Comments on: Is It Really Identity Politics…Or Is It A Condescending Attitude? http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:37:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: DeafDC Blog » WeekStart Roundup: The Diversifying Edition http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-4447 DeafDC Blog » WeekStart Roundup: The Diversifying Edition Mon, 22 May 2006 13:43:03 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-4447 [...] Gallaudet remained a dominant topic for DeafDC.com visitors as Julie brought up the now-apparent splits in the deaf community and the racial conflicts surrounding the presidential selection process. The blogpower team of Chris and Allison Kaftan discussed Dr. Fernandes’s attitude towards her constituents and the media’s declaration that the protest was over. [...] […] Gallaudet remained a dominant topic for DeafDC.com visitors as Julie brought up the now-apparent splits in the deaf community and the racial conflicts surrounding the presidential selection process. The blogpower team of Chris and Allison Kaftan discussed Dr. Fernandes’s attitude towards her constituents and the media’s declaration that the protest was over. […]

]]> By: phat http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3909 phat Thu, 18 May 2006 05:55:17 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3909 zzzzzzz... zzzzzzz…

]]> By: KBM http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3851 KBM Wed, 17 May 2006 21:11:25 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3851 I agree. DPN was planned well beforehand, so they were emotionally ready for anything and knew what they wanted to say. This one was pure spontaneity and emotion-based, despite having received several blinking warning neon signs. I was wondering if they were scrambling to grab the DPN playbook as a "guidebook" to action. Even I couldn't help but suspecting if certain student leaders were trying to be a 21st century mirror image of the 4 DPN student leaders. Thank God FSSA took over soon thereafter. I agree. DPN was planned well beforehand, so they were emotionally ready for anything and knew what they wanted to say. This one was pure spontaneity and emotion-based, despite having received several blinking warning neon signs. I was wondering if they were scrambling to grab the DPN playbook as a “guidebook” to action. Even I couldn’t help but suspecting if certain student leaders were trying to be a 21st century mirror image of the 4 DPN student leaders. Thank God FSSA took over soon thereafter.

]]> By: KBM http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3848 KBM Wed, 17 May 2006 20:53:39 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3848 Perhaps someone can write a book called "Freakeconomics in the Deaf-World", with research and statistics investigating whether there are interesting correlations between MSSD/KDES/GU performance and JK's time there. There could very well be other "masked" factors and JK's being there was a more visible coincedence, we don't really know for sure. In a way, this reminds me of a conversation I had with someone who works as a director of deaf programs in schools of Georgia. He showed me some statistics about academic performance (measured by state-wide tests and by high school exit examinations), and said, "Look at this big drop in state test performance and look at the years. What was the difference with the before and the after?" "NCLB?" "Exactly. NCLB forced Georgia to require *all* deaf students- no more waivers like in the past- to take *all* tests. The waivers skewed the numbers in the past, 'oh, my son is deaf, please waive him from taking the writing exam...', so that it looked like we were doing fine before when we really weren't. Georgia is becoming more demanding for higher expectations. Many teachers and parents are now caught off guard- they now realize they can't get away with "baby down" education as before. Perhaps someone can write a book called “Freakeconomics in the Deaf-World”, with research and statistics investigating whether there are interesting correlations between MSSD/KDES/GU performance and JK’s time there. There could very well be other “masked” factors and JK’s being there was a more visible coincedence, we don’t really know for sure.

In a way, this reminds me of a conversation I had with someone who works as a director of deaf programs in schools of Georgia. He showed me some statistics about academic performance (measured by state-wide tests and by high school exit examinations), and said, “Look at this big drop in state test performance and look at the years. What was the difference with the before and the after?”
“NCLB?”
“Exactly. NCLB forced Georgia to require *all* deaf students- no more waivers like in the past- to take *all* tests. The waivers skewed the numbers in the past, ‘oh, my son is deaf, please waive him from taking the writing exam…’, so that it looked like we were doing fine before when we really weren’t. Georgia is becoming more demanding for higher expectations. Many teachers and parents are now caught off guard- they now realize they can’t get away with “baby down” education as before.

