected. The students at MSD had their own blog (ANEWMSD) that was hot before the Starving for Access protest. After the protest it became much hotter and of course the Starving for Access blog exploded.
The students were told to "tone down their blog," and soon after it went largely silent. So we're assuming they feared the same types of reprisals you fear.
The Starving for Access blog, however, was not under MSD's direct influence, and so people continued to post ideas there, and have debates, and show statitics, and share information. Therefore the issues are alive and well in Michigan, all because of that website. If not for that, the actual Starving for Access protest might have died down and gone away relatively quickly (and no doubt by now many MSD administrators probably wish it had).
So keep THIS blog going no matter what anyone tells you.
And two, when your Town Hall meeting comes up, try to get handheld DVD recorders in there. Try for two. Train one on the signer, and one on the person being signed to. This will become useful later when/if you have to sort out exactly who said what. We have people who can edit and post DVD content to the internet and we can help you with this.
Finally, keep checking us out, and we will keep checking you out. Thank you for the ISD slideshow. We have found this to be useful, and we are waiting to see what the parents' reactions towards it will be.
Stay strong. We are with you.
Also, one other thing (OA#8 here again)...
If your administrators are not going to the Town Hall meeting, don't use the cameras. Then it becomes a time to share ideas and the cameras will interfere with that. But if you ever have the kind of Town Hall Meeting in which you eventually invite your administrators to participate, that is the time to have the cameras.
The quote above "The RSD Community (Students, Parents, Alumni, Faculty/Staff, and Board of Directors) and the general public are invited to attend the Town Hall Meeting to be held at Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf on Lyell Ave. at 6 pm on Thursday, March 9, 2006"
That questioned me and other parents. Official meeting? Who will lead the meeting? That place is NOT a proper place but should be at RSD. Like other public schools, any kind of meetings where parents come in are always at schools, AND the name who would lead such meetings would be known. Have talked with some other parents, we think that the Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf is not a right place. Make this OFFICIAL meeting at RSD with a known name who will lead, we will come if Dr Mowl and the board come.
Hearing parents
To the previous message -
GOOD POINTS
The place should be at RSD - the proper place. If I remember right, the parking lot at RRCD is so small, uncomfortable.
Yes, we need a name who will lead the meeting, making it official. Makes sense, heh?
The "CEO" of RSD has sent another letter to the RSD community about this blog site.
===================================
MEMORANDUM
To: RSD Community (Parents, Faculty, and Staff)
From: Harold Mowl, Jr. (with his signature)
Re: Weblog
Date: March 6, 2006
This is to let you know that the Executive Committee of the RSD Board of Directors met today and encourage me to allow the anonymous weblog on the school campus. It is now open, but please avoid using it in a derogatory fashion as it will only hurt the students at RSD.
I want to also let you know that the Board of Directors and I will be attending the town meeting to be held at 6 p.m. this coming Thursday at Rochester Recreation Club of the Deaf (RRCD). The Board and I encourage as many members of the RSD community to attend, too. and we look forward to listening to your concerns.
Finally, I want you to know that following the town meeting, I will set up another meeting at RSD to respond to the concerns expressed there.
As always, please let me know if you habe any questions. Thank you very much.
C: RSD Board of Directors
Chris Heuer here:
I want to officially agree and disagree with Ray Kenney. Agreed: yes, blogs can be GREAT tools of communication, and they're even better if we dump the insults and the "crab theory" approach that our community has unfortunately become so famous for.
But I disagree that these kinds of things are merely "state-wide" problems. They are national problems.
Everywhere you go these days, it seems (especially if you work in the field), you start seeing evidence that Bi-Bi has the potential to make HUGE impacts in the literacy levels of deaf people, especially pre-lingually deafened people. HUGE. And after a certain point you have to wonder why it isn't being pursued nationwide with a lot more energy than it is currently being pursued.
The answers? Ignorance and inertia. Fear of change. Fear of mistakes. Learned helplessness and hopelessness. Rage. Distrust.
And beyond all that, as if we needed more, we HAVE more problems: It takes a huge infrastructure--a national infrastructure--to support a sweeping political change of any kind. And believe it, Bi-Bi is a politcal issue as much as it is a research and administrative issue. It starts in the schools, becuase the parents, especially if they are young and hearing themselves, probably just got this whole bomb dropped on their laps. They for better or worse are now occupied in the scramble for information, and the schools and outreach programs should be ready to provide that.
Precious few are. Many are ferociously resistant of Bi-Bi philosophies (even though they will say they are not). And their resistance is based on what? If MSD is any indication, then I would say a very human fear of new things. Many of the parents there didn't even know what Bi-Bi WAS before the protest started. And many still appear to have wildly varying ideas of what it is.
So are the schools prepared to provide that info? Are our outreach programs? In some cases, yes, in some, no. Do we have good stats to show the parents? Yes, but the studies are scattered all over. Do we have trained people to interpret the stats to the parents? Yes, but they're also scattered all over.
Do we have good training programs for teachers? We have CAEBER, thank God, and a couple of programs (again, scattered all over). Beyond that, not much. And do we have friendly state governments and people at the federal level supporting what we're doing? In some locations, yes. In others, far from it.
And plus we're all seeing similar complaints of hostile working environments, environments that bring reprisals when we try to discuss new ideas or frustrations or even concerns.
We can't work in this. And we can't do this alone. And for the most part many of us are not incorporating new research, best research, new findings.. etc into our programs. How can we? We have in many cases very little communication with each other.
I agree that finger pointing is useless and counter-productive. But I do believe that organizing is in all of our best interests... both in our self-interest and in the interest of our children and students. We have an enormous amount of work to do, and if you're interested, then within a couple of days flat we can hook you up with a lot of other people who are interested, as well.
I wish you the best of luck at your Town Hall meeting, I wish both all of you and Dr. Mowl the best of luck in resolving your issues.
Chris!
Thank you!
Chris here again,
You're welcome!
But people we have to kick this "Anonymous" thing. Come on, what's the crime? We care about Deaf Ed, and we should because we work in the field, or we have children in its programs. Why is that bad? What are we afraid of?
I am not going to bite anyone's head off. Are you going to bite mine off? Fine, do it under some name other than Anonymous. Do it under your real name. Do it under a fake name. But do it under some kind of identity so we all know who we're talking to.
And keep in mind that if you eventually want a place at the table, among the people who are going to build what we need, then you're going to need a name--or else one hell of a rubber mask.
Come on! Let's stop being afraid of each other. We're good people. Let's use that to build good things!
All NYS schools have to hire certified teachers and ofcourse, we as parents expect RSD and Dr. Mowl to follow these guildlines. Finding teaching staff that are also fuent in ASL and/or signed English is a challenge for RSD.
I believe if RSD treated the teaching staff with more respect,
administraters where not as condescending, the pay scale was more in line with the public school, and there was a strong teachers union RSD may attract and keep qualified teacher staff.
Why are the Board of Directors meetings closed to Parents and
Staff?
Who sets the agenda for the Board meetings?
