Mom Claims Seven MSSD Students Expelled
A Second Note from Anguished Mom of a MSSD Student:
I do agree with those of you who say my son should have been taught about culture and discrimination. As a parent, we don’t know everything and do the best we can with what we have and know. Hind sight is 20/20 and I wish I had been able to see the future and recognize the need to discuss these issues with my son.
Clearly that was my responsibility in which, however unintentional, I failed him as his mother in regards to this issue. I don’t know what happens next and although my son didn’t understand what he was involved in, I agree with some discipline as well as educating him now. He did get involved and should be taught that it was wrong that is how children learn I think. Initially, the punishment was a 5 day suspension which although harsh, I agreed with because it clearly stated that this situation was not good but the next step seems to be teaching rather than expulsion.
The parents, educators and communities of these children should come together in an effort to insure that these young people have a clearer understanding of racism and acceptance of all human beings. Although I believe that I have been the best mother I knew how to be, sometimes as parents we need help in raising and teaching.
I am frustrated by MSSD decision to expel these students rather than discipline and educate. MSSD is in a position now to positively impact the entire student population but working with the students and parents to teach the students compassion, caring and tolerance of all people. When people make mistakes out of ignorance, it is best if they can learn from the mistake and grow as people. As a parent, I learned that I should not have taken for granted that my son understood culture and diversity, that was my mistake.
Therefore it is now up to me to educate him in diversity and also to educate him so that he understands that when other people are involved in things that are not right, he must walk away and tell someone. I need to insure that he understands the values and then teach him to take a stance for what is right.
Commentary: According to this mom, originally the students were suspended for five days. However, the punishment was changed later, leading to the expulsions of these seven kids from the school. I’ve called MSSD public relations department this morning for confirmation, but due to federal confidentiality laws, the spokeperson was unable to confirm or deny this. However, several sources on campus told me they were allegedly expelled.
If this is true, do you feel the expulsions of the students are fair? Do you think this is a learning experience for this developmentally challenged teenager who remains clueless? What about the second group of older and more experienced students who were said to ‘egg’ on these seven students? Are their punishments appropriate, given the information that the seven students were expelled?
Personally I don’t know what to make out of this situation since I don’t have the full access to the whole story. But I find it troubling that the egging students got off pretty lightly, if their contributions were as significant as claimed by this mom. I hope the MSSD officials will explore this serious accusation further.
It’s going to take a long time for MSSD to heal from this ugly incident. MSSD’s swift actions and reporting to the police are commendable. The school authorities didn’t sweep under the carpet, like the high school administrators of Jena, LA did with the nooses hanging under the tree incident. They also went further, hiring a diversity specialist to address this racism issue. MZ
Mom’s first note: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/10/08/anguished-mom-the-black-mssd-perpetrator-is-a-victim-too/
A Second Note from Anguished Mom of a MSSD Student:
I do agree with those of you who say my son should have been taught about culture and discrimination. As a parent, we don’t know everything and do the best we can with what we have and know. Hind sight is 20/20 and I wish I had been able to see the future and recognize the need to discuss these issues with my son.
Clearly that was my responsibility in which, however unintentional, I failed him as his mother in regards to this issue. I don’t know what happens next and although my son didn’t understand what he was involved in, I agree with some discipline as well as educating him now. He did get involved and should be taught that it was wrong that is how children learn I think. Initially, the punishment was a 5 day suspension which although harsh, I agreed with because it clearly stated that this situation was not good but the next step seems to be teaching rather than expulsion.
The parents, educators and communities of these children should come together in an effort to insure that these young people have a clearer understanding of racism and acceptance of all human beings. Although I believe that I have been the best mother I knew how to be, sometimes as parents we need help in raising and teaching.
I am frustrated by MSSD decision to expel these students rather than discipline and educate. MSSD is in a position now to positively impact the entire student population but working with the students and parents to teach the students compassion, caring and tolerance of all people. When people make mistakes out of ignorance, it is best if they can learn from the mistake and grow as people. As a parent, I learned that I should not have taken for granted that my son understood culture and diversity, that was my mistake.
