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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi, Denise - ay, we can be bad in so many ways...
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We can have poor communication skills and not
accurately convey the scope of our - or our students' needs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We can have poor skills in transcribing
braille</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We can have poor skills in teaching braille...
which (as we all know) is not necessarily related to transcribing
braille</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We can have poor social skills</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We can have poor mobility skills</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Of course you realize I'm speaking tongue in cheek.
What I am trying to convey is that just as each of our students is an
individual... with unique talents and areas in need of further development, so
are teachers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I consider myself a rather proficient braille
transcriber, but I will also admit that I have a colleague who is a much better
teacher (introducing braille skills to little ones) than I am. However, she
would panic if she had to transcribe geometry, while I sink my teeth in and
grin.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This is one unique thing about OUR field that
regular educators - or even special educators - don't have to deal with. We
teach kids:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>from birth to 21 - or older</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>those who are blind (adventitiously or
congenitally)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>those who have varying degrees of low vision
(adventitiously or congenitally)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>those with vision loss and multiple
disabilities</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>in any combination of the above, and in multiple
settings on a daily basis.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I don't know any one individual who can do it ALL
to a high level of proficiency. I do know many who are in there every day doing
the best they can with limited resources and lack of support from the
educational system as well as the parents and doctors. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We tend to hear about the problem teachers. They
make the daily news and people are outraged. We do ourselves a disservice as a
field for not sharing news publicly about the teachers who are considered
to be excellent - by virtue of their student's outstanding achievements. Even
without data (but with common sense, perhaps) I'm willing to bet the good apples
in our field highly outnumber the bad ones. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The REAL problem is... what are we all going to do
to help the teachers with less-than-proficient skills reach for the stars and
gain the proficiency they need to have, what are we going to do to "fix" a
system of education that is broken, and how can we assure that students who
graduate from teacher training programs do so with a set of skills and knowledge
that meet national criteria.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sheila</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com
CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com">Dr. Denise M. Robinson</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 07, 2010 10:15 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A
title="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org
CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">Professionals in Blindness Education
Division List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Pibe-division] Comment</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>The REALLY bad thing about the content of these
comments is we have the teachers with poor skills telling the
administration all the incorrect information--which they believe, hence
the lack of instruction and poor instruction continues.<BR><BR>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Brush Script MT'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT
color=#4040ff> Denise
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Brush Script MT'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. <BR>Coordinator for Blind/VI students
at ESD105<BR>Teacher of the Blind & Visually
Impaired<BR>509-969-3622</DIV><BR><BR>--- On <B>Mon, 6/7/10, Kirsten
Peterson <I><kpeterson@perandoe.org></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><BR>From:
Kirsten Peterson <kpeterson@perandoe.org><BR>Subject: Re:
[Pibe-division] Comment<BR>To: "Professionals in Blindness Education
Division List" <pibe-division@nfbnet.org><BR>Date: Monday, June 7,
2010, 5:13 AM<BR><BR>
<DIV id=yiv729690235>
<DIV>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! </DIV>
<DIV>Kirsten <BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 7:43 PM, Allison Hilliker
(NFBA) <SPAN dir=ltr><<A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nfbarizona@gmail.com"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:nfbarizona@gmail.com">nfbarizona@gmail.com</A>></SPAN>
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex"
class=gmail_quote>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Well said, Denise! I'm glad we have teachers
out there like you who are spreading such Braille-positive
messages.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Allison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=im>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B>From:</B> <A
title=dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com">Dr. Denise M. Robinson</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=pibe-division@nfbnet.org
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">Professionals in Blindness
Education Division List</A> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=h5>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, June 06, 2010
10:13 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Pibe-division]
Comment</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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." <BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT
color=#4040ff> Denise
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. <BR>Coordinator for
Blind/VI students at ESD105<BR>Teacher of the Blind &
Visually Impaired<BR>509-969-3622</DIV><BR><BR>--- On <B>Sun,
6/6/10, Carrie Gilmer <I><<A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=carrie.gilmer@gmail.com"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:carrie.gilmer@gmail.com">carrie.gilmer@gmail.com</A>></I></B>
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><BR>From:
Carrie Gilmer <<A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=carrie.gilmer@gmail.com"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:carrie.gilmer@gmail.com">carrie.gilmer@gmail.com</A>><BR>Subject:
Re: [Pibe-division] Comment<BR>To: "'Professionals in
Blindness Education Division List'" <<A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A>><BR>Date:
Sunday, June 6, 2010, 4:12 PM<BR><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=navy size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Right
on Denise, exactly dead on right on. Thank you for not being
frustrated, bothered and angry in silence.
Carrie</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=navy size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal
align=center><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR align=center SIZE=2 width="100%">
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
size=2 face=Tahoma><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</A>
[mailto:<A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</A>]
<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of
</SPAN></B>Denise Mackenstadt<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Saturday, June
05, 2010 1:07 PM<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> <A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B>
[Pibe-division] Comment</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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:</SPAN></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=1 face=Monaco><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Monaco; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">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. </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Denise Mackenstadt,
NOMC</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mackenstadt Rehab
Services</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(206)419-9555</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cane.travel@gmail.com"
rel=nofollow
target=_blank>cane.travel@gmail.com</A></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR>-----Inline Attachment Follows-----<BR><BR>
<DIV>_______________________________________________<BR>Pibe-division
mailing list<BR><A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
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<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<HR>
<DIV class=im>
<DIV></DIV>_______________________________________________<BR>Pibe-division
mailing list<BR><A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:Pibe-division@nfbnet.org">Pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A><BR><A
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<DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Pibe-division
mailing list<BR><A
href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:Pibe-division@nfbnet.org">Pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A><BR><A
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target=_blank>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/kpeterson%40perandoe.org</A><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR
clear=all><BR>-- <BR>Kirsten M. Peterson, M.S.Ed. <BR>Teacher of
Students with Visual Impairments<BR>Perandoe Special Education
District<BR>1525 Locust <BR>Red Bud, IL 62278<BR>(618) 282-6251 ext.
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class=plainMail>_______________________________________________<BR>Pibe-division
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