How many members are on the Board of Directors?
Who is on the Board?
Why are they selected and not elected?
What are the Board Members qualifications?
What is the Board Members future vision for RSD?
Can anyone can enlighten me.
Hi!
This is exciting! First Michigan, now Rochester, NY!!
Ok, seriously... we must hold those higher up accountable for everything that happens in school. Law or not, audism is real and we must do everything in our power to eliminate audism, especially in Deaf schools.
Examples of Audism:
-Hiring ANY staff with substandard ASL skills
-Not respecting parents/students' decision not to continue with speech classes (not that taking speech classes is a bad thing, we should feel free to choose whether or not we want them without anyone giving us a hard time about it)
-SimComing (ASL/English are two very different languages, to mix them up, you are disrespecting both languages. Especially ASL since it represents the core of Deaf/HH's being)
-Paternalistic/Patronizing attitudes
-Resistance towards ASL/English Bilingual Education
-et cetera
After the Town Hall meeting this Thursday, please post a new blog rather than posting progress in the commentary section. Keep us all informed of your progress! We are behind you!
Dutifully yours,
OA #6
'I do love to hear more comments from current/former students. In their comments, they present testimony. They can be powerful in reference to our comments above. Now, let listen to their testimony and we act on their behalf!'
I agree with the fact that you guys should hear comments from current and former students because they are the ones who are influenced by all of this the most.
I'm a current student at RSD, I have been going to RSD since I was about 16-18 months old. The education to me is very good, ignoring the fact that there are higher number of hearing teachers compared to deaf teachers, better than many schools I know. Personally, I don't care if I'm being taught by a hearing or deaf teacher, all I care is that I get to learn the things I need to know for my future. But, I have to admit that I, sometimes, do have hard time communicating with several hearing teachers. That's okay though because sometimes I can't understand what the deaf teachers are saying, and even sometimes deaf teachers have hard time understanding what the students are saying.
For the behavioral situations, I have experienced situations where the staffs aren't open to listening my side or refusing to flex and accept that they were wrong. But I know that it is hard for staff to determine whether the students are telling the truth or not. I and other students have confronted the higher authority and asked them to do something about it. Forgetting the past and coming to school for a fresh new year this year, I was suprised to see my confrontations were taken into consideration because changes have been made, some of these changes were proposed by some of the students. These changes made student against staff problems reduce.
I have experienced a situation where I was uncomfortable around a staff, I brought it to Mr.Bradley and he brought it to Dr.Mowl. After several meetings, a couple changes were put into action and things have been better since. But I understand that Dr.Mowl doesn't always take problems into consideration and find ways to solve it.
I am currently taking speech communication classes, but I don't practice my speech or listening. I practice my writing, do book reports, research on things, and many other things. I find this very benefitting, and consider this as a wonderful opportunity to learn new things and practice the things I need to work on.
Other than the problems, RSD have been a wonderful place for me and my 'second home'. I have made many memories at RSD that always will be treasured forever. Honestly, I haven't seen other deaf school that I totally want to go to instead of RSD. I'm sure many of the students greatly appreciates what RSD have provided us with even though RSD isn't a hundred percent perfect. A perfect school is impossible but yes, RSD needs to improve a couple of things.
I hope this all is for good, and will result in a positive improvement for the school.
Hi all
before the thur meeting, it would probably be very beneficial for folks to have clear goals of what they want to see improve for RSD's future - this can be done in a very positive way
if goals r not clear or too many - it may become a rap session. if that is what folks need and want - fine but great care will be needed because it can become a bitter and highly confrontational experience if left too wide open.
if folks feel some clear goals have been identified - cool
try to get some confirmation on what folks r in agreement with and stick to this.
it is dangerous to do fingerpointing or to accuse folks - im sure no one wants an individual at RSD to become a scapegoat. i think most of what has been described in the blog are systematic problems. Deaf education is at a threshold of change - how to attract and keep students while maintaining a strong educational experience for all
for a successful meeting it may be best to:
1. meet together BEFORE the Thur meeting to prepare
2. have agreement on what you want and keep it simple
3. focus during the meeting on on your goals for the good of the students and the school
i especially appreciate the student's post above - the emphasis on the importance and appreciation of literacy, and critical & cultural literacy warms my heart and rings with much HOPE and PROMISE
years ago i spent some time with RSD students a few weeks before their graduation ceremony. i loved how the older students watched out for the younger kids in the cafeteria and how the staff and students interacted in a very familiar, caring way. my visit was short so i dont have an indepth understanding of things but it is important to note - any Deaf school is a 2nd home for our students
having come from a mainstream experience - i really was so touched to see firsthand what i had missed. This concept of "HOME" is very important. A QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION is also essential and what we would wish for all Deaf schools
for the meeting and all ur work - its important to agree with what u want and to state it clearly in a strong and positive way
best wishes
peace
patti durr
TOWN HALL MEETING
for
The Community of the Rochester School for the Deaf
March 9, 2006
Rochester Recreation Center for the Deaf
Rochester, New York
Facilitator: Branton Stewart, President of the Empire State Association of the Deaf
Interpreters Provided
AGENDA
1. Introduction
2. House Rules
*Clear Communication
*All comments and/or ideas are welcome. No disagreements during
presentation of comments and/or ideas.
*No personal attacks.
*Overstating: Be careful with terms we use. Don’t use
“hearing/deaf” when you really mean “signer/non-signer”
*Focus on the issue, not the person or how it affects you.
*FACTS vs. Opinion: Try to present comments that are based on facts.
*Please refrain from using pagers, cell phones, etc.
3. Discussion: Reviewing And/Or Addressing 4 Key Concerns (from the blog)
Administration
Communication
Safety
Education
Other
4. Next Meeting:
Location: RSD
Date?:
Time?:
Hi,
Would it be possible for us to postpone the Town meeting and get involved to make a plan or put concerns together before we propose to Dr. Mowl and the Board of Directors next week at a neutral place or RSD? I am positive that some of us including hearing parents or any other people would be interested to work with you. If not, I hope this meeting will be planned carefully and productive. Good luck!
The ball is rolling and it is hard to stop and roll back. I pray that this town meeting is the first step to get all of us together and discuss the concerns while Dr. Mowl and board of directors are there. You the hearing parents can bring the issues to the table. Of course, you are also very important part of this cause. We may have the different issues but have the same goal for our children to have the best education and be protected from the perverts and abusers on the campus.
Let us go forth with the Town Meeting and not be sidetracked because of nonissues such as choosing the place.
The Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf is a large enough facility, hopefully, and parking can be compared to that at RSD.
I wondered if some might find the "deaf" atmosphere of the RRCD a little biased? This is a loaded question. Who are we supporting...the young deaf people who may become future members of this club? Or the school itself, with all its different interest groups? Or are we speaking for the hearing members of the RSD community in looking for a "more neutral" location? I wondered about that.
Nevertheless, let's not get sidetracked by such things. On with the meeting! We should all be heard on equal footing and arrive at some workable solutions.
