[NABS-L] Seeking Feedback on Draft Resolution about Changing the Name of a School for the Blind

Fri May 31 04:25:29 UTC 2024

Yes, I agree. Plain language, as it is called, is getting more common, and
in my opinion, plain language is paramount (important)!
Kim

On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 11:30 PM Alisha Geary via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hey, just constructive, not anything to do with my opinion on the matter,
> but if you really want to make it read better and be a change maker,
> there’s a misuse of “where as,” multiple times. You’d typically use it to
> make comparisons. similar to “is to,” or “in the same vein,” etc. if you
> want to make it easier for people to understand, I’d loose the “where as,”
> and put more meaningful and understandable phrases and words in its place.
>
> Kind regards,
> Alisha
>
> > On May 30, 2024, at 9:38 PM, Justin Salisbury via NABS-L <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Kim,
> >
> > You may be relieved to know that Mr. Perkins did not participate in any
> of the technological inventions. They were developed and produced in ways
> that related to the school, but he did not have any direct role in
> inventing those things. They bear his name because the school bears his
> name.
> >
> > Also, the name of the organization today is the "Perkins School for the
> Blind." I looked up their tax records, and they file taxes under that name
> now. I don't know when they switched from the 1839 name, but maybe your
> feedback tells me that I should add something to that Whereas clause to
> help people understand that the name has evolved since then but has
> continued to bear his name since 1839.
> >
> > Aloha,
> >
> > Justin
> >
> >
> > Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB
> > English Pronouns: he/him/his
> > Phone: 808.797.8606
> > Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu
> > ________________________________________
> > From: kim drudge [kimmbell01 at gmail.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:30 PM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Cc: Justin Salisbury
> > Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Seeking Feedback on Draft Resolution about
> Changing the Name of a School for the Blind
> >
> > Hello,
> > I somewhat agree, but somewhat disagree. Mr. Perkins made the Perkins
> brailler, the smart brailler, and the light-touch brailler.
> > Instead of having the name of Perkins Asylum and Institution, it should
> just be named "Perkins School for the Blind". Also, I believe Perkins
> should expand to include people who are deafblind.
> > Thank you,
> > Kim
> >
> > On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 6:55 PM Justin Salisbury via NABS-L <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
> > Dear NABS members and leaders,
> >
> > I am preparing to submit a resolution to be considered by the National
> Federation of the Blind Convention in July. Since this is the NFB's
> national student division, and since this resolution is about a school for
> the blind, I am writing to ask for feedback that anyone might have about
> the content and/or structure of this resolution. I plan to submit this
> before the June 4 submission deadline, but I would love to hear any
> thoughts that our students can offer.
> >
> > I will say even before posting the resolution that I expect that some
> people may have strong feelings about this. For me, however the national
> convention votes, I think it will be very instructive for all of us as we
> come to more fully and completely understand the philosophy of the National
> Federation of the Blind and what we truly mean when we say that we are
> committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These conversations are
> complex, and they can be messy. They are also very important. At this point
> in time, I truly don't know how I think the full national convention will
> vote, but I would like to learn. I want to hear what people think about
> this.
> >
> > Here is the current draft of the resolution
> >
> > Resolution 2024-##, Regarding the Harmful Namesake of the Perkins School
> for the Blind
> >
> > WHERAS, The New England Asylum for the Blind was incorporated in 1829
> and opened its doors in August 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, The school changed its name in 1839 to become the Perkins
> Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind in appreciation for
> generous financial support from Thomas Handasyd Perkins; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, The Perkins School for the Blind, as a collective institution
> including its library and products, remains a major factor in blind
> services in New England today; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, Born in 1764, T. H. Perkins used money from his wealthy family
> to start an international trading business, where he traded slaves and the
> goods produced by their labor, including cotton, sugar, and rum, in the
> Caribbean, until the Haitian Revolution in 1791; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, T. H. Perkins later expanded his fortune by illegally smuggling
> opium into China; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, Pairing valuable products, services, and educational
> experiences with the name of a known opium smuggler and slave trader
> teaches students and community members of all backgrounds that these
> immoral acts are not disqualifiers for being publicly honored; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, Continuing to honor a known slave trader and opium smuggler
> perpetuates intergenerational trauma for people of all colors; and
> >
> > WHEREAS, On its website, the Perkins School for the Blind acknowledges
> that it has financially benefitted from both the slave trade and opium
> smuggling, and acknowledges the problems caused by this, particularly to
> those in Black and Chinese communities; now, therefore
> >
> > BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
> assembled this seventh day of July, 2024, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
> that this organization asserts that the enslavement of human beings and
> illegal smuggling of opium are unequivocally immoral and that participating
> in these wrongdoings is a disqualifier for being honored in any space
> sufficiently influenced by the National Federation of the Blind; and
> >
> > BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this organization commends the Perkins
> School for the Blind for acknowledging how it has benefited from these
> historical wrongs; and
> >
> > BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That this organization urges the Perkins School
> for the Blind to advance its efforts to promote diversity, equity, and
> inclusion by changing its name to remove all references to Thomas Handasyd
> Perkins.
> >
> >
> > Thank you in advance for your feedback.
> >
> > Justin
> >
> > Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB
> > English Pronouns: he/him/his
> > Phone: 808.797.8606
> > Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Kim Drudge
> > Behind a great man is a strong woman.
> > _______________________________________________
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-- 
Kim Drudge
Behind a great man is a strong woman.