MSD Protesters May Be Disciplined
The Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
By Cathy Hayden, chayden@clarionledger.com
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Students could be disciplined for walk out at school for the deaf
About 20 Mississippi School for the Deaf high school students walked out of classes briefly Tuesday as a protest, state officials said.
The students were protesting that four of their 26 teachers are not proficient in sign language, said Steve Williams, executive to the state superintendent.
State Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds said his staff has been looking into the situation at the Jackson residential school for hearing-impaired students for a couple of weeks.
“The problem is we haven’t been able to find teachers who can sign proficiently,” Bounds said. “I certainly understand the students’ aggravation with having teachers who don’t have all the skills necessary.”
He also said there are “leadership issues here and with adults at the school. This should have never risen to the point where students felt they needed to walk out of class.”
Students could be disciplined for the walk-out. “Clearly, you just can’t walk out of the classroom,” Bounds said. “There is an indication some teachers may be involved. … We certainly need to investigate it and take appropriate action, whether it’s teachers, students or administrators who didn’t behave appropriately.”
Bounds said the shortage in sign language proficient teachers is indicative of a larger state teacher shortage.
About 1,700 teachers among about 30,000 have temporary teaching licenses, he said.
Mississippi School for the Deaf, 1253 Eastover Dr. in Jackson, is under the oversight of the state Board of Education.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS/61129017
Commentary: Even deaf students have the right to a good education. Obviously, if teachers cannot sign well, how can the students learn? This is a signing school. Something is very wrong if the students’ complaints have been ignored to the point that they feel they had to protest in order to be heard, only to be punished. Why isn’t there any discussion regarding the new teacher who refuses to sign to her students? She’s the one who should be disciplined.  I truly hope the state administrators are investigating this situation.
Believe me, if this is a hearing school, the administrators would have listened to the students. They are pretty good in speaking up for themselves and their motivated parents won’t tolerate substandard education.
The Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
By Cathy Hayden, chayden@clarionledger.com
Â
Students could be disciplined for walk out at school for the deaf
About 20 Mississippi School for the Deaf high school students walked out of classes briefly Tuesday as a protest, state officials said.
The students were protesting that four of their 26 teachers are not proficient in sign language, said Steve Williams, executive to the state superintendent.
State Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds said his staff has been looking into the situation at the Jackson residential school for hearing-impaired students for a couple of weeks.
“The problem is we haven’t been able to find teachers who can sign proficiently,” Bounds said. “I certainly understand the students’ aggravation with having teachers who don’t have all the skills necessary.”
He also said there are “leadership issues here and with adults at the school. This should have never risen to the point where students felt they needed to walk out of class.”
Students could be disciplined for the walk-out. “Clearly, you just can’t walk out of the classroom,” Bounds said. “There is an indication some teachers may be involved. … We certainly need to investigate it and take appropriate action, whether it’s teachers, students or administrators who didn’t behave appropriately.”
Bounds said the shortage in sign language proficient teachers is indicative of a larger state teacher shortage.
About 1,700 teachers among about 30,000 have temporary teaching licenses, he said.
Mississippi School for the Deaf, 1253 Eastover Dr. in Jackson, is under the oversight of the state Board of Education.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS/61129017
Commentary: Even deaf students have the right to a good education. Obviously, if teachers cannot sign well, how can the students learn? This is a signing school. Something is very wrong if the students’ complaints have been ignored to the point that they feel they had to protest in order to be heard, only to be punished. Why isn’t there any discussion regarding the new teacher who refuses to sign to her students? She’s the one who should be disciplined.  I truly hope the state administrators are investigating this situation.
Believe me, if this is a hearing school, the administrators would have listened to the students. They are pretty good in speaking up for themselves and their motivated parents won’t tolerate substandard education.
November 30th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Good for ‘em. What’s chilly for me is to see in video of admin in white lab coats. Pathological view toward deafness, yipes.
November 30th, 2006 at 11:57 am
You noticed that, too? I thought that was weird.
December 1st, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Yes, I am married to a MSD Graduate and he has been brainwashed by MSD experiences for 8 years. On his Graduation day he has signing interpreter what his valedication speech gave. It is better to collaspe MSD for good.
December 1st, 2006 at 3:30 pm
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/
Can’t find email addys for Bounds, Buckley, and Williams. The students should not be punished. They are frustrated. It’s like living in a foreign country and trying to find someone who can speak their language.