Hello, Is the meeting confirmed @ RRCD? Please let me know so i can attend. Thanks
Yes, it has been confirmed.
To thincb4utipe:
"--Why do you pay yearly dues to a Staff Association that is expected to act on your behalf on matters such as the ones listed?
Why did you join/create a union that is expected to act on your behalf on matters such as the ones listed?---"
Sounds like you have assumed that I am a staff member. No, I am a RSD parent, a former RSD student, and a deaf professional in other institutions. The concerns expressed here are common to other institutions.
What is needed here is a fresh look at the old problem of institutionalism and upholding old patterns of behavior that promote the institution and not change, and not the welfare of the individual child; or groups of children.
Stopping dialogue, criticizing people for speaking outside of established procedure, and defending people for upholding institutional standards are not going to move us forward into a new way of looking at issues.
Embattled as our Dr. Mowl is, he is still our Dr. Mowl. He has made the applaudable move of opening up dialogue on campus in allowing the blog; let us look to him (and ourselves!) to lead the way to a brighter future where parents, teachers, staff and students have equally important input. And let us unite to give him the tools and ideas and the push to do it.
I wonder if it is appropriate for Deaf Rochester News to publish about the happenings at RSD? The Deaf community has the right to know and gather support from them. They may or may not have kids in RSD but coming from a deaf school, they might recognize the need to educate our children better with teachers who are deaf, and have better self esteem where teachers are not berating them, and have postitive feedbacks for their future children instead of reading all this.
I will contact the Editor in Chief for Deaf Rochester News and see what he or she can for us and support us in many ways.
Maybe if Deaf Rochester News can be like a wake-up call for the RSD Board and Mr. Mowl?
What do you think?
Hi All (Chris Heuer here):
I agree with this:
"What is needed here is a fresh look at the old problem of institutionalism and upholding old patterns of behavior that promote the institution and not change, and not the welfare of the individual child; or groups of children."
Just the other day I was having a conversation with some colleagues on Thomas Friedman's book "The World is Flat," which raises the argument that globalization (especially through the internet) is changing the world, because cultures that were previously WAAAAAYYYY over there have now been brought right next door to us.
So it is in Deaf Education as well. All of us (no matter what states we work in) are facing common problems, and all of us are at risk when institutions and deaf programs eight states away are overwhelmed by their problems and forced to close down. We all share the common problem of needing highly trained teachers but not having enough programs in the US to train these teachers. Every time a deaf person graduates with a fourth grade reading level, what he can (and usually CANNOT) do plays a huge part in influencing how deaf people all over this country are viewed. Where do you think predudice arises from? Stereotypes. Where do stereotypes come from? Common perceptions... which in turn arise from common problems.
Today I went to a workshop in which I saw DVD technology being downloaded and shown on smartboards. English text and ASL-signed text were being played right there next to each other. The applications for this technolgoy seem unlimited, especially for the development of Bi-Bi materials, and right there we have our answer regarding what to do if we can't find enough trained teachers. Imagine if we were all pooling our resources to create materials that we could send to one another via the internet? Imagine if we had some sort of shared organization which in turn had some kind of central hub from which to coordinate the supply and flow of information. Imagine how, with this organization, we could start making huge impacts on how we teach and how we develop outreach programs for parents.
Just imagine this!
I don't really know anything about your other issues, but I do see that some of you are visiting the Starving for Access blog. And I just want to tell you, what you see there, the fear and hostility and confusion and resistance, isn't what HAS to be there. We could have meetings filled to the brim with exciting new ideas... FEASIBLE ideas, workable ideas. Things that we can afford to do.
New and exciting? Yes. Possibly intimidating and even frightening? Yes. But we have answers now that we did not have before, and we have the technology to make changes that we could not make before. All we really need to get things moving is organization. This doesn't have to be organization AGAINST institutions and programs (God knows that would just send us reeling backwards towards oralism). But we do have to change some of our old ways of thinking, our old patterns of alignment. And the payoff could be the revitalization of a field and a culture that has been living too long with fourth grade reading levels and the suppression/oppression of ASL.
Don't just think "local." Not all of the issues that you have listed, it seems, are "local."
Think NATIONAL.
We have a lot of ideas and needs described here. I hope that the moderator of the Town Meeting will condense these and post them around the room on large paper that can be read easily from where one is sitting, and use these to organize the direction of the meeting.
In his last letter to the RSD community, Dr. Mowl and the RSD Board will be at the meeting, and they will be in the "listening" mode. The staff of Deaf Rochester News is welcome to attend this open meeting as long as they will be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Also, please keep any distractions such as picture-taking as minimal as possible.
I am a teacher and I am so sad and hurt when I read this blog. My signing skills, although not excellent, are good,and I have worked hard to be a good communicator with parents, students, and my peers at the school, yet I feel so put down when I read this. I am a good teacher who has devoted many years of very hard work to be the best teacher that I can be. I gave up time with my own children to teach your children. My daughter once told me, "You love your kids at school more than me." Of course that's not true, but I can say that I respected and cared for every student that I ever had; and I probably did spend more time at school or doing school work than at home. I always wanted the best for my students, and spent hours of my own time and my family's time preparing lessons and thinking about how I could "reach" a student. I know that I can't understand all of your feelings because I am hearing and not deaf, but I want you to know that there are many hearing staff at RSD that do respect the culture, the students, ASL, and LOVE THEIR JOBS! We wouldn't work so hard if we didn't. Respect goes two ways. I wish I was better at ASL,but my skills have a better chance of improving if I am not intimidated, but supported. I, a hearing staff member, would support a bilingual approach and believe that more ASL instructors could only improve our school, but in order for that to happen do we have to insult the present staff and years of their hard work. I think that overall RSD has been doing a good job of educating students, and I think looking at statistics would support this. That doesn't mean that we can't continue to learn more and to improve, but I'd like to believe that I have done something good over the last -- years. There are hearing staff who are very good at their jobs (and its more than one male middle school teacher). RSD has some very dedicated teachers, and right now one of them is crying. (Yes, I'm taking it personally. That's how it feels.)
I appreciate the above comment posted by my colleague, as I have felt much the same way as I read these blog postings. I am also a hearing teacher at RSD, and while I understand and support many of the issues that have been raised, I am somewhat hurt by the way some are going about it.
It starts with the title of this blog, for one thing. Does it have to be "What's wrong with RSD?" Listing faults accomplishes nothing. How about "What can we do to improve RSD?" instead?
The students who are posting here need to really think about the statements they are making. "I think all staffs can't really communicate with us students since they are low-level intelligent. They should get a ceritifcate for teacher assisant." I feel bad that this student has such negative feelings toward the staff, but how is such an insulting generalization helping anyone? I'm so glad another student more recently posted a more constructive and even-handed comment, acknowledging that the school has both strengths and weaknesses.
Also, a post above said, "they [the Deaf community] might recognize the need to educate our children better with teachers who are deaf..." I agree that skilled deaf teachers are a great asset to any school. But the way that comment was made seems to imply that a teacher's hearing status is most important when considering our students' NEEDS.
