Deaf Community Unfair to WVSDB?
Two comments below were left in WVSDB post accusing Deaf Community of being unfair to WVSDB. Since I feel it is fair for the readers to hear both side, I am including WVSDB’s side today.
Do you agree with their assessment or not?  Please share your opinions. I feel it is more important that they get honest feedback from the Deaf Community itself.  At the other post, the comments come from Deaf people, some from W.VA. Like I said in the other post, personally I am not too familiar with WVSDB. MZ
# 1 Offended
“I am greatly offended by the comments made about teachers at WVSDB being “unemployed hearing hicks/nobodiesâ€. I feel that the staff (teachers, houseparents, and administrators) at the school are more than qualified to hold the positions they do. If the public feels the school is such a bad place for deaf children, then why do many deaf people continue to send their children there? I’ve known many children who attended the school and have went on to make something great of themselves. I honestly don’t feel it would matter if a teacher is deaf or hearing as long as they are providing the highest quality of education to the children in their care. And WVSDB does a wonderful job at that. The interest of the children is the most important aspect of their job.”
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# 2 Appalled
“I, too, am greatly disturbed by the offensive comments toward the staff at WVSDB, especially by many people who have no personal knowledge of the true situation, but are merely making judgments based upon rumor.
As a teacher, I have two Master’s Degrees, one from Western Maryland (McDaniel) College in Deaf Education, one from WVU in elementary/early childhood ed., and an extra certification in multi-categorical special education. I know that I myself, along with my colleagues, including the current and newly appointed superintendents of the school, have a deep love and concern for the needs of the students we serve.
We are constantly seeking new teaching strategies and techniques to fully engage our deaf and hard of hearing students in their education. We are also constantly fine-tuning our skills and the strategies we are currently using.
We do indeed have many success stories. One of our former graduates, who is deaf, is currently teaching at our school. She is a very intelligent person and a wonderful, caring teacher. She successfully coaches both academic and sports teams.
I am deeply disappointed in the unsuccessful candidate’s apparent attempt to disparage our school and insult our dedicated staff.”
 From the comment section of http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/05/11/audism-at-wvsdbgallaudet-canada-protest/Â
PS. The next afternoon I called and spoke with the retiring superintendent who commented that it is very difficult to hire young professionals, both deaf and hearing,  as they prefer to live in large cities rather than live in a rural area. The West Virginia Dept of Education, not the school,  was responsible for the selection of the new superintendent. It was also suggested that I speak to the new supt who may have a different opinion about the school’s hiring practices, so I’ll follow up on that. MZ
E-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright Mishkazena (TM) 2007
Two comments below were left in WVSDB post accusing Deaf Community of being unfair to WVSDB. Since I feel it is fair for the readers to hear both side, I am including WVSDB’s side today.
Do you agree with their assessment or not?  Please share your opinions. I feel it is more important that they get honest feedback from the Deaf Community itself.  At the other post, the comments come from Deaf people, some from W.VA. Like I said in the other post, personally I am not too familiar with WVSDB. MZ
# 1 Offended
“I am greatly offended by the comments made about teachers at WVSDB being “unemployed hearing hicks/nobodiesâ€. I feel that the staff (teachers, houseparents, and administrators) at the school are more than qualified to hold the positions they do. If the public feels the school is such a bad place for deaf children, then why do many deaf people continue to send their children there? I’ve known many children who attended the school and have went on to make something great of themselves. I honestly don’t feel it would matter if a teacher is deaf or hearing as long as they are providing the highest quality of education to the children in their care. And WVSDB does a wonderful job at that. The interest of the children is the most important aspect of their job.”
Â
# 2 Appalled
“I, too, am greatly disturbed by the offensive comments toward the staff at WVSDB, especially by many people who have no personal knowledge of the true situation, but are merely making judgments based upon rumor.
As a teacher, I have two Master’s Degrees, one from Western Maryland (McDaniel) College in Deaf Education, one from WVU in elementary/early childhood ed., and an extra certification in multi-categorical special education. I know that I myself, along with my colleagues, including the current and newly appointed superintendents of the school, have a deep love and concern for the needs of the students we serve.
We are constantly seeking new teaching strategies and techniques to fully engage our deaf and hard of hearing students in their education. We are also constantly fine-tuning our skills and the strategies we are currently using.
We do indeed have many success stories. One of our former graduates, who is deaf, is currently teaching at our school. She is a very intelligent person and a wonderful, caring teacher. She successfully coaches both academic and sports teams.
