The school that my children attended were Charter schools. They acted as a public school. The only school that didnt agree to become charter was Spook Hill Elementary School. I never quite understood what Charter school meant. I had some people try to explain to me what it is. It is still part of the school board but can take private donations and private votes with out the school boards permission. The school board doesn't have full control over the schools.. I have seen alot of teachers complain that they were not happy. I have seen alot of parents that were not happy, and seen alot that were happy. I have seen my children do well in the school that they attended while we were living in that area. Now they go to a regular public school.

Now the question is burning in my head, when I go and do more research I will find out exactly what it means to be charter. Hopefully I will understand more. Shame on me for not fully understanding while my children attended. My thoughts were as long as they are doing well in school....which they are honor roll students, so I really never questioned what a charter school is.

Charter school is run by group of civilians as a independent. It s more of between public and private with government aid, however people wants to control over how they spend it on educational material and technology not by "state". Also, the purpose is that would have more freedom to choose how they meet federal "No Child Left Behind standards".

There are some charters for the Deaf that teach Deaf children into ASL and English. I think it s a great idea for Deaf children 's best interest in any cities. I support that idea. So Deaf children can see or interact other Deaf children anytime that is important for them to be their own natural visual language. Thats very positive reinforcement for their Deaf Literacy that should be useful for their self esteem/true identity.

Deaf school would be nice to open to any hearing (CODA) children to interact with Deaf children because those teachers/ professionals with a full knowledge of deafness and ASL and English are required to meet our Deaf Needs. I thinks it's great idea, too.

In old days, HOH/Deaf child was rejected by both sides of school because Deaf school staffs who think he can hear enough to be in public hearing school and Hearing school staffs who think he is deaf that should be in Deaf school. He got nowhere to go and gave up school. HE was struggled on both sides. So he moved on with his life without any high school diploma and found a good job that he worked for more than 30 years. It s so unbelievable that prejudicial/oppression bias against a Deaf person with a device. Sighs! Nothing new.

Now everything splits up and leave many Deaf disabilities into a isolation in their life. I don't feel good about this sticky situation. Too many deafies are pushing into mainstream with no ASL to be part of their life. What s that supposed to be? I dont understand this anymore because it doesn't make any sense to me anymore again. Sighs!

In the pasttime, I was a kid that I had seen many Deaf disabilities with low functionally, CP with or without wheelchair, high functionally mental challenger, Deaf Blind, Deaf Burn child in Deaf school. I enjoyed to interact them because it s challenge for me to learn and understand their difference needs too. We had a moral value to think of others and help their positive needs of communication skill, too. That's so sad to see them to be apart from other Deaf children color in any Deaf/ mainstream schools. They are a lost children's true identity and their visual language loss as by/for being deaf with or without disability.

Those Deaf disability do need us Deaf people for a real communication as well. It goes for Hearing Disability that helps them to cope their own voice loss or Deafness. We do NOT need to leave them out of the picture completely because they deserve to have Deaf community that we could give our heart to support them and keep them company as they are dying for a real communication.. Also, help them to gain their intellectual skills and social skills to be improved with a good encouragement in positive approach in a long run. It makes a big difference for them and us. This is their Deaf lifetime not for hearing people 's sake only.

I feel that Deaf schools should remain it open instead of closed because many public school do not understand what is ASL or Deaf culture or Sensitive of Deaf Needs and many more.

Deaf people color with or without disabilities people do need each other as well as I strongly believe because it s a real communication for all of us. Also they are smart than you think so I FEEL they deserve to keep it up with ASL as a real communication as is.

Have a heart for a change!

Sweetmind

Yeah I understand... when I was born HOH... my deaf father sent me to resident deaf school.. with no questions...

Then when my son was born HOH... In the public school had complained to me that he could hardly hear some words... So I took him to Indiana Deaf School.. got the hearing test..Found my son was not QUALIFIED enough to be in the deaf school..So I told my son that he cannot go to the deaf school.. He threw fits.. and cried...

One year later.. my son s hearing got worse..So I took him to Indiana Deaf School to be tested again.. they said his hearing level had dropped little bit. but not ENOUGH QUALIFIED. to be in the deaf school..Again my son threw fits and cried.. begged me to let him to go to the deaf school...I am stuck... they did not let me enrolling my son in the deaf school...

I understand this story similar with my son's situation...