Brandi please check to see if attachments were copied and pasted below- remember that we have yahoogroups remove attachements to prevent the spread of viruses-
Also, could you please give more explanation as to why the Deaf Community is still supporting the La School for the Deaf. I don't mean to sound naive. But after the reports of abuse it makes some of the rest of us wonder why you don't want funding to be put into something like training, support, technical assistance to school districts to help them include children who are deaf. I know that some people who are deaf like having that community of support like Galludet University. But you can understand why it might give some advocates pause to support a segregated setting that allowed abuse. I'm hoping we can have a conversation that will help us better understand. And, honestly, I expect you'll have to explain to legislators and other decision makers. Thanks, Cindy/Moderator
Deaf News forwarded by Brandi
[Attachment(
----- Original Message -----
From: The DEAF BAYOU e-news
To: DEAF BAYOU Editor
Dear Frend,
Please see attachments�
Editor Dan
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~ Forwarded message
Those of you that know about problems at La School for Deaf and Live in La please write to the department of education and the senate to give your opinions in reguards to budget cuts.
Those of you who do not live in La PLEASE pray that GOD will touch the hearts of the board and senate to do what is right for the Deaf in La.
In HIS LOVE until HE returns.
James Masters
"Please take a second look at the proposed cuts to LSD" These seem too drastic!
Or try a call with the video phone!
Cindi (Moderator),
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment that has been posted on this website, I am disappointed in you and the orgainization that you represent. If this organization is representing individuals who are disabled, then maybe you need to take the time to validate the reports of abuse as reported by the media? This year alone, there have been many school systems that have had "sexual misconduct" reported. Are you suggesting that these schools be closed as well?
If you are representing individuals who are disabled, have you ever thought about talkiing to those individuals (meaning students and family members at LSD)to get their side of the story. If you had, you may have a different perspective.
I encourage you not to use your postion as a platform to report only negative "reports" but to get the facts. If by chance you are wrong, how many lives have you influenced by supporting something that may not be true.
Please, I beg you, learn more about the situation. There is a parent group, "Eagle Eyes", that I am sure would be willing to meet with you. Please take the time to do this. I thank you on behalf of the children school and their families. This is a group of people who want the very best for their child and every student at LSD.
by: No Deaf Child Left Behind (NDCLB)
As a former student development specialist at Louisiana School for the Deaf, I can honestly say that the fact-gathering conducted by the media is skewed, and that the advisory board(s) who came in to tour the school did not take the time to talk with students and dormitory staff. We taught the students to make reports to staff. The fault lie within the report form itself: so many different incidents that were clumped together under one broad behavioral code which made it sound much worse than it really was. Paul Pastorek paid too much attention to that and made a big deal about safety issues at LSD. The same month that he placed LSD on suspension back in October, we heard about an actual rape taking place within the classroom at a public school just across the Mississippi River. They did not place that school on suspension. I believe a lot of attitude toward LSD stems from the majority (hearing) looking at the minority (Deaf) as a group who needs a guiding hand as they do not know any better, an attitude akin to England taking over India, France taking over Indesonia, Netherlands taking over a large section of Africa, that paternalistic attitude. This is the attitude that caused such a upheaval in sending the students home back in October in an over-reaction to an incident that took place on the bus where a teenage boy sexually assaulted a child. The child's peers attempted to report to the staff on the bus. Unfortunately, that staff is hearing and did not understand them explaining to her what was going on. In her binder, full of information about each student, there was a warning that that specific teenage boy must be accompanied by staff AT all times, in which that staff chose to disregard, and sat up front with LSVI group. The child's peers then took care of the incident themselves by making sure the child sit with them. This happened on a Friday, so they waited all weekend until they came back to LSD, and they reported to dorm staff, and the dorm staff reported to their supervisor, then an invesigation was undertaken. With all facts gathered, they followed the correct procedures in reporting to the appropriate people and agencies. Prior to that incident, the advisory board(s) from outside Louisiana that came touring the school did not get every single report, and we did set up data gathering system, but the school administration who supported the instructional department more than the dormitory department, did not share the dorm reports. If they had, then the facts would show a complete picture of much higher ratio of incidents that did not happen due to staff intervention and student counseling to actual incidents.
ReplyDeleteAs for sending deaf students to public schools throughout the state of Louisiana, that idea is much much worse. By attending public schools with inadequate interpreters is setting up for a life of social isolation, a retardation of personal identity growth, and an education that is barely passable as I have seen in many Deaf students in public schools.
One of the problems at LSD is that staff losing their positions due to budgetary cuts are being the ones who passed Signed Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI)and staff being retained depends on seniority to keep their jobs. So once again, we will face a legitimate, skewed ratio of staff who cannot sign worth salt to students who use American Sign Language as their mode of communication. If cuts have to be made at LSD, let the seniority be considered last, and SCPI be considered first. That way, we can keep more staff and teachers who CAN sign, and let go of staff and teachers who failed to meet their minimum required SCPI levels.