If a student is female, do they NEED to be taught by a woman? If they belong to an ethnic minority, do they NEED to be taught by someone in that same minority? If they belong to a particular religion, do they NEED to be taught by someone of the same faith?
Yes, our students need role models. They need to see and know that their deafness need not prevent them from accomplishing anything they dream of in their lives. But is being deaf myself the only way to accomplish that?
Again, I agree it would be nice if we had more deaf adults becoming certified teachers. But I don't believe the fact that I'm hearing means I have nothing substantial to offer my students.
As noted in the posted "guidelines" for tomorrow's meeting, before you say "deaf/hearing" decide whether you really mean "signer/non-signer" or something else entirely. Remember that historically there have been deaf oralists as well as hearing manualists.
Let's continue to focus not on empty whining and insults, but on ACTION -- what we can DO to make RSD better.
RSD Teachers and all teachers of deaf students everywhere
I do agree that your intentions are good and believe that you want the best for your deaf students. I applaud your hard work teaching deaf students for many years. And, yes, I understand how shock and hurt you are.
Still, there is something amiss when the majority of deaf students continue to graduate at a fourth grade reading level year after year. Who is really hurting? All your years teaching deaf students, have not you realized how frustrated they are? Haven't you acknowledged their anger and struggle? Haven't you heard their cry? Is it due to your lack of ASL fluency that they could barely express to you?
All their lives, those deaf adults face the consequences of their fourth grade reading levels day after day. Most of them could not get a permanent job with a health insurance plan; they don’t have many choices but to swallow their pride and apply to be SSI recipients.
It’s true your feelings are hurt today; eventually after a few weeks your life will go on, still have your jobs and live well. But what about the majority of deaf adults living with a fourth grade reading level?
Many of us in deaf community want to break this kind of stagnant cycle. We have decided to voice for the majority by making sure the future generations of deaf adults will never have to bear the consequences of a fourth grade reading level.
It’s time for teachers, parents, and alumni to roll up their sleeves, work together and improve the reading levels of the majority deaf students. To quote Hillary Clinton, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Many of us in deaf community want to step in, empower them and interact with faculty and staff of schools for the deaf.
I hope you understand our movement, we want the best option for deaf children, which has to be ASL/English bilingual education. All deaf babies must have an early educational intervention to real and true language, which is ASL.
By the way, it is heartening to read that the meeting will be held at Deaf Club tomorrow evening, to visualize hearing teachers and parents mingling with deaf parents and alumni is amazing! Though this is the first of many steps, it’s a dream comes true! How wonderful!
As a teacher in a "hearing" in the city of Syracuse I struggle to get the students to read at on or above level. I spend most of my time either at school ot at home buried in school work. I cant imagine having to do this and try to learn another language or culture. I believe that all efforts should be made to hire deaf instructors. It gives them more insight on their students struggles. I applaud the staff for their determination and efforts they put into their students academics.
To the author of "It starts with the title of this blog, for one thing. Does it have to be "What's wrong with RSD?" Listing faults accomplishes nothing. How about "What can we do to improve RSD?" instead?"
====================
Wow, you need some serious attitude adjustment!!! You are one of the answers to "what's wrong with RSD"! Action for Improving RSD: It is clear that you'll need some sensitivity training.
From "Just a DEAF Person's Thoughts by Gil Eastman, pp. 50-51
OUT
This child cannot hear.
Let's begin by providing auditory training, hearing aids, and speech therapy.
IN
This child cannot hear.
Let's begin by trying to figure out what will best facilitate his or her education and learning.
Hello
Please check out the powerpoint slideshow on the right side. Its a link. Just click and its a slideshow about bi-bi program. Wow! Well informed about this program.
Thanks to ISD for providing this link.
Heuer here again.
To the upset teachers above:
I still remember the first time I saw a computer. An Apple. I don't remember the year but I know it was between '75 and '80. Remember those old green-print screens and those big floppy disks that you didn't dare scratch or you'd crash the whole system? Remember how two or three teachers (including the school librarian, because the one computer in the whole school was housed in the library) would practically breathe down your neck while you typed in your name or played a simple game, because any mistake you made would bankrupt the whole school? Or at least that's what they told YOU.
Remember that? I couldn't have been between more than five and ten years old when they first installed that thing. And already thirty years later we live in a world that largely can't relate to the technology we grew up with. They don't know what forty-fives are (that's "records" for you younger readers in here) anymore. The youngest of them don't know what videotapes are. Remember those old Beta machines? If so you're one of a vanishing breed.
My point: when one model of computer inevitably led to a better one, when one line of technology led to another, did the people who worked their asses off to create the older model blame themselves, or think they were being blamed, when newer things came along?
Of course not.
That's because in nearly every other field (except, it seems, for Deaf Ed), we build change into the system. We expect it. We compete with it. If next years' model of Fords are not different from this years' models, we dump our stock, because something is wrong with that company. We expect the software we're right now, at this very second, using to view and run this blog to be obsolete in another five years. Do we blame the engineers? No. Do we appreciate them? No, but that's a post for another time--suffice to say right now that we SHOULD, because without them and their work, we wouldn't be typing in this blog.
We know what we know. We did what we did. I used TC too. I SIMCOM-ed too. I sometimes still do but I'm fighting it hard and that's the point--I'm trying. I've read enough research and I'm as convinced as I reasonably need to be in my own heart. I'm awake to the damage I can do. I've adjusted accordingly. And if something is sufficiently alarming like that--if it's enough to try to make us alter ourselves, our own way of doing things, then we realize that we have a responsibility. We have to try to explain WHY we feel this way. Even if others are going to initially reject us, fear us, and even hate us... rip us down, not hire us, fire us, demand to know what we're doing HERE in THEIR schools/blogs/whatever...
...after a while it doesn't matter anymore because we're either the kinds of people who can KNOWINGLY keep on doing harm, or we're not, and it's that simple. And if we're not, then we'll at least listen. We'll let people make their cases. And we'll adjust accordingly if we have to.
So remember something. Finding that we possibly need to change doesn't mean that everything we've done up until now has been wrong or bad. What we've done up until now has been NECESSARY. What we've done all along, at least in my book, is the same thing we're doing now: trying to find our way. That's it. That's what Starving for Access is about. Maybe that's what this is about too--I don't know. Is it my place to say? In a way, no... because when you talk about Dr. Mowl I don't really know who you're talking about or what your issues are. But in another way, yeah, because I like you have to live in the world we all play a part in creating. And how deaf people are viewed, even ones who graduate from RSD, play a part in how people view me (and other deaf people I know) way over here in DC. The world isn't round anymore. We're pressed right up in each other's faces now and we can't escape that anymore.
For what it's worth, I don't blame you, so I hope you won't be upset anymore. I'm not pointing my finger at you. When I personally say "teachers who can't sign," I don't mean that as an accusation, as if THEY are somehow the cause of all of this. They play their part, to be sure, but so do we all. So do I. Especially when I don't speak up and make my case. And that's why I'm in here, and that's why I'm over at the site for Michigan, and that's why I'm not talking anymore while I sign in my classes.