]]> By: Cloak & Dagger http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3847 Cloak & Dagger Wed, 17 May 2006 20:46:51 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3847 Well, this situation is rather unique because I keep asking myself this question: would this protest ever happened if DPN never happened in the first place? DPN was so inspirational for deaf people across the world - enabling them to fight for their recognition. When the BoT announced that Fernandes would succeed Jordan, their first reaction was emotional and of course they would think of DPN. So, it spread like wildfire - and it was too easy for the protestors to forget about logic in the beginning. That was their mistake and Fernandes was clever enough to take advantage of it. A lesson learned for the next time, eh? Well, this situation is rather unique because I keep asking myself this question: would this protest ever happened if DPN never happened in the first place? DPN was so inspirational for deaf people across the world - enabling them to fight for their recognition. When the BoT announced that Fernandes would succeed Jordan, their first reaction was emotional and of course they would think of DPN. So, it spread like wildfire - and it was too easy for the protestors to forget about logic in the beginning. That was their mistake and Fernandes was clever enough to take advantage of it. A lesson learned for the next time, eh?

]]> By: Will O\\\'The Wisp http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3834 Will O\\\'The Wisp Wed, 17 May 2006 19:10:03 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3834 Fernandes is said to be committed to dialogue with the student protesters and dissident faculty. http://www.nbc4.com/news/9231343/detail.html Fernandes is said to be committed to dialogue with the student protesters and dissident faculty.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/9231343/detail.html

]]> By: Curious Eyes http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3812 Curious Eyes Wed, 17 May 2006 17:38:45 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3812 Again, I'd like to know what "policies" you are referring to. Is the "newfangled policy" the one about restricting students to those in the metro Washington area? Then that was changed, right? What about high stakes testing and the requirement for students to pass exit exams? was that a factor at MSSD? Some states decided to implement exit exam at schools for the deaf, and I know that some students withdrew to enroll at MSSD instead. I wonder if enrollment actually grew during some years and shrank in other years? Yes, I'd like to see some facts here too. Someone else mentioned that the Faculty wrote a report, and the FSSA wrote a report. Really? Where is it? and who received it, and was supposed to take action on the report? I also would appreciate a link to this PART report that has been mentioned, so I can read it for myself. Thanks! Again, I’d like to know what “policies” you are referring to. Is the “newfangled policy” the one about restricting students to those in the metro Washington area? Then that was changed, right?

What about high stakes testing and the requirement for students to pass exit exams? was that a factor at MSSD? Some states decided to implement exit exam at schools for the deaf, and I know that some students withdrew to enroll at MSSD instead. I wonder if enrollment actually grew during some years and shrank in other years? Yes, I’d like to see some facts here too. Someone else mentioned that the Faculty wrote a report, and the FSSA wrote a report. Really? Where is it? and who received it, and was supposed to take action on the report? I also would appreciate a link to this PART report that has been mentioned, so I can read it for myself. Thanks!

]]> By: Blimey! http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3778 Blimey! Wed, 17 May 2006 14:47:14 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3778 This is a wonderful article, Kaftans. I wished this was written before commencement and that the media got a glimpse of it. The points / arguments found in this artilce practically destroys Jane's "I wasn't deaf enough" defense and the audience would then get an immediate idea of the kind of person she is. Only then they might realize the core reason of the protest. The protest was a leadership test and Jane skirted the real issues at hand. Is that a trait of a good leader? Great job Kaftans. This is a wonderful article, Kaftans. I wished this was written before commencement and that the media got a glimpse of it. The points / arguments found in this artilce practically destroys Jane’s “I wasn’t deaf enough” defense and the audience would then get an immediate idea of the kind of person she is. Only then they might realize the core reason of the protest. The protest was a leadership test and Jane skirted the real issues at hand. Is that a trait of a good leader?

Great job Kaftans.

]]> By: WAD http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3773 WAD Wed, 17 May 2006 12:29:01 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3773 Oops! "2.) Can you have me" should be "2.) Can you give me". Oops! “2.) Can you have me” should be “2.) Can you give me”.

]]> By: Julie Feldman http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3772 Julie Feldman Wed, 17 May 2006 12:20:18 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-and-allison-kaftan/2006-05-16/is-it-really-identity-politics-or-is-it-a-condescending-attitude/#comment-3772 Actually, just the other week, I believe he did admit to at least glancing at the headlines.. that good enough for you? Actually, just the other week, I believe he did admit to at least glancing at the headlines.. that good enough for you?

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