Deaf school in WV looking for renovation needs

[Foxrac]

My most frustration with deafness is communication, however deafness have some advantage as well.

 

[TXgolfer]

Wait for him - he will correct me if I was wrong, but I remember him for 4 years now.

You are correct.

 

[Foxrac]

You are correct.

No problem.

I wasn't able to communicate, beyond one language until I was 10 years old and the delayed language development was big problem for me, but much improved after went to deaf school.

 

[TXgolfer]

And how has that worked over the past 50 years? Total communication was an utter failure despite it's success with a limited number of kids like you and I. The sad fact is some groups cost more to educate than others. That's a certainty. Leaving them in the dust because of costs cannot happen anymore. In fact, I am pro multi-handicapped funding. Pro mentally-challenged funding. etc. Multitudes of these people are misdiagnosed and incorrectly placed nor are even given a chance to shine. They are no less important than the guy or girl on the fast track to valedictorian at Harvard. Contributors come from all walks of life.

Remember, I'm with you on trying to find the most cost-effective way to do this... the key word being effective. If relocation is the cheapest way... then that's what should be done. Just don't disband it.

I believe in fairness for the taxpayer. If these schools are working and getting kids into the job market at a reasonable cost, cool.If the coast is slightly more than other public schools....fine. But if the school is just teaching them how to get by and live in an isolated "culture" to me that is not worth it. IMO I think that is exactly what is happening at Gallaudet right now. I realize I just jumped from grade school to college, but I feel this mentality can be traced back to SOME of the grade schools.

 

[Foxrac]

I believe in fairness for the taxpayer. If these schools are working and getting kids into the job market at a reasonable cost, cool.If the coast is slightly more than other public schools....fine. But if the school is just teaching them how to get by and live in an isolated "culture" to me that is not worth it. IMO I think that is exactly what is happening at Gallaudet right now. I realize I just jumped from grade school to college, but I feel this mentality can be traced back to SOME of the grade schools.

I think that society is getting darker in America.

I learned that some of my ex classmates (from hearing school) are drug addicts and several are in state prison for convicted felony crime.

Speaking about Gallaudet, many freshmen withdrew with first year is common at most universities but Gallaudet may be little worse for first year student and the faculty worked very hard to make students to succeed the college, but many deaf freshmen rather to stuck with past - BIG PARTY for many years.

 

[NitroHonda]

I think that society is getting darker in America.

I learned that some of my ex classmates (from hearing school) are drug addicts and several are in state prison for convicted felony crime.

Speaking about Gallaudet, many freshmen withdrew with first year is common at most universities but Gallaudet may be little worse for first year student and the faculty worked very hard to make students to succeed the college, but many deaf freshmen rather to sticking with past - BIG PARTY for many years.

Society is getting sicker. We have too many untreated mentally ill folks wandering the streets.

Gallaudet is no more a party college than let's say... University of Houston or Yale. College is going to be college. There's an Animal House on every campus.

 

[NitroHonda]

I believe in fairness for the taxpayer. If these schools are working and getting kids into the job market at a reasonable cost, cool.If the coast is slightly more than other public schools....fine. But if the school is just teaching them how to get by and live in an isolated "culture" to me that is not worth it. IMO I think that is exactly what is happening at Gallaudet right now. I realize I just jumped from grade school to college, but I feel this mentality can be traced back to SOME of the grade schools.

Fairness to the taxpayer was definitely discussed by our forefathers. Where I differ from you is the inclusion (or in this case exclusion) of certain groups. Being born and raised in this country is enough for me to want to advocate their growth. After all, they are the future whatever challenges they may face. It is their right.

 

[Foxrac]

Society is getting sicker. We have too many untreated mentally ill folks wandering the streets.

Gallaudet is no more a party college than let's say... University of Houston or Yale. College is going to be college. There's an Animal House on every campus.

Gallaudet president worked very hard to change the education structure that help freshmen to succeed, like introduction of GSR courses, but many students hate GSR 300 (You have to type about 10-15 pages of paper every week) and they gave extra support for freshmen.

