[nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
Sami Osborne
ligne14 at verizon.net
Sun Feb 7 19:05:45 UTC 2016
Hi all,
Very interesting discussion topic and I agree with Loren. I went
to a school for the blind from kindergarten
until 6th grade, when I transferred to a school for the blind and
stkyed there until high school graduation. The main reason I
transferred was because I had major problems with my teachers and
TVI in public school.
First of all, I got a new TVI in the third month of my 6th grade
year. She didn't know any Braille at all, so she would send a
note home with me addressed to my mom asking her if she could
transcribe everything into Braille for me. Both my parents and I
were extremely annoyed by this, especially because it's a TVI's
responsibility to transcribe everying in whatever form the
student prefers, not the parent's. Although I did eventually get
my textbooks in Braille, the only subject where I didn't was
science. I had to listen to my scien textbook on tape while my
classmates had their books in print. I think the reason my
science teacher did that was because she thought that if she gave
it to me in print, I would have absoluetly no way of knowing what
it says. We all know of course that's wrong, but I think that's
what she thought at the time.
Second, I additionally had some issues with some of my teachers.
When I was only in 6th grade, I was forced to raise my hand and
get the teacher's attention so that I could ask them what he or
she had written on the board. I found this extremely pointless,
because why couldn't the teacher just explain to the whole class
what our assignments were? This would also allow for the everyone
to compl'etely understand what we er to do, and to ask the
teacher questions if there was anything she needed to clarify. I
do advocate for this now in the college class that I'm taking,
because now I'm old enough to understand that I need to advocate
for what I want and need, but back then, I guess I was too young
to comprehend that. Also, some teachers in public school
(particularly my 6th grade English one,) really got on my case
about taking notes in class. At the time, I had a harder time of
knowing what was important and what wasn't, and my English
teacher even threatened to put me in detention if I didn't take
notes like everyone else. Also, that being said, how was I
supposed to know that my classmates were jotting down notes?
I'm really greatof that I transferred to the school for the blind
after that horible experience in 6th grade in public school. I
now know and have made many friends with people who are blind in
my state, I've always had good grades and have almost always been
on the school's honor roll, I think that the school has really
well-rounded my character, and I was always guarkdthed materials
in Braille or electronic format, whatever I preferred for the
particular class. I have joined many extracuricular activities
at the school for the blind, such as sports teams, music
performances, and the poetry slam. I really don't know if those
things would have happened had I stayed in public school.
While I do agree that schools for the blind are somewhat behind
public schools in academics (that's a major thing that I think
should be addressed), and also that they may not help us to
prepare for the "real world", there are benefits to it (that I
just mentioned) if you don't have such a good experience in
public school.
Before I finish to go have lunch, I'd also like to clarify a few
things that people have said. First of all, schools for the
blind don't give you "everything" you need. You still have an
IEP when you're at the school for the blind, and you still have
to request whatever you need from your state that the school
can't provide you with. For example, the school can't provide
with a Braille notetaker. Sure, it guarantees that you get
everything you need in an accessible format, but the school can't
pay for an expensive notetaker; you need to talk to your state
councilor about that.
Second of all, a few people have mentioned schools for the blind
not preparing their students for the "real world." It does do
that to some extent. Here's an example: I just graduated from my
school for the blind this past June. When I was in my senior
year of high school, the jeachers really emphasized advocating
for ourselves for later on for college or jobs. So even though I
agree that the schools don't really prepare us (we're in a world
where only the teachers are sighted in the school for the blind)
they do mention it to some extent. Also, we all have so many
opportunities to get in the real world, such as college and jobs.
In those environments, nothing will be pruided for us, we need to
advocate for ourselves; you guys really hit it on that one. Who
says we need to do that early on when we have to do it a lot
during adulthood?
comin concluy, I am really grateful to the school for the blind
that I attended and I think that it has and will help me to have
a successful adult life. I sincerely appologize to everyone for
the rather lengthy post, but I really wanted to show you guys
that I had a not so good experience in public school and have
^one the best thing (in my opinion) to overcocme it. Yep, you
got it, transferred to the school for the blind.
I agree that everyone has their own personal preferences. I'm
not forcing anyone to follow in my footsteps, I'm just telling
you about my expfiences, which are all different for all of us.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week,
Sami
----- Original Message -----
From: Loren Wakefield via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 07 Feb 2016 11:00:40 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
So is that why a blind student must be accompanied by an aide in
the public
schools? I received a damn good education at Iowa Braille and
Sight Saving
School. At the time, it was far superior to what I would have
received in
my own town.
So in my humble opinion, it comes down to what works best for the
individual
student. Since leaving IBSSS, I have acquired a college
education, a Wife,
kids, and grandkids, along with many other things that has made
life
extremely interesting.
I have yet to see kids coming out of public schools that are any
closer to
being prepared for life than I was.
Having said this, I do believe it should be a choice. One should
not be
forced to attend one or the other. If the public school setting
works
better for you, than get in there and kick butt and get all you
can. If the
state school works better for you, then do the same. Just
remember, no
school system is perfect.
