May 16, 2001

Letter to the Press Enterprise Editor

Dear Editor:
This is in reference to "School for Deaf in turmoil" by Riverside, CA's Press-Enterprise by Louise Knott Ahern. This is my second letter to this newspaper and I hope I have clarified some things that I didn't in the first letter. I would like for you to read between the lines of what the naysayer protesters are actually saying about Dr. Rachel's educational endeavors at CSDR. What is really bothering them is the sudden changes (which I personally believe are long overdue and headed in the right direction) because they want to keep the status quo. Like many companies, corporations, countries and so forth, changes are usually resisted when it seems so upsetting, revolutionary, and turns things around especially when people are used to the status quo. People do not want to re-learn things or take on a new approach in many areas. People are used to doing same things every day. They tend to be burned out and get so upset easily when changes come rather abruptly and in the best interest for special needs group. What is the status quo going on at CSDR the past several years?

Being so used to being able to sign at a slow non-ASL pace to the students' exasperation. Being able to talk verbally with another hearing staffer without being sensitive to a Deaf passerby in the hallways and now they have to sign (both fluently and in front of Deaf individuals) because they are working with the Deaf individuals. They do not want to have their signing skills scrutinized.

Being used to discipline students for their seemingly rowdy behavior when the real issue is communication breakdown and not being able to
address issues in the most accommodating signed communication with the students. They are used to the power they have over Deaf students
and their parents all because they couldn't do anything about the teacher or staffer's poor signing skills or too much emphasis in Signed English and oralism. For hundred of years, the hearing and oral-minded staffers have been taking advantage of fragmented organizational skills by the Deaf community to stand up and make known of their concerns to the bigger world of sounds. At each of the Deaf community's attempt to raise concerns, they were considered trivial and not listened to.

However, time is a-changing! The tide has taken a turn in the favor of the Deaf community. Now after Dr. Stone, being a trailblazer, has turned the tables around and those who are used to the status quo are crying wolf. They are trying to make the Deaf community look bad by
implying that they are creating divisions or upsetting the campus as a whole. This is actually quite the contrary.

The protesters against Dr. Rachel has kept an invisible wall between the Deaf and hearing communities for so many years all because they
were at advantage with so many hearing educators/philosophers on their side. Dickley DeLoss needs to get around on campus and talk to
each student and Deaf teacher to really get an insight on what's going on. He cannot just blame the problems on the trailblazer.
Unfortunately most trailblazers are blamed for many things that occur but history will have them documented as heros/heroines. Do not be
short-sighted, Mr. DeLoss!

After so many years of failed attempts to raise issues with thesuperiors at CSDR and the State of California and now finally being able to feel a say in many areas of Deaf education topics/issues, it is perfectly understandable that the Deaf community are letting off some steam and telling the poor signers that they better improve their signing skills. This is as a result of the hearings' attempt to put a lid on them for so many years and now everything is coming out like the pandora's box (at the hearing's expense) because the problems (including past educational approaches) are self imposed and were of, by and for the hearing. The Deaf community are now practicing in what is a new political territory for them a greater voice to address issues. Now is the time for the hearing communities to take a sharper look and read between the lines of the protesters against Dr. Stone.

It's easier to cast a stone at someone for their faults when the real issue lies with the stone thrower. I totally relate with the students and teachers at CSDR. I too was raised at a residential school for the Deaf (Rochester School for the Deaf) that was run mostly by hearing administrators and teachers. What I saw was abuse of power. They used "Stay for Lunch" detention period for many of the problems that are related to communication breakdown between the hearing staffers and Deaf students. This all changed when we finally got a Deaf Superintendent.

The "Stay for Lunch" mistake was abandoned. Pamela Hatch, the principal, now publicly blames the mistake to Fred Koch, the Asst.
Superintendent (Hatch used to be the High School Supervisor and Koch, the principal) but the funny thing is that both were neck deep into the SFL philosophy and used it impulsively. They knew they were wrong. They are refusing to take the blame. This old way became a
power thing, a power struggle between the staffers and students. This is why I said in previous letter I sent to you that fragmented signing
skills or overemphasis in oralism on the part of hearing/oral-minded staffers promote puritanical, over disciplinary, repetitive and rigid
approaches in Deaf education. This is based on my own experience as a Deaf student at my alma mater.

Now as a Camp Program Director, I oversee two campsites and I see all kinds of campers from various educational backgrounds. I can see
significant differences between those who come from schools that emphasize oralism and those from residential schools for the Deaf where ASL is encouraged or mandated. I am not going to name names, but the point is every Deaf individual have unique communicative needs. But all of them have eyes and ASL is a visual oriented language which makes it the most accommodating language (not manually coded English, whatsoever, that is not a language) and everybody has access to knowledge based on this approach. If some students do better verbally and can hear more, then the more power to them. Theywill not be stopped in their own progress.

Dr. Stone is saying that she's trying to fill in the gaps that has been present at CSDR for years! She's looking first the Deafstudents who need the most accommodating language then she'll branch out to others who have other unique communicative needs. This requires a major reorganization of the CSDR's educational curriculum. Changes are always warranted everywhere. This is why we have such a thing as a "Paradigm Shift" and it's occurring at CSDR. We must ignore the emotionalism on the part of hearing or oral-minded staffers/parents and focus on the real needs of each Deaf individual at CSDR. Dr. Stone is going to do that and promote an holistic approach in her educational endeavors. The more power to this wonderful and long overdue trailblazer! I give her my warmest and sincerest support.

Everybody, pass the word around and let the world of Silence make a thundering statement to the larger world of sounds. It's long overdue! We need to create bridges among various communities with different linguistic and cultural needs in this tiny planet called Earth. Division only creates anger, repression, and building up of steam which is bound to blow open. Only understanding, acceptance and open-ended educational paradigm shifts can create bridges and especially the willingness to accept changes are widespread, not keeping the status quo intact. The changes which are good are irreversible and I believe God has decided time has come for the Deaf people!

Sincerely,
Matthew Wambach, MS
Program Director
CA/NV Lions Wilderness Camp for Deaf Children, Inc.