I am deeply disappointed in the unsuccessful candidate’s apparent attempt to disparage our school and insult our dedicated staff.”
 From the comment section of http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/05/11/audism-at-wvsdbgallaudet-canada-protest/Â
PS. The next afternoon I called and spoke with the retiring superintendent who commented that it is very difficult to hire young professionals, both deaf and hearing,  as they prefer to live in large cities rather than live in a rural area. The West Virginia Dept of Education, not the school,  was responsible for the selection of the new superintendent. It was also suggested that I speak to the new supt who may have a different opinion about the school’s hiring practices, so I’ll follow up on that. MZ
E-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright Mishkazena (TM) 2007
May 16th, 2007 at 10:36 am
RLM, the commenter who used hearing hicks, is a WVSDB alumni. If a alumni from the same school are saying these things, this don’t reflect well on WVSDB.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I, being a Hearie, obviously never went there. However, a very good frined of mine did and he has nothing but glowing remarks about his experience there.
Dennis
May 16th, 2007 at 11:34 am
some had wonderful experience in certain school some don’t. if they get negative respond on the school… don’t be insulted… just ignore them and if you are doing the right thing the children will know it the parent will know it and the community will know it…
or maybe there are some truth in the comment and trying to tell you it is time for a change. I have no way of knowing because I am not there..
May 16th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I don’t have a problem with qualified hearing teachers teaching our deaf children, however, I do have a problem if there is only one or two deaf teachers in the whole school. There’s something wrong with the picture. Deaf children need deaf role models! They also need someone who knows BOTH languages (ASL and English). I have seen with my own eyes the corruption at WVSDB…no deaf persons hold a high position there. Many deaf applicants are turned away either because they don’t have the proper certification, are weak in English, and/or are NOT from WV.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I don’t actually know how many deaf teachers WVSDB has, but I get the impression it isn’t many. A disproportionately low ratio of deaf teachers in a school for the deaf raises a red flag to me. A good school should have at least 50% deaf teachers, in my opinion.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Appalled, I can understand why you felt disturbed. Bad reputations don’t come out of vacuum. Why does this school has a bad reputation in the Deaf Community if there are many hard-working dedicated teachers?
Perhaps you should check into the Deaf Community and also ask the alumni themselves honestly how they rate their school. After all, they are the products of this school.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Appalled stated,
” We are constantly seeking new teaching strategies and techniques to fully engage our deaf and hard of hearing students in their education. We are also constantly fine-tuning our skills and the strategies we are currently using.”
I suggest that WVSD needs the Bilingual Approach that greatly helps many Deaf students getting their best education I am parent of my son attending at Maryland School for the Deaf since 1992 as well as the MSD board trustees voted to replace the Total Communication with the Bilingual Approach.
You will always be welcomed to visit at MSD where you can observe at MSD students in the classroom At the mandatory for all Deaf and hearing teachers are good ASL signers.
Pray for the WVSD entering into new era of Bilingual Approach school
May 16th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Unless you have been to WVSDB yourself, then you cannot judge what they are like. They are a small school with about 120 deaf students pre-k through 12. They would be more than willing to hire more deaf teachers and staff if there were more deaf applicants. First, you have to consider the location of the school– It is in a beautiful area, but a little isolated. DC is about 3 hours away, MSD is about 2 hours away. The town the school is in, is small, with only mom and pop type of stores. There are not many deaf people that are willing to move to such an area without a large community of Deaf people. When you compare WVSDB to say, Indiana School for the Deaf or Texas School for the Deaf, there is a big difference in area and location and number of Deaf people. For a largely rural area, WVSDB is doing very well.
They tend to offer job openings to people within the community first, which I think is a nice thing– keep jobs local for local people. If the job still remains open, then they will advertise in the newspapers. If you can get more Deaf people to be interested in moving to West Virginia, then do it! There are currently 4 job openings for teacher positions, but there arent any Deaf people applying. Why?? I dont know. It is a beautiful campus with wonderful old buildings; a warm, welcoming town and friendly people. Check it out for yourself before you start talking negative about a place or school you have never been to. If you want the ratio of Deaf to hearing teachers to be more equal, then encourage QUALIFIED Deaf people to apply for positions at WVSDB.
If you think this is a small town with nothing to do, you are sorely mistaken.. there are many activities that relate to the outdoors– golfing, hiking, canoeing, rafting, Blackwater Falls, camping and more! Dont expect to find shopping malls up here. Check us out!!
May 16th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
But do most people at Maryland School for the Deaf really give a care about WVSDB? No. Go figure. That’s selfishness at its worst. Double standards galore!
