Parents accuse teacher at Utah School of Deaf & Blind of abuse

Miss-Delectable

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Parents say their first graders were abused by a teacher at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind.

The Fahnckes say they learned about the abuse when the Division of Family Services called to interview their son. Witness statements in the DCFS report say seven-year-old Noah was smacked in the head on a daily basis.

The report also indicates that his teacher would pick him up by the arm and carry him and push his head against the desk, leaving marks.

“To know someone can do this... tore my heart up,” said Noah’s mother Susan Fahncke.

The Fahnckes believe the teacher is still teaching in a different classroom. The school won't say if it's true and refused to comment on the investigation.

http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_068205405.html
 
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Please don't use the code option for posting quotes. Use the balloon image to use quotes! I can't read what you posted when you used the code option.
 
Yup, it's nothing new.. USDB always cover up. However, most of the Utah parents tend to expect USDB to "babysit" their kids everyday. Most of the Deaf-Deaf kids aren't learning much in that school. The school spend too much time focusing on teaching the "hearie"-deafs to speak and communitcate. Education seems to not be the school's priority. I think the abuse blame goes both ways, the parents and the school. I would know because I worked for them for a year.
 
oh man.. i hate to hear this.. same happened to me when i was at public skool, my teacher did to me.. geez.. i never forget abt that..
 
Most of the Deaf-Deaf kids aren't learning much in that school. The school spend too much time focusing on teaching the "hearie"-deafs to speak and communitcate. Education seems to not be the school's priority. I think the abuse blame goes both ways, the parents and the school. I would know because I worked for them for a year.
I have a friend who sends her kid to USDB and says it'spretty good. Although maybe the early childhood ed programs are better...dunno. Of course, maybe they have those stupid AG Beller folks who think that the only ones who count are the oral deaf kids.
 
Deaf258 said:
Yup, it's nothing new.. USDB always cover up. However, most of the Utah parents tend to expect USDB to "babysit" their kids everyday. Most of the Deaf-Deaf kids aren't learning much in that school. The school spend too much time focusing on teaching the "hearie"-deafs to speak and communitcate. Education seems to not be the school's priority. I think the abuse blame goes both ways, the parents and the school. I would know because I worked for them for a year.



I dunno about that. I am a former student of USDB program. I know you used to work there. I have been told that USDB has been improving and Jean Massieu School for Deaf (bi-bi program) has been emerged to USDB due to finanical support. A good friend of mine works there and told me that USDB had been using ol' dumb system and now it is evolving because Jean Massieu School for Deaf is educating them with JMS's system. However there are several people still want to use the old system. We will see about if JMS can help them with a better system.

About the student who was abused by a teacher, that was totally wrong. I remember I was under USDB system, I was in the 1st grade. My teacher was very strict and I was getting up and walked to the reading area which I finished my assignment. Then this teacher was yelling at me which I could not hear. And she went after me and shook me, then spanked me. I was terrified and confused. The students were looking at me and I was scared, This was never reported. I thought I was doing something wrong.

I never told my mom until two years ago, she was upset.
 
deafdyke said:
I have a friend who sends her kid to USDB and says it'spretty good. Although maybe the early childhood ed programs are better...dunno. Of course, maybe they have those stupid AG Beller folks who think that the only ones who count are the oral deaf kids.
Thank you for putting the label out that I was looking for.. USDB has a lot of AGBellers. One of them had the nerve to scold me for not wearing my hearing aids and that I was setting a bad example to the "hearing impaired" kids.

USDB is getting a little better, but I have not yet seen any major improvements. Everytime I mentioned JMS while working for USDB, I get dirty looks from some of the staff members. I am sorry, but I think JMS is a better school for the Deaf than USDB.
 
I used to work for USDB under their deaf mentoring program, and it is not such a bad program at all. It really helps the parents to learn sign language and to communicate with their children. As for my perception on USDB, the central one in Ogden is becoming more bicultural, although the SLC branch still has a lot to learn. I went there a few times to ask to use fax machines and nobody knew sign language, which you would normally expect for a school for the deaf to have. I don't know about the other branches in Utah. I would not be so quick to send my child to either USDB or JMS. I would evaluate my child's level and skills first, and then send him/her to appropriate school. Also, parents' responsiblity is to have the child involved with deaf community, which is here in SLC at the Deaf Centre, so that the child can have exposure to deaf community.
 
Deaf258 said:
Thank you for putting the label out that I was looking for.. USDB has a lot of AGBellers. One of them had the nerve to scold me for not wearing my hearing aids and that I was setting a bad example to the "hearing impaired" kids.

USDB is getting a little better, but I have not yet seen any major improvements. Everytime I mentioned JMS while working for USDB, I get dirty looks from some of the staff members. I am sorry, but I think JMS is a better school for the Deaf than USDB.


A lot of ABellers, Yikes... but USDB is starting to show that they are accepting ASL and Bi Bi education because they are using JMS system.

Ill have to say that JMS is ok. I wouldn't send my children to JMS. I am not impressed with teachers and staff's attitudes to children. Especially the principal. I hear a lot of complaining going on. .. :(
 
I used to live in Utah for few month and my parent try to get me to USDB and found out that im not allowed because im just not morman.. and i end up going to public school and moved to Minnesota.
 
USDB has a lot of AGBellers. One of them had the nerve to scold me for not wearing my hearing aids and that I was setting a bad example to the "hearing impaired" kids.
Yeah, probaly b/c there's few D/deaf resources available in Utah, so the pro-oralists take over the few resources under the guise of "expanding the options".....arugghhhh....
 
deafdyke said:
Yeah, probaly b/c there's few D/deaf resources available in Utah, so the pro-oralists take over the few resources under the guise of "expanding the options".....arugghhhh....

It is such a contradiction because Salt Lake City, Utah has one of the BEST Deaf centers in USA. Wow!! I still can't get over that Deaf center. It is a great resource for the Utah Deafies.
 
deaflibrarian said:
It reminded me of the Jericho Hill scandal that continues to this day in Vancouver, BC.

Actually, Jericho Hill was shut down over a decade ago.
 
deaflibrarian said:
Yes it was, but the effects of the scandal continue to this day.

Oh yes. Absolutely. Such a pity that there were also a lot of devastating cases that happened in Washington state which is right just below British Columbia.

Obviously the two schools are somehow linked.
 
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