Therefore it is now up to me to educate him in diversity and also to educate him so that he understands that when other people are involved in things that are not right, he must walk away and tell someone. I need to insure that he understands the values and then teach him to take a stance for what is right.
Commentary: According to this mom, originally the students were suspended for five days. However, the punishment was changed later, leading to the expulsions of these seven kids from the school. I’ve called MSSD public relations department this morning for confirmation, but due to federal confidentiality laws, the spokeperson was unable to confirm or deny this. However, several sources on campus told me they were allegedly expelled.
If this is true, do you feel the expulsions of the students are fair? Do you think this is a learning experience for this developmentally challenged teenager who remains clueless? What about the second group of older and more experienced students who were said to ‘egg’ on these seven students? Are their punishments appropriate, given the information that the seven students were expelled?
Personally I don’t know what to make out of this situation since I don’t have the full access to the whole story. But I find it troubling that the egging students got off pretty lightly, if their contributions were as significant as claimed by this mom. I hope the MSSD officials will explore this serious accusation further.
It’s going to take a long time for MSSD to heal from this ugly incident. MSSD’s swift actions and reporting to the police are commendable. The school authorities didn’t sweep under the carpet, like the high school administrators of Jena, LA did with the nooses hanging under the tree incident. They also went further, hiring a diversity specialist to address this racism issue. MZ
Mom’s first note: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/10/08/anguished-mom-the-black-mssd-perpetrator-is-a-victim-too/
October 10th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
We still don’t know exactly what happened. Supposedly it was an instance of war games that went too far, but we don’t know what “too far” means.
The mother originally stated that the boy who was tied up was laughing because it was part of a game. Also, the one team was called “The Black KKK,” so we really need to withhold judgment until we find out what really happened. The media rushed too quickly into this.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Brian, the game became ugly after this student left, according to his mother. The fact that these students were allegedly expelled reflected the seriousness of the incident. Let’s not downplay this, either.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Those egging students will experience the unwanted results someday, anyway. It is better for them to face their actions than “middle fingers on shoulders backing off” and take off… I feel sorry for them. Again for clueless students, I feel sorry for them, too.
deafk
October 10th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I profoundly agree with the MSSD mom about the real harsh punishment for MSSD’s unintentional racial overtones.
The students should be simply discplined and take up the projects on racial tolerance and other things. Those students will learn something important about the beauty of human diversity and ugly business of racial ephitets.
Expelling students will not help the whole school and its students. The best punishment for involved parties to parade among the student body on daily basis and deal with the reality of life than sheltering them from other students.
The real sad thing about nowaday’s “zero tolerance” policies in many schools and other places. “Zero tolerance” policy really hurt us in many ways than being helpful.
The involved parties did not inscribe racial slurs deeply into affected victims’ flesh, just markers.
I have seen many expelled deaf students’ life being truly destroyed. Those deaf students across the USA often going into true abyss as nowhere to go and complete their education.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
October 10th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I agreed that kind of punishment has gone way too far. It won’t do any good.. education is the key what we need to educate these kids.
Sure they had some kind of war game but still it’s not acceptable using KKK or Nazi, etc groups. When kids named these kind on groups, it usually then will go too far which then mistook people into thinking it involves hatred and such.
I was MSSD student living at dorm, we never had any kind like that. Or maybe cuz we had plenty of activities at that time, I wonder? Cuz I heard MSSD closed down on some like drama class, etc. If that’s the case, is it because they get bored so had to come up with some ideas to keep them busy?
I feel bad for these kids with nowhere to go except maybe they have to go to deaf state school or in their local public school.
I hope MSSD will say it’s way too harsh and let’s take them back and perhaps to educate them as well the rest about how serious it is using some words that is not acceptable and the history about it.
Keep us posted.. thanks!
-SG
October 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Expelling students is for serious crimes, like beating up a student or teacher with clear intent to malice.
