[nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools

Kayla James christgirl813 at gmail.com
Sun Feb 7 19:18:29 UTC 2016 

You're right, Loren. It is a choice. Let's put this debate to bed,
guys. How about it?

On 2/7/16, Loren Wakefield via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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