In that regard, I can how Gallaudet’s policies would have a ripple effect nationally. That would force the mainstreamed programs and the state schools of the deaf to raise their standards if they wanted to be able to say, ‘Our students go to college after graduation!’

By accepting those students, Gallaudet is not only enabling the perputation of the deleterious education given to the deaf, but they’re also tacitly condoning the whole thing.

I think if Gallaudet raises its standards, it would also lead many of us to become more proactive about our local educational system. It would give us more of an incentive to go out there and demand higher standards and accountability from the public schools, whether it be the state school of the deaf, or the mainstreamed programs. I don’t really see much activism in that regard. And when there IS activism, it’s done horribly, in my opinion. I think it’s time for *everyone* to step up to the plate and start fixing this mess.

~ Deaf Pundit

first off, I can admit wholeheartingly that a lot of my reserves about Gallaudet are, in fact, from personal experience. And I can not say that my experiences were pleasant. The teachers I had the pleasure of meeting and opportunity to learn from were frustrated as well. at this point, it’s difficult to see the future of the school, but i’m sure that may change.

I hate to say it, but the reality is there, without “further examination by the way of survey’s blah blah.” it’s going to take me more than 6 months, which is the average, to find a job and fight through the stereotypes. It sucks but that’s the way it is. I wish I could put away the pessimism but right now it’s just too hard. making lemonade from rancid lemon’s won’t sell very well from this current Lemonade stand.

You may have a point about employers not wanting to hire students who are from Gallaudet. But is it really all Gallaudet? Is this opinion based on your experience? While your experience is valid, it is not exactly representative of the bigger picture.

This question requires a long and deep look at all the issues involved. The “cold, hard reality” isn’t as simple as it seems. It requires further examination by way of surveys, statistic analyses, and so forth.

(The point of my blog was that all these issues need to be addressed and hopefully everyone will have enough drive to start asking serious questions and start doing something.)

now that being said, I really hope someday the quaility of education and guidance in prepratory educational systems improve so the deaf students of the future will have a much better chance to make something of themselves. the government won’t always be able to afford to guide them financially throughout their lives.

1) Literacy is accomplished from lifelong training and encouragement. People must have the basis of a fully acquired language (be it signed or spoken) before they can begin to learn secondary systems like writing. If signed or spoken language is not acquired early enough (or exposure is not constant enough), then achieving literacy is pretty impossible and this has consequences for everything else (education, employment, awareness of legal rights, etc…). Most Deaf children do not have the advantage of a fully accessible language early enough and this has serious ramifications for the rest of their lives. College, which is supposed to be a four-year experience, can do little to alleviate such damage.

2) College is usually where people go to be trained for future careers. Basic skills such as reading, writing, computing, and so forth are not supposed to be included in the curriculum. It’s already assumed that students have come prepared with these skills from elementary and secondary school.

If you feel that Deaf students from Gallaudet University are not literate nor are they able to graduate, then I ask you to look at the whole picture and then consider how much Gallaudet is a factor of all this.

Seriously, Gallaudet has MUCH work to do in this area — but I am afraid Gallaudet doesn’t have the time nor luxury or resources to overcome this deficiency.

Missed reading your outstanding writing voice- may i say again- YOU ROCK! Thanks for bringing a fresh perspective on all the hoopla thats been going on. Thank god its basically over, so I’ll be seeing more of you on campus! ;)

Investigative reporters of leading news media found unduly influences from technology vendors on Kelleher. The Big Money looks like had a grab on her, and through her on Gallaudet University. They say Kelleher wanted to eradicate Deaf culture in a sense, by making ASL needless.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....ndes_x.htm

This raises the issue of legal responsibility of Kelleher and warrants further investigation against her past practices.

Also, the Kelleher Gang at Gallaudet University — that is still holding many powerful posts throughout the campus — should be broken down, and its power figures should be demolished from decision making positions. Kelleher-contaminated staff and faculty persons should be demoted and placed into other important but lower ranking positions. A tight kernel of female power-grabbers, all related to Kelleher’s former regime, should be identified and neutralized. Leaving them in leading positions would be a recipe for the same kinds of disasters Kelleher caused during her tenure.

No further progress is possible if the wrongs committed by Kelleher and her Gang of Oppression during her reign as Vice President and Provost are not righted. An honest assessment should be prepared about the damages her regime inflicted upon human resources of the university. Victims of her MBI practices should be identified and compensated.

Kelleher is not a victim, don’t shed any drop of tear for her. Rather, shed the tears for her victims whom she mercilessly butchered during the time of her uncontrolled power and insane oppression. They are the ones who deserve our sympathy and not the oppressor.