After protest in 2006 and threaten of lose the accreditation, Gallaudet introduced mandatory internship for all students before they can graduate and the career department helped them to find a job.

There are more works for Gallaudet to improving, but I know Gallaudet accepted some students with low GPA or extreme poor ACT score (less than 10), so they need more students to keep running.

 

[Foxrac]

Some deaf students are doing better at Gallaudet after not get well with hearing college.

You will be straight to graduation if you take college seriously but for animal party - tough luck.

 

[deafdyke]

I think ==> Deaf schools are fine. State sponsored deaf schools are fine too. BUT (big but) only if they are preparing kids for jobs/future in the real world. So many (Like this one in WV) turn out to be nothing more than a warehouse. But #2 the costs have to be reasonable. There is a point (a $60m Reno would be one) where I don't see the value of continuing the program.

No, believe it or not, I agree with you. Specialized schools should not be warehouses. However, did you know that the warehousing thing ALSO happens in the mainstream as well?
But the answer to that is REFORM the system, rather then close it. People thought that closing specialized schools would solve the problems.....the problems were still there. Granted I doubt WVSDB is ever going to send a lot of kids to competitive colleges, but at least most of them are giving kids functional academic skills, and links to dhh friendly employers, or in the case of dhh kids with developmental issues, links to dhh friendly sheltered workshops etc
Also do you have a cite that "so many" deaf schools are warehouses?

 

[TXgolfer]

No, believe it or not, I agree with you. Specialized schools should not be warehouses. However, did you know that the warehousing thing ALSO happens in the mainstream as well?
But the answer to that is REFORM the system, rather then close it. People thought that closing specialized schools would solve the problems.....the problems were still there. Granted I doubt WVSDB is ever going to send a lot of kids to competitive colleges, but at least most of them are giving kids functional academic skills, and links to dhh friendly employers, or in the case of dhh kids with developmental issues, links to dhh friendly sheltered workshops etc
Also do you have a cite that "so many" deaf schools are warehouses?

I don't know how many there are. There is one in North Texas that is absolutely disturbing. I won't name it. They have been in the news a lot though. Personally, I would mainstream and tutor mine and then send them to Deaf camps and activities for social stuff. But, like I said, as long as the school is successful in educating AND somewhat similar in cost, I am cool with it as a voter.

 

[deafdyke]

I'm not sure I get it. Are you saying that institutionalized kids have a harder time coping in the hearing world? If so, I'm not so sure I agree with that. We have to think about the past. You and I are both people who came from a mainstream program and we both obviously benefited from it but after switching over... there is no way that I could justify what worked for me to work for an entire community. There is no "melting pot" fix focusing on vocalization instead of reading. I'm far more impressed by the outer world independence of those who are able to "voice" their feelings as opposed to those left to fend for themselves with no clear grasp of language of either worlds. The quotation marks is there because some do it via sign language and others... ya know? Voices.

Okay... I'm not really sure where that came from but it's there so... eh.

Insistutionilzed? Damn, I'm sorry but Deaf School kids are NOT "insistutionilized" I really think there needs to be a better term for res school, rather then "insistutionlized"
And you're 100% correct.........one size does not fit all, that's why we need a continuum of placement.

 

[deafdyke]

And how has that worked over the past 50 years? Total communication was an utter failure despite it's success with a limited number of kids like you and I. The sad fact is some groups cost more to educate than others. That's a certainty. Leaving them in the dust because of costs cannot happen anymore. In fact, I am pro multi-handicapped funding. Pro mentally-challenged funding. etc. Multitudes of these people are misdiagnosed and incorrectly placed nor are even given a chance to shine. They are no less important than the guy or girl on the fast track to valedictorian at Harvard. Contributors come from all walks of life.

Remember, I'm with you on trying to find the most cost-effective way to do this... the key word being effective. If relocation is the cheapest way... then that's what should be done. Just don't disband it.

And the thing is, it does cost more but taxpayers need to look at special school placement as an INVESTMENT. Most special needs kids WILL benefit from a specialized school placement, and be able to at least aquire functional academics and or job skills or networking abilities......

