Survival Strategies for Schools for the Deaf

[shel90]

I noticed that at Deaf schools too. I could not believe how angry another Deaf students were when they told me to not criticize their english and some even got into fistfights with me over their english. The thing here is that I was not criticizing their english. I was just trying to help and years later, after all of us graduated, I noticed the ones that kept on being angry about their english did not really have good jobs while the ones that made serious efforts with their english reading and written skills had jobs that paid really good money. I am very thankful my parents made sure I had a proper command of the English language.

SEE! It all comes down to parental or family support!

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

It should be made mandatory for all parents of deaf children in state schools to participate and be involved in their children's learning.

 

[ismi]

It should be made mandatory for all parents of deaf children in state schools to participate and be involved in their children's learning.

It would be nice if all parents of all children, regardless of their educational setting, would participate in their children's learning (and life in general). There's no way to legislate that, though.

 

[Miss-Delectable]

I'm sorry, but I think state schools for the deaf suck! They claim to have "bi bi philosphy" and then when we choose to speak while signing (some of us like to) they scream at us to shut the fuck up. Fuck that shit.

And living in the dorms? That is not fun. That is torture! The staff in the dorms tried to pull all kinds of shit on me and my foster parents (because well I had 2 foster moms). Eventually I quit. Glad I quit.

Students there are horrible.

I also think it is terrible that so many parents send their deaf kids to the state school for the deaf which would be like 3-4-5 or more hours away. Now many deaf kids tell me that they hardly have a relationship with their parents because they only saw them on the weekends.A lot of the kids there have been at the school since they werelike 2-3 years old until they graduate from high school! How the hell is that supposed to prepare them for the real world?! Sometimes I feel like they have decided that it would just be easier to stash their deaf kids at the state school rather than keep them in local public school and work with their kids on school, language, and communication stuff. Most parents don't even sign. A lot of them don't even try. I personally think it's the parents' responsibility to work with their kids and try their best and try all options before sending the kids off to the state school.

I know some state schools for the deaf aren't up to par academically, but in some ways, they do provide sanctuary for many disadvantaged kids. Anyway, the manner teachers used when telling you to turn off your voice whilst signing is unprofessional.

I used to speak sim-com at school and wasn't told off for it, and my school was bi-bi.

I agree with you about life in the dorm. I stayed overnight or two at a dorm at ECD in Canada, and that was enough to put me off on the idea of living in school residence. I was so grateful that mum were resistant to efforts to put me in dormitory, and kept me at home.

I've noticed that kids in deaf schools aren't very acceptable of those who were 'different' (like goths, gays, geeks, just like normal schools, I guess), but it's felt more at schools for the deaf. I know because I speak from experience. I was an outcast because I was more academic and conservative. They rather have others who were conformists.

Heath, many good points. Let's hope the deaf community and the deaf schools will work cohesively to make the prospect of educating one deaf kid more attracive to parents. Let's face it schools for the deaf are at the risk of declining to a point of closure.

It's true it cost far more to educate kids in special education than mainstream education. I recall an example from Professor Clark's book; he said something like it cost about $200,000 to educate one deaf kid at school for the deaf for about 12 years in contrast to $70,000 for one deaf kid in mainstream school for the same amount of years. No wonder the Govt wants to close schools for the deaf to save money, or merge deaf and blind into one.

You just have remember that not every school for the deaf are the same in attitudes, standard of education etc. Some are better funded, have good teachers and good rapports within the school community, deaf community and community in general.

With more deaf people being aware of the power in blogs and such will ensure their voices are to be heard when they want changes to be made in schools for the deaf, deaf unit programs and such. I'm sure by then, we'll see empowerment and heaps more of improvements. It just takes time.

Please excuse me for blathering on.

 

[Miss-Delectable]

It should be made mandatory for all parents of deaf children in state schools to participate and be involved in their children's learning.

I concur heartily. I believe it's terribly vital for parents to be heavily involved in their child's education, but unfortunately, even today, so many aren't interested in being involved in the educational and emotional development of their deaf child. It's so sad. I just want to kick these dropkick parents asses!

 

[Heath]

Heath, many good points. Let's hope the deaf community and the deaf schools will work cohesively to make the prospect of educating one deaf kid more attracive to parents. Let's face it schools for the deaf are at the risk of declining to a point of closure.

It's true it cost far more to educate kids in special education than mainstream education. I recall an example from Professor Clark's book; he said something like it cost about $200,000 to educate one deaf kid at school for the deaf for about 12 years in contrast to $70,000 for one deaf kid in mainstream school for the same amount of years. No wonder the Govt wants to close schools for the deaf to save money, or merge deaf and blind into one.

You just have remember that not every school for the deaf are the same in attitudes, standard of education etc. Some are better funded, have good teachers and good rapports within the school community, deaf community and community in general.

With more deaf people being aware of the power in blogs and such will ensure their voices are to be heard when they want changes to be made in schools for the deaf, deaf unit programs and such. I'm sure by then, we'll see empowerment and heaps more of improvements. It just takes time.

Hi Miss Delectable, I noticed something that jumped out of reading what you were saying about the cost of a Deaf school verus a mainstream school. What can be done to make Deaf schools more affordable ? How is the mainstream program able to have a operating budget of $70,000. verus a Deaf school's operating budget of $200,000 ? I thought Deaf schools were taxpayer funded and I don't mind having my tax dollars going to help Deaf schools.

 

[Miss-Delectable]

Hi Miss Delectable, I noticed something that jumped out of reading what you were saying about the cost of a Deaf school verus a mainstream school. What can be done to make Deaf schools more affordable ? How is the mainstream program able to have a operating budget of $70,000. verus a Deaf school's operating budget of $200,000 ? I thought Deaf schools were taxpayer funded and I don't mind having my tax dollars going to help Deaf schools.

I mean $70,000 per deaf child in mainstream setting, not the program itself. Mainstream program will have a budget of few hundreds thousands depending on the number of students, I'm sure.

Actually, deaf schools, that are public and funded by the taxpayers, will be free to all. Well, I'm not sure, but maybe parents needs to pay minimal fees, but best ask shel90 about that. In all, deaf schools are expensive to the governments pockets, not the parents.

I won't be surprised to hear that deaf schools has more monies in their budget than deaf units because deaf schools require a lot more to fund their dormitories, staff, maintenance and special services whereas mainstream only need monies to fund deaf education teachers, some services such as speech therapist etc. That's why Governments finds mainstream schooling appealing for kids with disabilities because they don't have to pay much, but by not paying much means kids with disabilities often fall through the crack.

It's an irony when you think about some deaf kids falling behind hearing peers in mainstream setting because of inadequate service & help, they end up in schools for the deaf all because the school districts and governments are such a tightwad about money for their needs, which are sometimes more than the school can cope with!

 

[deafdyke]

he said something like it cost about $200,000 to educate one deaf kid at school for the deaf for about 12 years in contrast to $70,000 for one deaf kid in mainstream school for the same amount of years.

On the other hand, when you take away the costs of dorms and things like that, I'm sure that the cost is equal. And besides, Deaf schools need to spend more money on equiptment and things like that!

 

[Miss-Delectable]

I made a mistake. I meant to say that Professor Clark said it costs about $200,000 per year to educate a deaf child in a deaf school whereas it costs about $70,000 per year to educate a deaf child in mainstream setting.