Even if the students involved weren’t fully aware of the implications of their misdeed, it does not excuse the crime itself. However, in the court system it is possible to lessen the penalty for mitigating factors like this. So should it be in the MSSD system.
I would hope that this expulsion is for a limited time, like one semester or one year, with other alternatives given such as local mainstream programs with support, or nearby schools for the deaf.
The older students who started this behavior need to be disciplined that impresses on the whole community that responsibility for younger fellows does NOT include getting them into trouble. Otherwise, the lesson of expelling the seven is lost because there were some who “got away” with it.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Explusion without any due process, involving the parents *AND* the school administration is very flawed.
There should be terms and grounds laid out in the process before any final actions are taken.
What about the instigators?
October 10th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Were all of the 7 developmentally disabled? I find that hard to believe…
I don’t think the kid who was DD should’ve been expelled, but the rest should have been, and if they have been, good! What happened was wrong, and those kids need to learn there are serious consequences in holding other people hostage.
In my personal opinion, MSSD needs to start implementing assertiveness training, so kids won’t fall prey to older students who are out for kicks that often. As for those older kids who started the whole thing, I would say it has to depend on what exactly they did. They do definitely need to be disciplined, but if they weren’t the ones who held the person hostage… *shrugs*
October 10th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I am concerned how some people think the punishment went too far. They held the kid against his wills for 2 hours. I don’t know the DD student but there is some protection for him. But those who knew better (well I don’t know depend on their insights on life in general if they would know better.) I say expel them because it is a crime to kidnap someone.
And the staff who was working at the dorm… should be fired! Because they are suppose to be “checking” on the students.
As for the games that went too far.. It shouldn’t have had that game in the first place. It is a sick game and not even close to “teaching” the students about civilization. This is like the book “the Lord of Flies” only gone uglier.
MSSD is suppose to be a model school. Apparently it is not a model school. Where are the real leaders? I am sure Frank Turk and some other old timers are appalled!
October 10th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
There is a lot of speculation going on here — we don’t know the details because they are protected by confidentiality laws, and we shouldn’t guess at what “might have happened.”
I worry that the mother who contacted you is taking on too much of the blame here. She seems to be saying it was all her fault that she didn’t educate her child well enough. That’s nice for MSSD to hear (and blame), but the fact is the student attended MSSD, and the incident occurred under their noses — while these kids were supposed to be SUPERVISED. If there is any blame to be accepted, it is MSSD that needs to step up and say “We’re sorry.” Of course that won’t happen because the parents would immediately sue MSSD, on the advice of money-hungry lawyers…
The expulsion process, as I understand it involves first “proving” that the incident was not related to the child’s disability. In this case, I think it would be ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to prove that a Deaf student with additional cognitive problems fully understood the possible consequences of his behavior. Sometimes parents are pushed into signing those documents without being fully informed as to what they mean, and without having the chance to present witnesses that would oppose the school’s opinions. Certainly, the behavior of the students who were “pushing” these kids to do what they did SHOULD have been part of the defense testimony (but of course, that information is Top Secret, so only the families know what really happened)…
Anyway, I personally feel that since the decision to expel these kids happened so quickly, the legally required steps and due process could NOT have happened according to IDEA standard.
Mishka: If the mother in this situation can show you the paperwork and documentation she was given by MSSD, she might be able to appeal this decision to a Fair Hearing officer, and receive a different ruling…
To me it feels like 7 students’ rights were violated — But I could be totally wrong…
October 10th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I C, yes I’ve left a message that I wish to talk with her.. because I feel she was being too hard on herself. The child has apparently been failed by the previous educational and communication methods in the past. We know too well how difficult it is for parents to know which method to educate a deaf child. The additional disability makes it more complicated. Then there is the question whether the teens were adequately supervised in the dorm.
Deaf Pundit, I agree that assertive training is needed. I know in the old days, they did provide these workshops but whether they still do this nowadays is unknown. Under Fernandes Administration MSSD had witnessed many program closings.