That being said, I'd like to make a final point:
Patti Canne in the "Rejected Comments" section above said "sometime it does need to take few organizations' attention to go over those concerns and repair them together."
Yes, true. But in this case, if what you really want (among other things) Bilingual-Bicultural education at RSD, where are you going to go? What organizations are you going to work with? How are you going to get that done?
Remember when I was talking about how we have the technology to create Bi-Bi materials now? You realize that we could start producing that stuff and start shipping it out to the schools and nobody would have to lose their jobs... everybody would have some breathing space. Teachers could run those programs AND train at the same time. It's all possible.
But the infrastructure doesn't exist. That's my point. Not that many schools are using Bi-Bi right now. Many parents are frightened of it (and in some cases MADE to be frightened of it). Sometimes "something new" is all it takes to scare the living hell out of everyone, and that makes people defensive, and defensiveness makes them stop listening, and that's why Bi-Bi has remained little more than a theory for the last twenty years.
If you really want to make Bi-Bi happen, you're going to need something more than an agreement in a local Town Hall meeting. That is a crucial and entirely necessary first step, to be sure, but once you've taken that step you're going to find yourselves at the foot of a long road. There are answers on that road, and solutions. But there are also more than a couple of places where the bridges are out (actually it would be more accurate to say they haven't been built yet). If we want to get them built, it's engineering time, my friends. Nobody else is around to get it done except us.
So go have your meeting, and I'm going to shut up now. I really do care about what you're doing--yes, even way over here in DC--and I know of quite a few really good people who are waiting to do this job with you.
Teachers, don't take it personally, because these events are not a testament of your failure.
Rather they are an invitation to explore and build something new.
-Chris
me = bold other poster = italics
It starts with the title of this blog, for one thing. Does it have to be "What's wrong with RSD?" Listing faults accomplishes nothing. How about "What can we do to improve RSD?" instead?
====================
Wow, you need some serious attitude adjustment!!! You are one of the answers to "what's wrong with RSD"! Action for Improving RSD: It is clear that you'll need some sensitivity training.
Wow, what did I say?! I need an attitude adjustment and sensitivity training? I am one of the things wrong at RSD?
Let me make one thing clear. I am all for bi-bi. I am all for ASL and Deaf culture. I am all for change, and in fact I've pushed for it elsewhere in my professional life.
Now let me make sure my comment about the title of the blog is clear. Imagine a teenage girl who says one of two things:
Option #1: "I'm fat and I have no friends."
Option #2: "I should try to eat healthier and exercise regularly. Maybe I should join an after-school activity and try to get to know people better."
Which option is actually going to accomplish something? Obviously the second. (How likely is a teenage girl to say that? That's another issue.) That's what I'm saying about the title of this blog, as well as the tone of some of the posters. There are things that can/need to be improved, yes -- but let's have the attitude of "what can we do to improve?" instead of "I hate this and this and this and this ..."
I'm glad to see input from people like Chris. (BTW, hello! Nice to see you on both fronts.) Like I said, I understand the feelings of my colleague who reported being in tears, especially when some comments have tended to lump groups all together (i.e., hearing teachers). If we want to make change, it needs to be a team effort (as educating children always is), and we'll get nowhere with an "us and them" mentality.
That said, I'm not as individually hurt as my colleague, mainly because it doesn't seem I've been around as long. Chris said, "Teachers, don't take it personally, because these events are not a testament of your failure." I know that, Chris, and you know that, and I think a lot of people in the RSD community know that. But there are a few people who have been posting here who make overly simplistic blanket statements that imply they count all hearing teachers as part of the "oppressive machine".
I know there are also many who have tried to be more even-handed, realizing that people are individuals. All I ask is that people acknowledge that fact before saying something that can hurt individuals to whom it doesn't really apply.
Change is more likely to actually happen and truly be effective when all parties show mutual respect.
I'm a Deaf teacher of the Deaf at a state-run school nowhere near RSD. As a teacher myself, I feel for the teachers who posted their pain. Teaching is a thankless job in many ways, with our only reward being our students' successes. So my heart truly goes out to these educators who undoubtedly mean well and want their students to succeed.
However, as a product of the system and as a current member of the system, I have to say that teachers who cannot connect with their students, who cannot communicate easily with their students, nor who cannot teach their students have no place in the classroom. I am not assuming that the teachers who posted need to get out of RSD - having no way to observe them, I am not in a place to comment on individual educators. This is merely a general observation, so please do not take this personally at all.
As an example of what I mean - I teach English at a specific grade level, and there is one hearing teacher who teaches almost all the students at the grade level below mine. She has many wonderful teaching techniques and she is a very hard working woman who is one of the best allies I have ever met. She is a dear and I love her. However, she does not sign well and she does not understand her students well either. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard, "She taught me that last year but now pah I understand! You explained it clearly," I'd be a wealthy woman.
This is not meant to imply that only deaf people can teach the deaf; rather, it is to communicate the idea that being well-meaning and hard-working is not enough. Every person in a classroom, whether hearing or deaf, should be able to communicate effectively and easily with their students, develop a rapport, and be able to teach.
Last-Minute Announcements for Those Planning on Attending the Town Hall Meeting:
1) An overhead projector will be available for those interested in using it.
2) Tonight's town hall meeting will be taped. Please inform the facilitator if you do not wish to be taped.
It is our view that the taped discussion should be used for legitimate purposes yet to be determined. The tape will not be released until after we know how it should be used. Please watch for future postings on this issue.
See you at RRCD tonight.
From Gil Eastman's "Just a Deaf Person's Thoughts," pp. 146-147
OUT
Domination
Oppression
Suppression
Rejection
IN
Liberty
Equality
Justice
Honor
While I know you have your own ideas of how RSD should look like in the future, here's my own vision:
RSD by Fall 2006:
Hire X number of ASL Specialists to meet the current demand.
Committees of ALL RSD groups to address a wide range of issues impacting the RSD community
1) Short-term goals
2) Long-term goals
RSD by 2010:
A Set of Policies, Guidelines, etc. in place for the ENTIRE RSD community
RSD by 2020:
ASL/English Bilingual Curriculum at all levels
Heuer here:
You can get there faster (Bi-Bi) than 2020. Especially with widespread cooperation.
Thanks, Chris!!!! I'm so excited!
I want to know if RSD is providing the ASL or signing language class for the hearing parents at no charge. ISD is doing that for free. It makes senses because it will help to connect the hearing parents with their deaf children.
The string of "anonymous" people really is getting confusing.
For those who would like to post under a name (real name, screen name, favorite pet's name, whatever...) and aren't registered with Blogger, here's all you have to do.
Below the field where you write your comment, you have three choices under "Choose an identity": Blogger, Other, or Anonymous.
Click "Other". Where it says "Name" write whatever name you want to go by. For example, I've typed "RSD Teacher". Where it says "Your web page," you can just leave it blank.
