[nfb-talk] critical analysis paper

Wed Dec 15 23:17:57 UTC 2010

Hi Lisa,
Your personal story does not demonstrate that residential schools for 
the blind are bad for blind children. Nor does it show that a public 
school would have been better. Your story tells us that your 
particular blind school did not educate you, and possibly other blind 
students in the their care, to meet your potential.

Sadly, there are horror stories told by blind graduates of both 
educational models. I personally know quite a number of blind students 
who left public school and went to the school for the blind in their 
state because they were not receiving a proper education in public 
school.

What ensures an appropriate education for blind students is not which 
building they are taught in, or whether they have blind or sighted 
peers. The important factors are the expectations, attitudes and skill 
level of teachers and parents. If expectations are age-appropriate and 
positive, if the attitudes are, "can do", and positive and if the 
teachers are informed and competent, then the blind students will do 
well, whatever educational placement they are in. If expectations are 
low and negative, then the students will perform poorly. Well informed 
parents who have age-appropriate expectations and are willing to 
advocate for their child are also a major factor in blind students 
having their educational needs met.

I agree with Mike that you will not be able to prove what educational 
model is best for blind students, no matter how many articles you 
find. There are too many variables affecting the success or failure of 
students in both placements. I would encourage you to change topics. 
For example, to what degree do age-appropriate, positive expectations 
effect the successful education of blind students" would be a much 
better topic. A search for articles will yield you much more to work 
with. You will be able to cite research from the general education 
field to support your hypothesis that expectations are a critical 
factor in determining successful student outcomes.
The ERIC database would be a great place to start. Your university is 
probably a paying member so you should be able to search it for free. 
Talk to the library staff.
I hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Heather

-- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Kidder" <lisa.akidder at gmail.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] critical analysis paper

I'm writing about this, because I did not learn a lot of the
academic skills that I would have learned in a public school.  I
was sent to a residential school at age three, and was told that I
would never learn math, because I would never understand the
concept of numbers.  I did not learn how to multiply or divide
until I had to take a basic math class in college.  I finished
the class with an a.  It seems like the school that I went to
focused mainly on the independent living skills, but not as much
on the academic skills.  I never had to advocate, like I do now
in college because all of my textbooks were provided in braille
when I was school.  As far as taking notes, the teachers told us
what to put down.  We did not have to decide what was important.
Lisa

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com
To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:31:17 -0800
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] critical analysis paper

Lisa:

The argument or debate you're trying to flesh out is specious and
the supposed controversy illusory.  It's not a matter of which
school setting is best but rather which is best for a given child
at a given time with given educational goals and a given skill
set and knowledge base.  This is part of what's negotiated in an
IEP.

Mike

sent from my iPhone

On Dec 15, 2010, at 12:23, "Lisa Kidder" <lisa.akidder at gmail.com>
wrote:

 That would be helpful and yes, i am looking for articles with
facts for both sides of the issue.  meaning both for and against.

 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "T.  Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
 To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
 Date sent: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:29:40 -0800
 Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] critical analysis paper

 While I haven't got any peer reviewed primary sources for you
off the
 top of my head, I'm sure you could get a dozen article-length
 treatises on the subject in favor of both positions simply by
having
 asked the question here.  *grin*

 If it would be of benefit, I likely could produce one tomorrow
 discussing the benefits and consequences of a residential
school, but
 generally concluding generally in favor of them.

 A pretty significant number of others I'm sure could likewise
reach
 the opposite conclusion with similar care and consideration of
the
 issue.

 Joseph

 On Wed, Dec 15, 2010 at 12:57:07AM -0600, Lisa Kidder wrote:
 I don't know if this is the right list to post this on, and i
just
 joined this list.  i'm working on a critical analysis paper for
my
 diversity democracy class, and i chose the topic of whether a
blind
 student should attend a public or residential school.  does
anyone
 know where I can find reputable articles supporting both sides
of
 this argument.  Thanks in advance.

 Lisa

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