Keep in mind that the ‘kidnapping’ was voluntary at the beginning as a part of the war games. We don’t know the details when it turned ugly. For sure, all these who participated in this need counseling and education to understand their wrongdoing.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Most of us already know that the MSSD wargame situation got overblown over all the place, especially media reports.
I feel strongly that some Gallaudet and MSSD officials take up the racial horseplay to suit their own political and personal agenda and motives in proving themselves up to par on the so-called diversity issue. Who knows?
The anti-Islamfascism students at George Washington University (GWU), told the university officials that their recent actions were misinterpreted after posting the “Hate Muslim? We Do, Too!” posters all over the campus. The world of higher education suppose to be the learning sandbox, not restrict their thoughts outside the box.
Political correctness in our nowaday society usually go too far!
Is there any real hate crimes against white Americans? Reverse racism is our worst enemy of all to get even with the so-called oppressors, white Americans?
We, white Americans have to think about the near future and protect ourselves from systematically oppressed by the so-called majority, the Latinos.
I usually deal with the reverse racism on daily basis by the racial minorities. I fight back thru legal means and negotiate with them to show that I embrace their existence as human beings. Those people have to look beyond the skin color and move on with the past.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
October 10th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
The situation at MSSD is actually much worse than people think it is. Much worse! Charges are expected to be filed soon. And this was more than war games. There are actual examples of black against white issues. Plus the victim in this case has been beaten up and bullied his entire two years at MSSD. Don’t try to brush this off as just a friendly war game gone bad. The MSSD dorm counselor that was supposed to be watching is no longer there. There will be more heads rolling so keep an eye on that.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Way too far .. Astead the MSSD should educate the students about the racism and many more. The kids haven’t learn the reality stuffs out there yet.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:33 am
I am still not sure there is a “rumor.” DC police and MSSD administrators were going toooooo fast with investigation… Thats why there was sooo messed up at MSSD right now… I also am not sure They are going to the court soon. I dont know what exactly is going on there… There are MULTI different stories!!!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
The police can only bring a charge against a student if they believe he is culpable.
Even if the student is 18 or 19, does that student really have the maturity of an adult? Or does he have the maturity and understanding of a 16 year old?
Did he really intend to force someone to be immobilized against his will? Or did he think he was still playing the war game?
When the black children called their team the “Black KKK”, does that mean that the “KKK” letters written on one boy refer to the team? If so, then it was not in reference to white supremacy or the Ku Klux Klan. It was in reference to team.
If there is a trial, then all these questions must be answered and the boy will be entitled to a verdict by a jury. If that boy grew up with hearing parents who didn’t sign and didn’t communicate with him, I doubt that a jury would convict him. He would be seen as someone who didn’t understand the implications of what he was doing.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
There is rumor that DC police are taking charge against 7 kids… I dont know if it is true???
I would rather to wait and see what happens in the court or in newspapers or whatever?
October 11th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
RLM,
I have thought about reverse racism. I am thinking about others comment as well.
As a mother of two Deaf daughters, it is hard to teach them reality of life but they already had it rough from the beginning. That is another story another time. I would not approved this game at all if I knew that was going on. This is the very reason why my girls are not living in any dorm whatsoever!!! Safety issues!!! The bottom line is that the parents are too trusting at times with the dorm staff. They don’t always check on their kids.
The mother is being way too hard on herself because she trusted the dorm staff afterall the dorm staff pretty much say ohh we will take care of them but they sit in the lobby and chit chat their shift away. This I hope will help her realize she would need to communicate more with her child and learn from this.
I don’t know what is going on at MSSD but I don’t like what I am seeing on blogs and so forth. Like I said it is suppose to be Model Secondary School for the Deaf. MODEL??? I know it is Laurent Clerc Center and I am sure he is rolling over his graves as well as Gallaudet.
Too much speculations and rumors fine… but the point is… this game was not suppose to happen in the first place. The staff are suppose to guide the students into something more productive and positive actitivities. They didn’t even change the name of wings that says alot itself. BLACK KKK COME ON!!