 

[shel90]

I believe in fairness for the taxpayer. If these schools are working and getting kids into the job market at a reasonable cost, cool.If the coast is slightly more than other public schools....fine. But if the school is just teaching them how to get by and live in an isolated "culture" to me that is not worth it. IMO I think that is exactly what is happening at Gallaudet right now. I realize I just jumped from grade school to college, but I feel this mentality can be traced back to SOME of the grade schools.

Many deaf people who graduated from gallaudet are working and paying taxes. So, what are u talking about an "isolated" world? If they want to socialize with other Deaf people, so what? I do and I still am a contributing citizen.

 

[TXgolfer]

Many deaf people who graduated from gallaudet are working and paying taxes. So, what are u talking about an "isolated" world? If they want to socialize with other Deaf people, so what? I do and I still am a contributing citizen.

You missed the "get by" part. That is pretty important in that sentence.

 

[deafdyke]

I believe in fairness for the taxpayer. If these schools are working and getting kids into the job market at a reasonable cost, cool.If the coast is slightly more than other public schools....fine. But if the school is just teaching them how to get by and live in an isolated "culture" to me that is not worth it. IMO I think that is exactly what is happening at Gallaudet right now. I realize I just jumped from grade school to college, but I feel this mentality can be traced back to SOME of the grade schools.

FYI, it's fairly rare for dhh kids to experience a totally separate K-12 college experience. The most common situation is that a student transfers from the *gasp* MAINSTREAM, and they are so far behind (and this includes ALL sorts of students, from all sorts of programs, auditory-verbal, TC, oral etc) that their achievement levels are LOWER then they could be. Unfortunatly, deaf school placement is very often "last resort"

 

[NitroHonda]

Insistutionilzed? Damn, I'm sorry but Deaf School kids are NOT "insistutionilized" I really think there needs to be a better term for res school, rather then "insistutionlized"
And you're 100% correct.........one size does not fit all, that's why we need a continuum of placement.

I wish I knew the proper English word but I don't. You know how to sign hearing? Sign it at your forehead instead. It is a term that "deaf-hearies" relate to better. That's all. I'd never say that to another Deaf person's face. I WILL argue for our rights however I can. I'm always open to better approaches if the institutionalization term is too outlandish. Do remember that sometimes you have to pacify those you are trying to sway over to your side.

**Okay... I can see how the above paragraph came off poorly but it's really meant with sincerity. I'm not necessarily labeling this TXgolfer either! Just in general. I was kinda waiting for Vacationguy or Lau or some other to come rumbling in here gangham-style too.**

BTW, I tried PMing you but says you're not accepting PMs. If you ever change that, I'd like to reach out to you. I had a couple questions that I did not want to share on the boards. Smile.

 

[TXgolfer]

And the thing is, it does cost more but taxpayers need to look at special school placement as an INVESTMENT. Most special needs kids WILL benefit from a specialized school placement, and be able to at least aquire functional academics and or job skills or networking abilities......

Ah, that is where we disagree. I believe students are more likely to be successful long term through a mainstream school. I think a specialized school actually limits networking opportunities. The world is a mainstream world for the most part. Especially in the job market. I think kids are more likely to suffer a "culture shock" moving from specialized schools to everyday life. That is just my opinion. That doesn't mean close the schools....just improve them.

 

[dkf747]

Ah, that is where we disagree. I believe students are more likely to be successful long term through a mainstream school. I think a specialized school actually limits networking opportunities. The world is a mainstream world for the most part. Especially in the job market. I think kids are more likely to suffer a "culture shock" moving from specialized schools to everyday life. That is just my opinion. That doesn't mean close the schools....just improve them.

What "networking opportunities" do mainstream programs provide that Deaf schools do not? The only time I ever see friends from high school (mainstreamed) is at reunions.

 

[TXgolfer]

What "networking opportunities" do mainstream programs provide that Deaf schools do not? The only time I ever see friends from high school (mainstreamed) is at reunions.

Just because you didn't take advantage of opportunities, does not mean they were not provided.