I'm not saying anyone needs to reveal exactly who they are just yet. But if you give yourself some kind of "handle," it'll be easier for us all to say clearly who we're responding or talking to. Confusion is just not conducive to collaboration.
Hope that's helpful. Chris, I expect to see your name in place of "anonymous" on your next post. :)
Gotcha.
To the writer of "Confusion is just not conducive to collaboration:"
The atmosphere of fear/intimidation/poor communication/favoritism created and maintained by certain RSD administrators is hardly conducive to collaboration.
BiBi Advocate,
Quote: The atmosphere of fear/intimidation/poor communication/favoritism created and maintained by certain RSD administrators is hardly conducive to collaboration.
I agree. Did I imply anything to the contrary? If this is going to be productive, we need to know to whom we're directing our comments. That's all I was getting at with my "confusion" comment.
WOW....why was this blog not out and about when I was an employee at RSD? Favoritism is a big deal when it comes to administrators. When it had been reported (several times) regarding staff "zzzzzz" sleeping on the job or some staff "working from home" but others cannot OR staff that have additional outside jobs and bring that work to RSD to do while nagging staff at the same time! Since I have been gone, have any of those issues been addressed? Isn't that a great way for the state to see how RSD's monies are at work? That is how they play favorites by ignoring what should be addressed and should be watched more carefully. Good luck...I am glad I am out of there!!
This is OA#8...
If you still want our advice, we suggest that now that you have had your meeting, you should create a new post under a new heading (possibly "Town Hall Meeting #1" or something like that) and then make the first comment a summary of what was said in the meeting. You may want to refer to the notes of whoever, if anyone, was the secretary of your meeting. This will allow others to immediately post their additions and/or corrections, and you can then get on with discussing the issues in more depth.
This is what we have found to be helpful when WE did this... otherwise it starts to take too long to get the window with the comments to appear and to scroll to the bottom of it.
We're very excited to see what was accomplished at your meeting!
Thank you, OA#8
Quote: The atmosphere of fear/intimidation/poor communication/favoritism created and maintained by certain RSD administrators is hardly conducive to collaboration.
I agree that this is the RSD environment that the Teaching Staff have to work with in order to teach our deaf kids. However...last night I saw the lines of Positive Communication beginning to open.
Teachers please hang in there. Parents want to support you and make RSD a great place for Students and Staff.
If the teachers have any suggestions how we as a parent group can help... Please reply.
Thank you!!!
We are Listening!!!
I see many people here complaining about the speech/communication issue. I am going to compare the importance of oral speech vs. ASL, but I see even from the writing here, that English needs to be emphasized. The student's ability to write, read and comprehend English is in many cases non-functional outside the RSD walls. Maybe there is a happy medium with sign and speech, but success in any community, hearing or deaf, REQUIRES the ability to read and write correctly. Just my 2 cents.
The meeting on March 9, 2006 at the Rochester Deaf Club was a good initiation to discuss our positive and negative issues about RSD. We, parents, staff, and members of the Deaf Community, were feeling uncomfortable to go and stand up in the front of the crowd and then look at the camcorder.
I would like to add the comment related to safety issue instead of going to the front of our crowd and also stand in the front of the ridiculous/disguisted camcorder.
Safety/Best of our Knowledge and Communication at RSD
I would suggest RSD to provide a new Complaint Department for all parents, students, staff members and members of the deaf community. We need four different colors for parents, students, staff members and members of the deaf community.
We could feel empowerment. We could report to our Complaint Department and write down the complaint papers/forms. If we have young deaf students or Spanish speaking or any foreign parents could request someone at the complaint dept. They could help them to translate and write English language on the complaint paper. We would identify problems and need to solve our problems with parents, students, staff, and members of the Deaf Community. (Dr. Mowl cannot handle all these problems. We have our breakdown communication for years.)
We want to have good knowledge and effective communication during our informal or formal meeting or going through the process of grievance meeting. When we are done, we need to write down the second paper (follow-up) after we resolve our problems. We need to know and follow RSD handbook (policy) or state regulation. If there is no policy, we could add a new one or change the old policy to the new one.
If we are not satisfied, we could write down the problems on the follow-up papers. The follow-up papers would go back to the complaint dept.
The complaint department people would identify what are the minor and major issues or problems that need to be resolved. They report the papers (without names) to the meeting or support group every month. We want to improve our knowledge and effective communication.
Re: RSD sign classes
im wondering - has RSD ever thought of saturday or sunday immersion classes
many other cultural groups have them - Greek, Chinese, Jewish communities
they usually run for about 2 1/2 hours in the morning and are designed to transmit cultural values, practices, heritage, and LANGUAGE
if a grant award could be found or a sliding payment scale based on families' income, # of family member's enrolled etc, - the teachers for these classes would be volunteers but COMMITTED and receive some kind of incentive / recognition
the program would not only be for the hearing family members but also for the Deaf children - many have never formally studied ASL - yet hearing children all over the world formally study the spoken language they naturally acquire as babies. Deaf people also have the right to study their own language formally to truly enable them to be bilingual (or multilingual)
if u have ever seen any of these type of weekend cultural immersion programs - they r amazingly impressive
peace
patti
I think it would be great to have a sign class with deaf and hearing combined for children. MY daughter has some hearing friends and it would be nice for them as well but on a different day...not 6:30 at night for the same reasons that Claudia said and I only have one child but to think about lugging her out at 6:30 and getting home at 8:30...her bedtime it usually 7:30 at the latest in order for her ot wake up in the morning.
Heidi
HI Everyone,
I wonder when is the next meeting? I am hearing rumors that it would be next Thursday, March 16th at RSD? If so, please confirm.
I also would like to have permission to reprint Branton Stewart's blog for DRN. I have been following these blogs but would like to interivew people in person and make sure that I can write a very clear, and neutral article for Deaf Rochester News.
In case you may be wondering, I'm LeeAnne Valentine, and I am the Editor in Chief for Deaf Rochester News. Several of my staff had attened the recent one but did not get enough info as I would have wanted.
I am interested in interviewing people whether they want to keep their names anonymous, or be shown in the next issue which is (May/June). I envision that this may be an ongoing project for RSD and for the Deaf Community as well. I'd like to keep people updated and to stave off any confusions that people are having.
If you wish, you could email me at Editorinchief@deafrochester.com to share your inputs (professional or non-professional). I also will be interviewing Dr. Mowl in person and others as well.
I hope to hear from y'all and hopefully, DRN will clear up a lot of things by explaining two or many sides of our greater Deaf Community.
Thank you for your time!
"We, parents, staff, and members of the Deaf Community, were feeling uncomfortable to go and stand up in the front of the crowd and then look at the camcorder.
I would like to add the comment related to safety issue instead of going to the front of our crowd and also stand in the front of the ridiculous/disguisted camcorder."
The moderator clearly signed at the beginning of the meeting: anyone who did not want to be on camcorder could stand in different spot and an interpreter would mirror what that person said for camcorder.
Maybe you arrived late for meeting or were not paying attention?
Also, it was NOT Administration who recorded the meeting.