October 11th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
As a person who is Black & Deaf, I am saddened to hear that these students are being expelled. I think MSSD has lost an opportunity to teach and these students have lost an opportunity to learn.
NO, I do not approve of what they did.
Yes, suspending them was appropriate.
Yes, the kids need counseling to understand the impact of what they did and the impact on the victim. Bullying is never tolerable no matter what form it takes, in this case racial intimidation
MSSD lost an opportunity to teach by not bringing these kids back and teaching them about racial and ethnic intolerance. The students lost an opportunity to learn, correct their behaviors, make public apology and have those apologies accepted.
Lets face it most schools for the deaf only give a passing nod to Black history, Native American history and Latino, and Asian contributions to this country.
Did MSSD take the opportunity to discuss the recent events in Jena? How about discussing the Don Imus affair or the efforts to stem immigration? Heck even discuss impact of recent protest and why the Black Community was upset over Dr. Glenn Anderson’s failure to make the final 3?
MSSD and other schools for the deaf need to take a long hard look at how they are educating our children on racial issues and increase their efforts to find qualified African American personnel in the dorms and classrooms.
We are looking at these kids under an adult microscope. Passing on them adult judgements, yet failing to equip them with skills they need to make adult-wise decisions. We have become punitive instead of instructional.
Its too easy to blame the parents for not teaching. Its too easy to blame the students for not knowing.
The easiest part lies in not doing anything at all, which is what is being done by washing MSSD hands of these students.
Where in the heck was the residential staff? Now that is a hard question to get an answer to.
Sheryl Emery, M.A.
National Black Deaf Advocates Executive Director
(1983-1987)
October 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
#18
Nobody said it was the wing that was called “Black KKK”. It was only the name of that team of (mostly?) black students on that particular day while the game was being played during their free time. That’s my understanding.
The names of the teams “The Nazi’s” and “The Black KKK” were the students’ ideas. The staff found out about it later and told them to stop the war game.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I stand corrected it wasn’t the wing… but still found out when much later until it was too late?? how did the game got started in the first place?
October 12th, 2007 at 1:11 am
It started just as kids playing around during their free time.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:57 am
I attended a manifestation determination meeting on Wednesday with my son. The outcome: “This email is to serve as a written follow up to the phone conversation we had this afternoon regarding the results of IEP team’s consideration of the counseling report. After reviewing the report submitted by the counselor assigned to (child), the school IEP team members have determined that the school did not fail to follow the IEP as it is written. We also maintain our decision that (child) behaviors in the situation were not caused by his disability of deafness.” Since his classification is only deafness, the school stated that they did not have to consider any other disability the child has, they would only discuss the classification of deafness stating anything else is secondary and does not need to be considered. The IEP states counseling once a week for 30 minutes to address social/emotional delays, communication issues and transition to new school, environment and residential living. MSSD only provided one session since the start of school stating that they sent two other passes for the child to attend and he did not show up. When asked if anyone followed up to see why the child did not show up for counseling, the assistant principal responded by that’s the counselors responsibility but the counselor was not available to come to the meeting. My son maintains that he never received any passes. Today I was provied with a counselors report dated 10/11/07. Here are pieces of the counseling summary:
Individualized Education Plan indicates that he may come in for counseling on weekly basis (child) counseling goals as indicated in his Individualized Education Plan are:
“Student will express positive feelings related to adjusting to school.â€
The following objectives are listed:
“Student will demonstrate ability to separate from parents/family.â€
“Student will share feelings of being homesick with counselor or adult.â€
“Student will demonstrate ability to accept and develop new relationships.â€
“Student will attempt and/or initiate tasks that are unfamiliar, new, or challenging.â€
Summary of Counseling:
This counselor first had the opportunity to interact with (child) during New Student Orientation week and Orientation to School Programs Week (NSO/OSP). (child) was involved in a team-building activity on August 27th that was facilitated by this counselor. During the activity, (child) presented as slightly withdrawn and at times made comments that were inappropriate given the social context.
