[Pibe-division] Comment

Mon Jun 7 04:13:28 UTC 2010

I couldn't agree with you more Denise! Thanks for standing up and making the
point that clearly needs to be made over and over again. It amazes me how
many school districts and teachers..special ed teachers included..think of
Braille instruction as an extra to occur when time allows, rather than as an
absolute necessity!
Kirsten

On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 7:43 PM, Allison Hilliker (NFBA) <
nfbarizona at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Well said, Denise!  I'm glad we have teachers out there like you who are
> spreading such Braille-positive messages.
>
> It continuously amazes me how seldom common sense is applied when many
> people teach blind kids.  Concepts that are widely accepted as educational
> must-haves, like teachers proficient in the material they teach, are
> considered novelties or low priorities for blind kids.
>
> Allison
>
>
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Dr. Denise M. Robinson <dmehlenbacher at yahoo.com>
> *To:* Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>   *Sent:* Sunday, June 06, 2010 10:13 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Pibe-division] Comment
>
>   Poor teacher skills ARE directly related to poor student outcomes. I
> have seen it over and over for the past 20 years as anyone else has in the
> field who has good skills and see their students exel and others who do not
> because of the teacher who is teaching them with poor skills.
>
> You cannot teach what you do not know and students cannot learn what you
> cannot teach them. You do not need formal research to know this, though it
> would not be a bad idea to finally put such a foolish notion to rest. But
> how many teachers with poor skills are going to stand up and say "yes,
> please test me and show me how poor my skills are and test my students to
> show everyone how far behind they are compared to a teacher with good
> skills."
>
>        Denise
>
> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
> Coordinator for Blind/VI students at ESD105
> Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
> 509-969-3622
>
>
> --- On *Sun, 6/6/10, Carrie Gilmer <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Carrie Gilmer <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Comment
> To: "'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'" <
> pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Sunday, June 6, 2010, 4:12 PM
>
>  Right on Denise, exactly dead on right on. Thank you for not being
> frustrated, bothered and angry in silence. Carrie
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:
> pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] *On Behalf Of *Denise Mackenstadt
> *Sent:* Saturday, June 05, 2010 1:07 PM
> *To:* pibe-division at nfbnet.org
> *Subject:* [Pibe-division] Comment
>
>  Recently on AERnet I noticed a post that bothered me.  I have responded
> and I am sending this response to the PIBE list.  Every time I think that we
> are making progress something like this comment is used to justify not
> providing for the needs of blind kids. Here is the post and my response:
>
> Recently in response to a question posted by Sheila one of the posts stated
> "Weaknesses: 1.  still no published research proving or disproving that poor
> teacher braille skills are responsible for poor braille outcomes for
> students.  Nevertheless,  we've gone full steam ahead addressing a "problem"
> that may not exist.  Assertions by advocacy groups are not evidence, nor are
> gut hunches.  We need DATA.  And thus   far no data exists."  I find it
> astonishing that an assertion is being made that teacher competency in an
> essential skill to be taught to students is not relevant to student
> outcomes.  Lack of Data  cannot   take the place of common sense or best
> practice.  I cannot think of another subject area, for example: Language
> Arts, Math, Science or Art, where a decent state licensing entity will not
> expect an instructor to demonstrate competence.  As a parent I would be very
> concerned if my child's English teacher could not read or write English.
> Let us not throw out critical thinking as an alternative to non-existent
> DATA Collection.  I do not want to say that legitimate research and
> legitimate data results are not beneficial to best practices.  But let us
> not sacrifice common sense to the altar of statistics.
>
> Denise Mackenstadt, NOMC
>
> Mackenstadt Rehab Services
>
> (206)419-9555
>
> cane.travel at gmail.com<http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cane.travel@gmail.com>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>  ------------------------------
>
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-- 
Kirsten M. Peterson, M.S.Ed.
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
Perandoe Special Education District
1525 Locust
Red Bud, IL 62278
(618) 282-6251 ext. 104

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