May 16th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I think I need to make my role clear. With WVSDB, my blog is only a vehicle where others express their experiences and opinions. I offer both sides of WVSDB, so they can hear each other better.
Jenny, I agree.. if deaf people are not willing to relocate to W.VA to work, then the school will have problems finding qualified deaf teachers. In this case, there is only so much the school can do.
However, you mentioned that WVSDB advertises its job positions in the community first. How can they attract qualified deaf workers this way? They will need to solicit them from out of state.
May 17th, 2007 at 3:33 am
why do the fatah fight against hamas? the answer is at wvsdb!
May 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Pale Lapin, I am uncertain if you are trying to imply something here. Can you clarify what you mean by that question?
May 17th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
In addressing some of your comments regarding the WVSDB.
No field trips to the Blackwater Fall - 2 1/2 hours away or other places since the mid-70s.
Many WVSD deaf houseparents or teachers are NOT allowed to drive any school vans/mini-buses due to the change in state’s laws.
Many deaf houseparents are very miffed and resentful toward hearing houseparents systematically manipulate the request for outside field trips appealed to hearing houseparents/teacher’s taste for some events which not really benefit deaf students at all. Hearing houseparents and teachers have the upper hands in many things that agontize deaf teachers and houseparents.
Stanely Mals, deaf mathematics teacher and Gallaudet graduate, is only a deaf teacher currently employed by the WVSDB. He married hearing WVSD elementary teacher.
Total hogwash about such unsuccessful attempts to hire deaf qualified teachers and residential advisors (houseparents). Why have the state law to require the WVSD supertidenent office to adversite to the WVSDB faculty and staff roster first?? That is definitely an anti-competitive tactics to keep the WVSDB from hiring most truly qualified individual to educate the students and provide the safe living quarters for them.
I never seen any kind of open adveristments within the deaf employment bulletion about any vacant WVSDB postitons for about 20 years.
Any prospective deaf job-seeker would see and feel the existing environment how they would be treated and respected as a deaf person and educator.
Several Gallaudet graduates came to me and told me “horror stories” about their interviews at the WVSD. The newly appointed WVSD supertindent was one of the interviewers as an elementary school of the deaf principal, asked many inapporiate questions which has nothing to do with their qualifications and abilities, etc. One of the female deaf applicant felt real shocked and bit her lips, then didn’t get an employment offer. She got the offer one year later. That deaf female applicant wrote back - “I already got a job at another school of the deaf after few days’ interview. One year later from you and the WVSDB!”
I know how the WVSDB system work - just put the show on and tell everyone - “Look at what we did something! At least, we tried!”
I grew up observing every year the WVSDB faculty and staff people polished up themselves in time for the state educational inspection. The WV State Board of Education never had a surprise visits and interviewed students out of random what was really going on with the school and dormitory.
Hearing houseparents usually took showers at dormitory shower room.
Two hearing teachers regularly frolicked and french-kissed in front of students during the classroom time on the floor.
The school plays usually overtook by deaf and hearing teachers to grab the prominent roles and denied any students a chance to desire for the role, etc. Students had to be spoon-fed by Jane McBride (Kendeyedall) and Majorie Boley during the play. I frequently reminded Jane and Majorie that the students had to memorize their lines or should be not in the play. They snapped at me. Guess what? The school plays directed by the same person, Dr. Jane McBride, the retired WVSD supertindent.
Dr. Jane McBride and Majorie Boley usually had the Adjustment Class consisted of low-functioned and mentally-stunted deaf students to make craft items, then sell them for profit. I spoke of the daily classes, not special projects or just once from time to time.
Dr. Jane McBride was the one, who shot me down with the proposal for directing the school play with Billy Wheeler’s play - “Hatfield and McCoys”. She quipped “Too much profanity in this play!” The “Hatfields and McCoys” play usually shown at the state park every summertime along with the “Honey in the Rock”. Ever schoolchildren flocked to see the “Hatfields and McCoys” there.
Few words like “Darn, Damn, Hell” consider profanity in McBride’s mind. How interesting!
You could see how and why deaf teachers and houseparents feel powerless at the WVSDB. One deaf WVSDB houseparent with the M.A. degree in biology, could not get the teacher postiton at this school.
The CODA hearing principal and former vocational education prinpical QUITTED after not getting the supertindent. Many of us do not support this person, Dan Haught anyway.
I took a class from Jane McBride (Kendeyall and Dunkle) which I never learned any memorable education from her. Just handed with special marker to circle answers on the published journals. That was it!
