Comments on: A Non-Gallaudetian Speaks Out http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/ Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:29:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Aquafina http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29768 Aquafina Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:34:46 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29768 One last comment for the night -- why the switch, Hilary? Why did you, in the beginning, say that she should "resign"--then in the second letter, you said she was qualified to be a leader. Your comment from your blog above: "Because I believe that Jane Kelleher Fernandes is, on paper, qualified for the job." Additionally, let me point out what you said in the blog about whether the BOT would remove Jane: "Even if Fernandes resigns or is removed by the BOT (neither of which is likely to happen),..." Well, the BOT did remove Jane in contrary to your belief--ostensibly because you BELIEVED she was the right candidate for the job and that she would likely not be removed by the BOT. I still DON'T understand why you switched your mind about JKF....you still have NOT explained why adequately for the switch. I'm surmising here that some of your colleagues who signed the first letter probably felt dismayed by your switch. Did you talk it out with them before going against the grain of the letter that was posted on GUFSSA? Just wondering here--not personally attacking you here but just wondering at the switch. One last comment for the night — why the switch, Hilary? Why did you, in the beginning, say that she should “resign”–then in the second letter, you said she was qualified to be a leader. Your comment from your blog above: “Because I believe that Jane Kelleher Fernandes is, on paper, qualified for the job.”

Additionally, let me point out what you said in the blog about whether the BOT would remove Jane: “Even if Fernandes resigns or is removed by the BOT (neither of which is likely to happen),…” Well, the BOT did remove Jane in contrary to your belief–ostensibly because you BELIEVED she was the right candidate for the job and that she would likely not be removed by the BOT.

I still DON’T understand why you switched your mind about JKF….you still have NOT explained why adequately for the switch. I’m surmising here that some of your colleagues who signed the first letter probably felt dismayed by your switch. Did you talk it out with them before going against the grain of the letter that was posted on GUFSSA?

Just wondering here–not personally attacking you here but just wondering at the switch.

]]> By: Aquafina http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29760 Aquafina Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:17:31 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29760 Because revealing oneself can RUIN friendships if one is against the other. Haven't you ever thought of that? I have seen friendships fallen apart over the protest! Food for thought, Hilary. :) By the way, I have heard some Gallaudet academians who are against Fernandes say they would NEVER ever be friends or want to work closely with those that supported her at all. That's why those with tenure are able to sign open letters; but those who don't have tenure do sign letters anonymously to protect themselves rightfully. Lastly, this forum/board/blog allows people to post anonymously for a good reason. I would surmise that you are able to figure out why its a good reason to do so at times. I chose to never post my name publicly so that way I can be very honest and blunt without people slamming me in public later for my comments and it allows me to keep my friendships without reprisals. Because revealing oneself can RUIN friendships if one is against the other. Haven’t you ever thought of that? I have seen friendships fallen apart over the protest! Food for thought, Hilary. :)

By the way, I have heard some Gallaudet academians who are against Fernandes say they would NEVER ever be friends or want to work closely with those that supported her at all. That’s why those with tenure are able to sign open letters; but those who don’t have tenure do sign letters anonymously to protect themselves rightfully.

Lastly, this forum/board/blog allows people to post anonymously for a good reason. I would surmise that you are able to figure out why its a good reason to do so at times. I chose to never post my name publicly so that way I can be very honest and blunt without people slamming me in public later for my comments and it allows me to keep my friendships without reprisals.

]]> By: Aquafina http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29758 Aquafina Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:09:54 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29758 oh, I MUST read the responses RIGHT after the author's blog? Who says that I must read through the copious amounts of responses BEFORE I write my own thoughts and opinions, etc.? Is it your rule of law or what? oh, I MUST read the responses RIGHT after the author’s blog? Who says that I must read through the copious amounts of responses BEFORE I write my own thoughts and opinions, etc.? Is it your rule of law or what?

]]> By: Hilary Franklin http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29690 Hilary Franklin Mon, 30 Oct 2006 02:28:59 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29690 Btw, thanks, whoever you are. :) Btw, thanks, whoever you are. :)

]]> By: Hilary Franklin http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29687 Hilary Franklin Mon, 30 Oct 2006 02:26:39 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29687 Oy. That letter was sent to the FSSA either last Thursday or Friday. This blog -- the first draft -- was written last weekend and revised before that DeafAcademics letter was created. I attached my name to it because, as I clearly stated above somewhere in the comments, that BECAUSE of the nature of the protests, I didn't think JKF would be able to be an effective president. And now the BOT has agreed with that. Btw....if you're a friend of mine, why are you hiding? I have no idea who you are. Oy. That letter was sent to the FSSA either last Thursday or Friday. This blog — the first draft — was written last weekend and revised before that DeafAcademics letter was created. I attached my name to it because, as I clearly stated above somewhere in the comments, that BECAUSE of the nature of the protests, I didn’t think JKF would be able to be an effective president. And now the BOT has agreed with that.

