Miss-Delectable
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Wilkes: N.C. shouldn't cut support for deaf or blind
State budget cuts threaten the extinction of the deaf and blind culture via new layoffs and tyrannical working conditions at the schools for the deaf in North Carolina.
I am appalled and ashamed to say that our state has chosen to blatantly disregard our fundamental right to an education. Article IX, section 2, of the N.C. Constitution explicitly states, "The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students." "Equal opportunities" — two simple words absent from the vocabulary of the officials making inhumane cuts to N.C. schools for the deaf and blind.
These schools serve a very special and, now, ever so clearly overlooked, population of diverse students with a range of IQ's, personalities and ambitions, but who share the condition of deafness or blindness. In the state's recent cut of financial support for these three unique schools, it has reduced "the means of education [that] shall forever be encouraged" as stated in article 9 of the state constitution.
These budget cuts will herd the schools one step closer to closing their doors. Students then will face one of two inevitable options: attending extremely small regional schools where the population of students may not surpass single digits or being catapulted into mainstream schools where there are very few, if any, deaf and/or blind students.
As the schools exist now, the children very easily communicate with each other, participate in sports and other activities and have ample opportunities for crucial social and interpersonal development. If we cut funding to these schools, these children will lose their right to "being like in nature" and instead will require an interpreter to communicate with virtually anyone; they will lose the right to being "similar in quality" as their social life dwindles and they will lose their right to be "equal in status" as we, the state of North Carolina, subliminally declare our tax money is not worth supporting the education and future of our deaf and blind.
As a member of the majority — that is, the hearing community — I implore you to stand up for equality. The very last place to make budget cuts is to reduce support for the only three schools in the state which are uniquely designed to support the deaf and blind populations. Even more astounding is that the jobs being cut are the ones that deal with direct student contact. We must fight for the basic civil rights of all Americans, rather than cutting their education and dividing them into a caste system.
I will stand up for injustice to ensure that deaf children will see my voice in the fight for their rights. We are all equal as Americans and must remember why it is we are Americans.
Please fight for equal rights and opportunities and ensure a deaf and/or blind neighbor or friend is given the same chance at life, love and happiness that you and I have appreciated. Please write our governor (a former educator and major education proponent) and declare that we are not a society of inequality and that No Child Left Behind means no child, even if deaf or blind.
State budget cuts threaten the extinction of the deaf and blind culture via new layoffs and tyrannical working conditions at the schools for the deaf in North Carolina.
I am appalled and ashamed to say that our state has chosen to blatantly disregard our fundamental right to an education. Article IX, section 2, of the N.C. Constitution explicitly states, "The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools, which shall be maintained at least nine months in every year, and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students." "Equal opportunities" — two simple words absent from the vocabulary of the officials making inhumane cuts to N.C. schools for the deaf and blind.
These schools serve a very special and, now, ever so clearly overlooked, population of diverse students with a range of IQ's, personalities and ambitions, but who share the condition of deafness or blindness. In the state's recent cut of financial support for these three unique schools, it has reduced "the means of education [that] shall forever be encouraged" as stated in article 9 of the state constitution.
These budget cuts will herd the schools one step closer to closing their doors. Students then will face one of two inevitable options: attending extremely small regional schools where the population of students may not surpass single digits or being catapulted into mainstream schools where there are very few, if any, deaf and/or blind students.
As the schools exist now, the children very easily communicate with each other, participate in sports and other activities and have ample opportunities for crucial social and interpersonal development. If we cut funding to these schools, these children will lose their right to "being like in nature" and instead will require an interpreter to communicate with virtually anyone; they will lose the right to being "similar in quality" as their social life dwindles and they will lose their right to be "equal in status" as we, the state of North Carolina, subliminally declare our tax money is not worth supporting the education and future of our deaf and blind.
As a member of the majority — that is, the hearing community — I implore you to stand up for equality. The very last place to make budget cuts is to reduce support for the only three schools in the state which are uniquely designed to support the deaf and blind populations. Even more astounding is that the jobs being cut are the ones that deal with direct student contact. We must fight for the basic civil rights of all Americans, rather than cutting their education and dividing them into a caste system.
I will stand up for injustice to ensure that deaf children will see my voice in the fight for their rights. We are all equal as Americans and must remember why it is we are Americans.
Please fight for equal rights and opportunities and ensure a deaf and/or blind neighbor or friend is given the same chance at life, love and happiness that you and I have appreciated. Please write our governor (a former educator and major education proponent) and declare that we are not a society of inequality and that No Child Left Behind means no child, even if deaf or blind.