Many WVSD students especially young ones are very submissive and apathetic from what many deaf people told me over years. I was not surprised about deaf WVSD students’ social and intellectual development. Deaf outsiders were very shocked to see deaf WVSD elementary students not being inquisitive and curious.
Other deaf elementary students from other school of the deaf would be the smarty-ass and inquisitive and responsive.
We ought to put the WVSD elementaty students with students from other schools of the deaf to the real test!
I was scolded, blurted out at and ridiculed by the WVSD teachers and houseparents from time to time if I stood up to them. The students had to come to me and asked me for my help to resolve the given situations. The WVSD teachers and houseparents frequently admitted that I was really a strong-willed person, who wasn’t easily intimidated by adults.
The WVSD adminstration were really annoyed with my deaf mother for pointing out problems from time to time. My deaf mother always gently reminded them that the instructions regarding me already on the school admission papers.
I often spent a lot of time in the hallways as punishments for being too intelligent and assertive. Hearing teachers really do not knew what to do with me. I always asked by students to tell them what the hearing teacher said in the class.
WVSD Students ever had to be forced to take up the prayers and Pledge of Allegiance in the 80s! Jeez!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
May 18th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Hey Robert! We know you’re a vocal deaf graduate of WVSDB and are
known to be “pain in the neck” but it’s plainly because you often speak
the truth and no one likes it. It’s very easy for others to dismiss
you because of your approach to people. I want to applaud you for
speaking up about Dr. Shank. Yes, I can validate your comment about how
Dr. Shank inapproriately conducted interviews at that school during
her tenure as their elementary school principal. I know two friends
who experienced that. If we get enough people to come forth (outsiders
because people in WV would not tell you in fear for their employment or
chances to get a job there), there would be enough to prove Dr. Shank’s
incompetency to even do an interview. Now that’s their school leader
who cannot do a basic thing the right way.
Dr. Shank won the Ruby and Tammy Ennis’ vote because Dr. Shank is a
deaf advocate like Ruby stated in her email to WVSDB alumni. Here’s the
truth. Dr. Shank is known to alternate the writing or certain tests
to “get the deaf” in. Please don’t get me wrong. It is good
that Dr. Shank does want to bring more deaf people but that’s the wrong way to
bring them in. The Board of Education would not be pleased to find
this out. We do not need Dr. Shank’s patronalizing attitude. There
are smart deaf people who can read and write. It’s just that school
does not want any outsiders and this is especially true for Ruby Ennis
Losh, the WVSDB Alumni Association President. That’s why she’s
supporting Dr. Shank. Here’s her email to all of the alumni shortly after the
blogs started. Ruby is reacting in this way because she thinks she’s
in control but let the world read what she wrote because it hinted some
underlying problems at that school. I sure hope you got your copy of
this email from her.
From: RXXXXX@aol.com:
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 08:00:58 EDT
Subject: New WVSDB SUPT
To: RXXXXXX@aol.com:
Hello alumni,
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Patsy Shank is now the next
superintendent. I want you to come and support her for her success and I am
looking forward to seeing our school progressing in an excellent age. You
may have heard different stories about her. Most of you were her
students and you have known her as a science teacher. I was one of her
students and I have learned so much from her. She is a deaf advocate. She
believes that deaf people have so much to contribute to the school and is
prepared for the endeavors that include deaf and blind alumni. Of
course, she knows sign language. Whoever said differently, must be thinking
we are close-minded if we exclude her qualifications and years of
service to our school.
I wish to extend my congratulations to her and wish her the best of
luck.
Ruby Losh, President WVSDAA
I agree with Misha that you should have a good balance of both, deaf
and hearing workers (50% is ideal). It’s truly sad because there ARE
people who want to move to places like Romney. It’s really not that
far from Washington, DC. I cannot say the same thing for other rural
schools for the deaf. From what I heard, Dr. Shank went to Gallaudet to
find teachers to bring back to WVSDB but when you meet a woman like her
for the first time, it’s not that impressive at all. She may be
impressive on paper but she cannot recruit the best of the best. She only
has Mary Ennis who graduated from that school as their deaf teacher but
there are many more Marys who are equally good or even better out
there. With the right leader, you can do so much more but as always, this
school does not want to change and with Dr. Shank’s leadership, it will
remain the same. I am not questioning whether Dr. Jane McBride or
Dr. Patsy Shank care or not, I’m questioning the quality of education
and leadership that school can produce and provide. Robert, this is our
school. It’s up to us and others to make the difference.