NEXT MEETING is at RSD Auditorium on MARCH 23 at 7 pm. The Supt and Board will be there to present their replies to the issues addressed at the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.
I am a parent of a child that attends RSD.
In my professional life I am involved with other schools in the Rochester area on how they can accommodate the needs of specific and uniquely challenged or challenging students (never to RSD).
Given the experience with my own child’s identified needs to learn differently; in comparison to other schools in the area, RSD has shown more willingness to be accommodating to the identified needs of individual students. However, professionals outside those at RSD rarely have contact with RSD students. Potentially many correctable or manageable problems go unidentified. RSD continues to isolated/insulated itself from the resources available to other children in the community. The continuing attitude that “we know what is best for deaf children” has pushed away offers made by community resources. No one person, no one organization, and especially one that remains in such isolation can provide all the answers.
Here in Rochester we are rich in academic and health care resources that could benefit our children enrolled at RSD. Yet RSD remains very isolated. How many children have been referred to Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities? The Kirsch Clinic at The Children’s Hospital at Strong? Strong Behavioral Health’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic? Easter Seals Diagnostic and Treatment Clinic? Dr. Scott Smith, a developmental pediatrician who is a wonderful, energetic, and dedicated physician (and who happens to be deaf) moved here 20 months ago?
There are probably many more, but I list the above resources because with the exception of Dr. Smith, I've spoken with the directors and other professionals in each organization. They all tell basically the same story of repeatedly trying to make contacts, offering help and meeting indifference or disinterest.
Even if parents should somehow stumble upon these resources, little interest is shown by RSD to consult, collaborate, provide input, or to get input from these resources.
It appears that RSD as an organization continues to believe “we know what is best for deaf children.” Such a belief becomes more harmful as a larger percentage of deaf children have additional disabilities and more complicated needs in the academic environment.
I have great respect and appreciation for the efforts of teachers, other professionals, and staff at RSD, but this underlying belief perpetuated by the superintendent that decisions are and should be made without input from others eventually effects the continuing actions and attitudes of everyone at RSD.
“Even if parents should somehow stumble upon these resources, little interest is shown by RSD to consult, collaborate, provide input, or to get input from these resources.
It appears that RSD as an organization continues to believe “we know what is best for deaf children.” Such a belief becomes more harmful as a larger percentage of deaf children have additional disabilities and more complicated needs in the academic environment.
I have great respect and appreciation for the efforts of teachers, other professionals, and staff at RSD, but this underlying belief perpetuated by the superintendent that decisions are and should be made without input from others eventually effects the continuing actions and attitudes of everyone at RSD.”
This is bad. The board of directors needs to know about this.
CDP
To the hearing parents:
Are you happy that RSD replied to your concerns about the ASL classes at RSD? I got the letter from them. We wondered about you guys. We like to know how you feel about them.
CDP
OK people...not for nothing but the ex-RSD staff that complained about "other" issues at RSD involving staff that had 2nd jobs...I have to agree about being bothered. How can this be stopped? I constantly get emails and phone calls about buying things I don't want. How can RSD allow this? It is not fair using RSD work time to do this. This effects us as teachers and being interrupted. What can be done?
There is something like this going on at NYSSD. (The NYS School for the deaf in Rome, N.Y.)
The administration there is pretty bad too. There has been several people leaving there lately for various reasons, but they all boiled down to unhappiness with NYSSD in one form or another.
Accessability at NYSSD has always been an afterthought. Recently, there was an internal problem at NYSSD relating to pager communication/ equal accessability.
The administration yells at the deaf staff in front of students.
The administration spent thousands of dollars on new unneeded furniture, plasma/projector tv sets, 40k worth of fitness equipments, and so forth.
Then they turned around and complained about the cost of the pagers.
There are several other issues that are not listed here.
But, I can guarantee that lack of bi/bi communication is a problem at NYSSD. RSD and NYSSD has the same problem. So does Michigan.
Why don't all of us get together and fight this on the national level? Maybe ask the NAD to be a part of it?
Let's grab this opportunity to band together and fight this as the American Deaf community.
This is something the advancement of deafness in general needs.
I found very interesting to note Dr. Mowl's annual salary. He is making $132,087 during 2004 according to guidestar.org. His salary has been increased at average of 6% every year since 2002. At this rate, I can imagine his current salary is $151,000. Wouldn't it be nice if he donates 2% or $3,000 of his salary increase to sign language classess. So every immediate families can attend free. Is his salary too excessive for this small school?
Hello Anonymous:
We too would like to see the struggle for Bi-Bi access spread to other schools. Can you start your own blog (similar to this one with a site counter) for NYSSD?
OA#8
Re: NYSSD
For the sake of clarity, let's realize there are several separate issues being considered here:
1) Financial management
2) Accessibility for deaf staff
3) Professionalism in treatment of deaf staff
None of these directly relate to bi-bi education. In fact, all three are management issues, not educational issues at all.
Clearly, these are big problems, and something should be done to address them. Maybe NYSSD also has educational issues that would be solved by adopting a bi-bi educational philosophy.
But let's not make the mistake of thinking one solution (bi-bi education) is going to solve ALL these problems. Let's find specific solutions for specific problems.
The accessibility issue, for instance, seems like something that could be addressed by the ADA. And as Rome is a state school, there ought to be some way to protest management of funds.
Super Joe,
I, too, would like to see sign language classes provided to immediate family members of deaf students at no charge. But I have a hard time believing $3000 would be enough to cover the cost.
Just the same, we should look into possible sources to defray the costs of classes. And from what I understand, money isn't the only barrier -- there are also time and distance factors.
Before I worry about Dr. Mowl's salary, I would want to know how it compares to similar schools. He's got a doctorate, and he's the top administrator. So a high salary doesn't surprise me. But how do you decide how high is too high?
Unfortunately, I'm not willing to pay the subscription fee for GuideStar that is apparently necessary to view such stats, so I can't look into the information myself...
Anonymous said...
There is something like this going on at NYSSD. (The NYS School for the deaf in Rome, N.Y.)
[snipped]
But, I can guarantee that lack of bi/bi communication is a problem at NYSSD. RSD and NYSSD has the same problem. So does Michigan.
RSD Teacher said...
Re: NYSSD
For the sake of clarity, let's realize there are several separate issues being considered here:
1) Financial management
2) Accessibility for deaf staff
3) Professionalism in treatment of deaf staff
None of these directly relate to bi-bi education. In fact, all three are management issues, not educational issues at all.
Well, RSD Teacher, I might read the blog regarding NYSSD a little different than you. IMHO, there's nothing wrong with listing the grievances...
1. Misuse of financial management...not spending enough money to upgrade the items that would support equal accessibility for deaf fac, staff, and students.
2. Unprofessional treatment towards deaf fac, staff, and students
3. Change from the TC system to bi-bi education.
I didn't say there was anything wrong with listing NYSSD's grievances. In fact, I agreed that they were significant problems.
My only point was that the post made it sound like bi-bi was the answer to their problems, and I didn't see the connection.