Loren
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Angela via
nabs-l
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2016 8:32 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Cc: angelaroberts10886 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
I honestly think that Blind Schools shelter students, and don't
prepare them
for the real world. I went to public school until my 11th grade
year of
school, and I'm regretting even going to a blind school.
The academics is way behind for high school. Like some have
said, I feel
like blind schools baby and give students everything without
questions
asked, therefore they expect tmhe sighted world to do the same.
How can one
develop self advocacy skills when they are handed everything
without having
to fight for it?
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 6, 2016, at 11:11 PM, Kayla James via nabs-l
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
wrote:
Lol. I'm not the only one who gets irritated? Boss awesome!
On 2/6/16, Doug Oliver via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
Danielle I agree with you I have had people do the "your so
amazing"
comments too and it irritated me too I know what that's like.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danielle Sykora via nabs-l" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: "Danielle Sykora" <dsykora29 at gmail.com
Sent: Saturday, February 6, 2016 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
As someone who has only been to public school, I am extremely
greatful that my education was in this setting. Although it was
challenging at times, I'm glad I was in "the real world" from
the
beginning. Though most of my work was available, accessibility
challenges were always an unfortunate but unavoidable part of
life I
learned to deal with long ago. Most people viewed me as "that
blind
girl", but honestly, this is how it usually is as a minority. A
similar hierarchy exists among blind people as it does in your
average school environment. I'm not an overly social person, so
it
doesn't make a huge difference to me--I don't deal with people
who
have a superiority complex and I'm perfectly happy with just a
few close
friends. The "your so amazing"
comments irritate me to no end and I actually tend to discredit
compliments as products of low expectations, so I'm not sure the
sense of entitlement happens all that often. Most importantly
though, I needed to be in an academically challenging
environment
that I'm not sure is always available in a residential school
for
the blind. For example, how many AP science classes would be
available in one of these schools?
Danielle
On 2/6/16, Vejas Vasiliauskas via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
I feel like as a public school student and you are blind, lots
of
people are amazed by you and you may get a false sense of
entitlement. Particularly in elementary school 'I'm sure a lot
of
people can relate to th', you get paired with friends who are
there
to help you at lunch and recess--as you get older this of course
doesn't happen, and it can be a shock to some people.
I can say now that as a student at LCB I am not "The Blind Kid",
and there are groups here, but friends choose each other based
on
much more meaningful reasons.
Vejas
----- Original Message -----
From: Kayla James via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Sat, 6 Feb 2016 21:12:47 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
From someone who has done both, there isn't a whole lot of
difference.
In public school, you will be the "blind" kid, new, and people
will
be scared of you, but it helps you deal more with the real world
where you are a minority in a sense. Residential blind schools
are
like public schools, you'll be the "blind" kid there, too, and
depending on the hierarchy, because let's face it there is one,
that can be good or bad.
The popular kids are usually visually impaired, athletic,
pretty,
you name it. Totals are in on it, too. The pros: you are
around
your own set, if you will.
On 2/6/16, Christina Moore via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
I believe both settings have thier benefits and disadvantages.
I attended a school for the blind from 2-4 grade and was a
residental student. I did not mind in any not being at home and
being at the school for the blind allowed me to be around other
kids, advance my braille skills, learn some other necessary
skills
and gain self-confidence I would not otherwise have had.
Once I entered public school in fifth grade it waws a hurtle for
me
to do math and to accept being in a public school because my
whole
world was different. My school was learning how to help me as
they
were going and that was challenging at time. It was not thier
fault, but it was still challenging. I did well though and am
in
college now.
I believe both experiences have their advantages and
disadvantages.
For instance, there is more self-advocacy, need to prove
yourself
to classmates Etc. in a school that is public versus a school
that
catters to blindness. Everyone in my opinion should have an
experience of starting out in a school for the blind in some way
and then they should be transitioned into a public school where
they finish thier education.
Just my thoughts.
On 2/6/16, jessica hodges via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
I believe schools for the blind can have some benefits. If you
go
there as a residential student, depending on the school, and the
quality of education, you can get a lot of skills that can serve
you very well in life after graduation, if you keep practicing
them. However, I believe that a student should also have some
public school exposure, to teach self advicasy, as well as how
to
cope when things when all materials and experiences are not
accessible, and optimized for blindness.
The issue
that I find with blind schools is that they basically hand the
students the world on a silver platter. They don't have to
fight
for anything, make due with anything that isn't perfectly
accessible, and so have no exposure in how to deal with things
in
the "real world," outside the sphere of the blind school. I
went
to a blind school from my third to sixth grade year, and was
home
schooled through seventh grade, so I struggled integrating back
into the school system, particularly in math, trying to adapt to
a
visually taught class and things. I also didn't stay at the
school, so I did not learn half of the skills that I could have.
In conclusion, I believe it is good to give students
experience in both public, and blind school settings.
Hope this helps.
Jessica
On 2/6/2016 4:42 PM, Roanna Bacchus via nabs-l wrote:
Good evening Students,
I have a question for all of you. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of attending a residential school for the blind vs
a
public school? I could not handle being away from my family
during
the week. As a toddler I attended the Early Intervention
program
at the Perkins School For The Blind. I'd like to hear your
thoughts on this topic.
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