[Mi-abs] Article: Protest against firing of Blind Training Center's director

[Michelle Medina]

I'm stunned. I was just thinking that I should email her to say thank
you for helping me get here to the LCB training center. Just, wow is
all I can say.
That's a load of horse maneure!
Michelle

On 2/23/10, J.J. Meddaugh <jj at bestmidi.com> wrote:
> >From wwmt.com
>
> KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - More than a dozen protesters held signs
> and chanted
> outside the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center in Kalamazoo
> Tuesday
> morning to support Christine Boone.  She was the center's director until
> state officials
> fired her a few weeks ago.
> The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan organized Tuesday's rally
> that included
> several of Christine Boone's former students.
> The state fired Christine Boone for allowing those blind students to shoot
> spring-loaded
> pellet guns at an outdoor target on school property, as part of a
> marksmanship course.
> The state called the course an egregious lack of judgment and says firearms
> are illegal
> on state property.
> But those at the rally say Christine Boone was an innovator as the director
> and say
> the marksmanship course was just one way she gave the blind confidence.
> "I realize what kind of administrator she is," said Larry Posont, president
> of the
> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. "She's empowering the
> students."
> Roxanna Mann was one of those students. She began attending the Michigan
> Commission
> for the Blind Training Center on Oakland Drive in the fall of 2009.  She
> lost her
> sight to glaucoma and other eye diseases.  Roxanna says the shooting class
> was voluntary,
> but she gladly signed up for it.
> "It was an injustice to hear, if it truly was on the surface as a
> marksmanship course,"
> said Roxanna, referring to Christine Boone's dismissal. "It was a huge
> injustice.
> "I've never got a bull's-eye sighted, but I got one blind. I'm proud [and
> full of]
> confidence."
> Michelle Carrington told Newschannel 3 she would have taken the marksmanship
> class,
> too, but the state cancelled it in November of 2009.
> "They're basically, by taking the class away, they're saying the blind is
> too stupid
> to shoot a gun," Michelle said.
> The protesters chanted, "Fire the Cannon!" - a reference to Patrick Cannon,
> director
> of the Michigan Commission for the Blind in Lansing.  They'd prefer he was
> the one
> to get fired, not Christine Boone.
> "Pat Cannon's administration is falling apart," Larry Posont said. "And with
> him
> falling apart, he's trying to put the blame on somebody else."
> Roxanna Mann told Newschannel 3 she wouldn't be where she is today and
> wouldn't have
> shot a bull's-eye without Christine Boone's help.
> "It was a huge high for me, a huge confidence builder," Roxanna said. "My
> husband
> was so proud. We're framing the bull's-eye and it's in our lodge room."
> Christine Boone has appealed her firing.  She says she had verbal consent to
> do the
> shooting class and that the spring-loaded pellet guns used do not meet the
> definition
> of a firearm.
>
> http://www.wwmt.com/articles/kalamazoo-1372985-blind-center.html
> _______________________________________________
> Mi-abs mailing list
> Mi-abs at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mi-abs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Mi-abs:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/mi-abs_nfbnet.org/michellem86%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Phone: 318-245-2437