As a means of ensuring that (child) has support on a school-wide basis, this counselor shared concerns with key administrators and the School Psychologist that (child) may need additional support in becoming more aware of the inappropriate comments he sometimes makes.
This counselor met with (child) on September 18th for approximately 30 minutes. This counselor once again explained counseling and (child) shared a bit about his family and previous school. (child) indicated during the session that he did not need counseling. This counselor informed him that any time he wanted to talk, he could stop by the office. This counselor also informed (child)that he would be checked in with again periodically to make sure that he is adjusting to school.
The following week, this counselor checked in with (child) briefly in the cafeteria to see how things were going. (child) indicated that he was “tired,†but doing well.
Behavioral Issues:
This counselor does not have any reports of behavioral concerns.
Recommendations:
(child) may benefit from counseling required on a weekly basis if his academic performance or behavior in school or in the dorm is negatively affected.
I am in receipt of the interim grade report which includes 3 F’s and 1 D. MSSD still maintains they have done all necesary and followed all the IEP. Seems like when the IEP says weekly counseling it is supposed to happen that way not once and then brief checkins in the cafeteria in front of other students.
During the manifestation determination meeting it was discussed that several students were picking on my son and telling him that he shouldn’t be in that school because he talks and deaf people don’t talk. They told him he didn’t belong and they didn’t want him there at MSSD. The english teacher confirmed this was happening but said she told them to stop. I asked if she informed the rest of the staff and the counselor that this was happening and that the child may need some help in dealing with this. She replied that it wasn’t her job to do that and if the child needed help he should have asked for it. The principal refused to take part in the vote of the outcome of the meeting.
My son is talking about wanting to die because he “is a bad person and nobody wants him around”. I am sick… I really thought that since I was not familiar and didn’t understand deaf culture the way that deaf adults do that I was doing the right thing for my son by putting him in the hands of the experts at a deaf school in a deaf community where he would fit in… How sad and wrong I was… MSSD did damage to my son that I never imagined could happen… it’s not about lawyers and craziness like one person said. I don’t care about suing people I work to pay my bills not sue people to pay my bills… it’s about a little boy who’s hopes and dreams have dissappeared because a school is playing the part of covering it’s butt… rather than what is reality and what is in the best interest of the kids. The world is a terrible place and only getting worse..
October 12th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
cm,
Thank you for sharing this. This is what we need to see. See Brian… it is just not a game that went too far.. This has been an ongoing issue with all residential schools. Everyone now think about it. It isn’t reverse racism… this is a child who was constantly picked on and thought he/she would fit in if just only go along with others and ended up gettign hurt!!!
A game my butt… those students knew exactly what was going on!!
October 12th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
#24
Don’t mix up different issues together. There definitely *was* a war game that the students were playing on Saturday, Sept. 30 and the police must take that into account in order to properly understand what happened when the student was captured and written on.
Everybody knows that racism is a big issue everywhere–hearing schools and deaf schools. So is bullying and students picking on each other. Nobody denies that there are probably problems at MSSD just like there are problems in all schools. Maybe the problems are somewhat worse at MSSD than they are at the average school. We don’t know yet.
Please be more careful with the accuracy of your comments. Nobody claimed that the student was held for 2 hours. In fact, he was held (”captured”) for 45 minutes.
Now you are wanting to mix in issues related to the general social atmosphere at the school (and even other schools that you allege), which really are not directly pertinent to understanding the particular event in question on that particular day.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:51 am
The mother’s story shows that she is more aware of what is happening in MSSD than some of the staff in the residence. Her son was being bullied in the worst way: deaf on deaf, an example of deafism being practiced on a kid that needs acceptance and nurturing in the deaf community after years of nonacceptance in the hearing school community.
This is a crime worse than the immature crime the kids were expelled over. MSSD should be publicly brought to account for creating the environment that allowed this to happen and for being blind to what was happening.