Like I said before, it's important that we match our problems with our solutions.
Anonymous (from NYSSD):
Can you start your own blog or if you don't know how ask friends who know how? There are advantages to this.
One, if you start your own blog you can remain anonymous just like in this one and so can everyone who responds to it.
Two, if you privately email ten people about it it is nearly guaranteed the whole NYSSD community will know about it within a week.
Three, if you post your NYSSD issues here, they will become lost in the middle of RSD issues, even if those issues are the same (as are MSD's).
Four, the more blogs that start up, the more the idea spreads, and since the schools don't control the blogs they're only options are to ignore them or deal with them. RSD is dealing with the concerns. MSD is resisting the concerns much more strongly. The national and international community can already judge for itself which is the more professional and caring response.
Five, if you start your own blog either by yourself or with a friend's help, you can focus on getting solutions to problems and kick out the "crabs" who just finger-point and blame. MSD is a more "free-for-all" blog while this one is more controlled (with rejected comments, etc). Then again the RSD community is much more open to new ideas. Keep those considerations in mind when you decide what kind of blog is best for your community.
We agree that we need to band together. This is the best way to do it. The more blogs the better! Please consider this.
OA#8
NYSSD Anonymous,
Please consider OA#8's suggestions. Just do it. We will support you.
Every new blog that goes up brings us all one step closer to fighting at the national level. Especially if we link up to each other's blogs.
OA#8
anonymous:
I am really concerned about RSD..Why? Because it is a residential school with deaf culture. I feel that there is a need of key persons to form a group to help that school such as ASL Advocates..with big time understanding of BiBi purposes..Don't ever separate RSD students based on having C.I. and not having it..Mix them together..C.I. students can receive speech therapy..RSD turmoil is in my prayers...
mwkk,
Thank you for pointing this out. I become frustrated when people act as though everything at RSD is terrible. Yes, there are things to improve -- some of those things are very significant. But it's not as though we're not doing anything right.
At the same time (and while I wholeheartedly congratulate the Academic Bowl team and those who helped them achieve that victory) ... I feel it's only fair to point out that this team is comprised of just a few students. (Five, if the late hour hasn't completely muddled my brain.)
Are these students representative of students at RSD? Probably not. But there are many factors that contribute to a student's success. What "success" even means will vary from student to student.
We need to keep the diversity of our students in mind as we consider possible courses of action.
I was informed of this website today and because I used to work at RSD, I became curious to read what people have to say about RSD.
As I read, I become more and more sickened to read so much anonymous negativity about RSD. Yes, RSD has some things they need to work on, I agree, but is this really a good place to address these issues? Perhaps it gives you the freedom of speech without revealing your identity but where are your balls?
Posting complaints on here is like sitting in a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but it isn't getting you anywhere.
Now, I hope EVERY one of you that posted such a whining blog on here will show up at the meeting tonight at 7pm because if you don't, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.
Nobody shouldn't be complaining if they just sit at home or work, type down their complaints anonymously on here and then not expect to bring themselves to the meeting to help improve the school and the education for the students.
Has anyone wondered.....Maybe the school and the board haven't done anything in the past to meet the concerns addressed here because not enough of you showed up at the meeting? I'm positive if they are confronted with a large number of students, parents, teachers and anyone affected by the concerns all at once, they would feel the pressure breathing down the back of their necks and get something done.
So, I am hoping that every and each one of you will show up tonight at 7pm with your balls.
Abbie
SAFETY
Some RSD kids were discussing the game of choking lately and Oprah interviewed on TV a couple whose teen son died. The kid choked himself to death by accident.
My kid told me he tried it himself at RSD and liked it. I told him to promise not to do it again but he won't promise.
Can RSD improve its supervision and give strong education on why choking should never be done? Some supervisors may not know or think it is nothing. I am afraid something will happen otherwise.
Abbie:
How many Abbies live in the Rochester area, let alone New York, let alone the rest of the U.S.? You don't say where you're from. You could be from anywhere. So "Abbie" is just as "anonymous" as "Anonymous." You're actually doing the same thing you're criticizing other people for doing.
Have you ever wondered, maybe nobody has showed up at past meetings because they didn't have a convenient and easy way (such as this blog) to share their frustrations and concerns and develop some kind of a list of problems and demands to even TAKE to the meetings? It's hard to work alone and in isolation. This blog ended that. You should be applauding those who set it up, not condemning them.
And finally, do you think you helped matters any by insulting the people who posted here (by implying they lack bravery)? Before your post maybe a couple of them were determined to go to the meeting and not blame or point fingers, but rather channel their frustrations into developing a list of problems and then working towards solutions.
But thanks to you, they're now probably ready to go to the meeting and prove they have "balls..." by shouting and pointing fingers and arguing and fighting. Nice job!
"RSD is a good school as long as there is teamwork, involving adminsitrators, teachers, parents, students, and community."
That is excatly what i would like to see...
Hello folks! I'm new here.
I have spent almost an hour reading as much as I can on this blog. There is obviosly a lot going on and a lot of people with a lot of different purposes here. Some I find to be quite organized and my wishes are that this KIND OF WELL PLANNED ACTION creates real change, however ardous, and hopefully quickly.
My two cents:
The rampant dependency on Simultaneous Communication all across the nation is a serious detriment to education, culture, social interactions, family relations, literacy, and actual exchange of information,
which is what ANY kind of COMMUNICATION IS: exchange of ideas!
You see it in the halls of so many institutions that attempt to be "Deaf Friendly". Why does it persist?
[Perhaps because of the age old problem of "peer pressure".]
May I suggest that hearing (and deaf) people be shown that ASL IS A BONAFIDE LANGUAGE and that THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION to half signing, half speaking.
All of us, DEAF AND HEARING ALIKE, please consider EMBRACING ASL! Ask for help! We are all willing!Others WILL see, and others WILL be changed by it.
And to the hearing staff at RSD (who might not feel fluent enough in ASL to actually use it), I do hope that for one night you go home after a long day of simm-comming, or worse, SPEAKING without signing to Deaf children (!!!), turn on your favorite TV show, turn the volume to ZERO, and sit there until you just cant take it anymore.
Then pull up this blog and share how you felt.
Together, all of us can change the world by starting with ourselves each day.
THANK YOU.
When I entered RSD in 1970s, many students were bully me and few teachers abused me. I came from hearing preschool and never knew spelling or sign. No one understand where I came from. I m sure other students went same shoe as I do. Today, students suffered from the past where is no FORGIVE!!!!
I m curious does anyone had Mrs Curley and Ms. Adionnio??? They abused me in the past. Does anyone have them in past? I been wondering because I heard Mrs Curley abused few students. After I graduated from RSD, 1 of them told me that.
So, I sent complaint message to RSD about Mrs Curley because I found out she retired last Jan, I felt it was not fair that she got away with it. She not even care how students include me feel for what she did to us. RSD seem ignored the message. So, howcome RSD board of directors ignore other students complaints about teachers or staffs abused them???
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