Btw….if you’re a friend of mine, why are you hiding? I have no idea who you are.

]]> By: Dan http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29525 Dan Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:33:18 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29525 Me think outsiders like Hilary without a concrete/precise view of the uprising, especially those with hearing loss, are, IMHO, afraid of how they will be viewed/perceived at work or with their hearing colleagues. I had such an argy-bargy with a friend working in the "hearing world" in a high tech company some few days ago. Even though he is an Alumni (he has been outside for over 15 years), educating him about the reasons for the uprising was like hiting a brick wall. I suspect because he is successful and comfortable in his environment, this uprising might in some way disturb that comfort he has been used to since leaving Gallaudet! Me think outsiders like Hilary without a concrete/precise view of the uprising, especially those with hearing loss, are, IMHO, afraid of how they will be viewed/perceived at work or with their hearing colleagues. I had such an argy-bargy with a friend working in the “hearing world” in a high tech company some few days ago. Even though he is an Alumni (he has been outside for over 15 years), educating him about the reasons for the uprising was like hiting a brick wall. I suspect because he is successful and comfortable in his environment, this uprising might in some way disturb that comfort he has been used to since leaving Gallaudet!

]]> By: Kristi http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29495 Kristi Sun, 29 Oct 2006 16:49:24 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29495 "Why haven't the literacy rates changed?" If you start school already language delayed, it's much harder to catch up. As the years go by, if the gap is not narrowed, it will just get wider and wider- that's called the Matthew effect. Good readers become better readers, poor readers become stuck. Too many people don't understand that school is *not* the place where language acquistion should start- it should start at home, with the caretakers *conversational* and clear communicating with the child from birth to age 5-7. Therein lies the problem- if the parents cannot communicate along the deaf child's preferred pathway (auditory, visual, or both, whatever works for the child), and there's no early intervention, well... “Why haven’t the literacy rates changed?”
If you start school already language delayed, it’s much harder to catch up. As the years go by, if the gap is not narrowed, it will just get wider and wider- that’s called the Matthew effect. Good readers become better readers, poor readers become stuck. Too many people don’t understand that school is *not* the place where language acquistion should start- it should start at home, with the caretakers *conversational* and clear communicating with the child from birth to age 5-7. Therein lies the problem- if the parents cannot communicate along the deaf child’s preferred pathway (auditory, visual, or both, whatever works for the child), and there’s no early intervention, well…

]]> By: A Voice http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29410 A Voice Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:58:06 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29410 I would suggest that you read the responses. She replied to another person's inquiry about this 2 days before your post here. I would suggest that you read the responses. She replied to another person’s inquiry about this 2 days before your post here.

]]> By: A Voice http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29409 A Voice Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:54:54 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29409 Neither. It just is. Neither.

It just is.

]]> By: A Voice http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29408 A Voice Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:51:46 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/guest-blogger/2006-10-25/a-non-gallaudetian-speaks-out/#comment-29408 So upward to 10% of the students are considered as dropouts? Or is the number only indicative of those who have graduated from MSSD? If it's the 2nd point, Ouch. That's large. It's a system-wide failure on our own deaf children's future if parents are not taught loud and clear that language is important from the start, it being ASL, English, or whatever. The rest will follow. As to the other poster saying that his/her deaf child will be taught in oral, not ASL, I beg you -- allow your child to learn BOTH. Bilingualism may be a dirty word among radicals at Gallaudet, but it is a perfectly valid method for a child to be involved with both worlds. I am one of them. I have had a wonderful time chatting with my deaf peers at a Halloween party tonight. I also have had fun hanging with my hearing co-workers this past week. But we all know that since we're deaf, it's extremely hard to keep up with the hearing folks. That's why I deeply treasure my times with my deaf peers -- it's a wonderful way of just not concentrating on what the hearing folks are saying, and just enjoying the time together. Please, Total Communication, Tender Loving Care. :-) So upward to 10% of the students are considered as dropouts? Or is the number only indicative of those who have graduated from MSSD?

If it’s the 2nd point, Ouch. That’s large.

It’s a system-wide failure on our own deaf children’s future if parents are not taught loud and clear that language is important from the start, it being ASL, English, or whatever. The rest will follow.

As to the other poster saying that his/her deaf child will be taught in oral, not ASL, I beg you — allow your child to learn BOTH. Bilingualism may be a dirty word among radicals at Gallaudet, but it is a perfectly valid method for a child to be involved with both worlds.

I am one of them. I have had a wonderful time chatting with my deaf peers at a Halloween party tonight. I also have had fun hanging with my hearing co-workers this past week. But we all know that since we’re deaf, it’s extremely hard to keep up with the hearing folks. That’s why I deeply treasure my times with my deaf peers — it’s a wonderful way of just not concentrating on what the hearing folks are saying, and just enjoying the time together.

Please, Total Communication, Tender Loving Care. :-)

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