The schools for the deaf should be a safe haven for all kinds of deaf children and teens of all kinds of backgrounds and carrying all sorts of injuries from past inappopriate and inadequate education. This deafism disease going around is not acceptable especially at this age.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:43 am
The words in the email from Daniel Dukes, principal at MSSD:
This email is to serve as a written follow up to the phone conversation we had this afternoon regarding the results of IEP team’s consideration of the counseling report. After reviewing the report submitted by the counselor assigned to Taylor, the school IEP team members have determined that the school did not fail to follow the IEP as it is written. We also maintain our decision that (child) behaviors in the situation were not caused by his disability of deafness.
The child’s words in an email response to his teacher who sent homework to him:
> the people at the meeting say i can’t come back to school anymore.
> everyone thinks im bad and the dont want me arond so i dont need
> more homework cause i cant do it when i die anyway. tomorrow i can
> be gone forever.
But according to the counselor at MSSD he’s been doing fine. I just don’t understand.
Are all deaf schools like this or are there some where the staff actually care enough for the child and fix mistakes they make?
October 13th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
cm,
I would recommend that you contact the principal of MSSD to discuss your concerns and see if you both can come up with a resolution satisficatory to you both. Show the principal the documents you have and what your son told you.
October 13th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
can’t ur son go back to the school he was at before he went to mssd? prolly better off neway. obviously houseparents at mssd don’t pay attention.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
For now I think we are considering homeschooling in order to keep him safe.. his old school is a 2 hour commute each way and had taken its toll on him which was the reason for finding MSSD to begin with. There really is no safe place for children these days even among the adults who should understand the difficulties the face in the world around them.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
cm,
I really feel for you. I did the same thing for my oldest daughter we had to pull her out of one of residential school due to bullies by staff and kids. We moved on to another states and she is doing extremely well!
CM, He will need help and alot of love I know you heard this before but the most important thing is that he is being heard.
If you want to email me privately get it through this person. She and I have been in touch alot and I am here for you mother to mother…
Brian I am being careful….
October 15th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Although I’m not feeling safe sending this child back to MSSD I want his record cleared of expulsion and his involvement clarified.
Clarification of child’s involvement as agreed on at manifestation determination meeting on October 10, 2007:
(Child) invited to play war game. (child) was part of the first floor group. Other group members captured a member of the basement group. (child) kept encouraging the victim to tell them what the basement team’s plan was, but victim did not respond. (child) states victim would not answer and kept laughing. (child) was being encouraged by other students to continue interrogating. (child) states he became frustrated when victim would not answer and laughed at him. (child) hit student on chest and stated “I quit”. (child) returned to dorm room to play video game.
Parents email to principal:
The counselor’s summary is in direct contradiction to the IEP which states that counseling will be provided for the first quarter not until 10/3/07 on a weekly basis for 30 minutes. I am now requesting a due process hearing with the hearing officer on an emergent basis. As well, I am requesting an appeal of the decision for expulsion. I will also be requesting that all documents you have be provided immediately to me for preparation. If all documentation is not provided immediately I will then retain an education attorney and have this all subpoenaed. Please respond by the close of business today as to your intentions. As well please begin including both of (child) parents in your emails regarding this situation. It was unacceptable to ignore the rights of his other mother to this information that was sent yesterday.
Daniel Dukes, Principal says:
This email serves as our confirmation of your request for a due process hearing meeting related to the outcome of (child) manifestation determination meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. We will mail to you the information pertaining to this early next week.
I also will consider this email confirmation of your request to appeal the decision to expel (child). I will let you know my decision within 7 school days from today (Monday, October 22, 2007), according to MSSD school policy.
Parents email to Dr. Jankowski… remains unanswered:
Dr. Jankowski
Unfortunately I must give to you some bad news regarding the horrific abuse of the system by your staff at MSSD.
My son has become a victim of MSSD and in an effort to cover up their responsibility in the current “racial issue/ hate crime” incident at MSSD on 9/29/07. In fairness to all of the students involved, it must be said that MSSD failed to properly educate, supervise, and acknowledge the needs of each individual student. To make matters worse a counselor has falsified documents related to the provision of services to a student as stated in his IEP. As well, MSSD has clearly stated that they will not recognize the cognitive and social/emotional developmental delays of this student and only acknowledge his deafness because that is his “labeled disability”. I will be happy to provide you with all of the written documentation if you are interested in reviewing it. The principal, Daniel Dukes, went so far as to refuse to participate in voting on the outcome of the manifestation determination meeting. The child involved has failed 4 classes since the beginning of the year and as well, the residential director, Bo Acton, emailed this students parents claiming that he has suspicions that the older student was taking advantage of this student but could not act to protect him until he proved his suspicions. The child has currently decided he will kill himself because “his teachers and counselors and the principal say he is bad and don’t want him around”. To clarify his developmental level of thinking, he states that his friend (child) can have all of his toys except his football teddybear because he wants him to die with him. MSSD english teacher involved in the manifestation determination meeting stated that she was aware that the other students were telling this student that he should not be allowed at the school because he speaks and only “hearies speak and can’t be with the deaf kids”. The english teacher indicates that she told them to stop but did not feel it was her “Job” to let other teachers, residential staff or counselors know that this child was struggling and being ostracized. She clearly stated that if the child didn’t like it he should have told the counselor or other staff. Given his fragile emotional state, it was not acceptable to refuse to support this student who was new to the environment and did not even know the names of the residential staff in his dorm. If you would like to discuss these issues further please feel free to contact me. As the parent of this student it is my responsibility to share his side of the story and protect him from further abuse I will do this at any cost. My child should not have suffered in this way and MSSD should be apologizing, educating and supporting this child’s needs rather than playing the role of covering up their responsibility. If it is a mistake that they made they should admit it and fix it, if it is with malice that they have expelled this child and falsified documents I will insure that they are held accountable.
The anger has set in… The sadness is overwhelming… The media should be more careful… The adults should learn to be adults…
Thank you all for your support and realistic comments. Kbjensen06 I’m not sure how to reach out to you through email but will email MZ and if she would like to release my email to you that would be fine. If it wasn’t for fear of more attacks on the child, I would not care about privacy just that the truth be out there. My partner and I have done all possible to try to do the right things and trust… this is the youngest of 6 children we loved and raised… Never have I seen such rejection from any community as the one at MSSD. We made a terrible terrible mistake and this child suffers now… Mothers have a much difficult time getting through things when their mistake in putting a child somewhere results in that child being emotionally devastated… Move on?? is that even possible???
October 15th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Hi,
To move on will be very hard.. It took two years for my oldest daughter to recover from what happen to her. She still gets insecure every now and then. It is hard to see her in pain when she has a flashback. It is hard when her daddy and I watch her get nightmares or frustrated when she remember things.
It is not impossible but in time healing begins. Just hold on to hope… have faith that things will work out…
I will email you in private.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I am wonder was Jim Hynes on dutied that weekend?
October 16th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS INCIDENT IS SIMPLE!….
WHERE WERE THE RA’S WHEN THIS HAPPENED!
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THEY DO THIER JOBS AS RA’S!
October 20th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
please let us know cm how your sons appeal comes out!! we’re hoping for the best!
October 24th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I received notice yesterday from Daniel Dukes, principal, that the appeal is DENIED. I requested a higher level appeal from administration but still my request is unanswered. Devastation to this child continues… of note… one of the students who actually tied up the other student has been accepted back by Mr. Dukes and is currently in school at MSSD. Perhaps MSSD has alterior motives for keeping my son out of school.. maybe I’ve said too much? Maybe my son really is not deaf enough?? Maybe children with lesbian parents can’t attend?? Maybe they do not choose to acknowledge the email that Bo Acton sent stating that he suspected my son was being taken advantage of by an older student??? The list of maybees goes on…
October 25th, 2007 at 8:20 am
hire an attorney! i heard there were 3 kids that had gone back, but each of those kids had attorney’s. don’t know if that’s true, but it’s certainly worth a try. i personally wouldn’t want my daughter/son going back there. doesn’t seem like they have the child’s best interests at heart. what was the reason for their denial?