Hi,
My name’s Nicole Marsh, I’m a student at the Newfoundland School for the Deaf. This year, I’m one of two, possibly three people graduating. I was born with normal hearing, and suddenly became severe to profoundly deaf in both ears when I was six.
From kindergarten to grade six, I was mainstreamed in Bishop’s Falls. I’m sure that you understand that in a small town, there’s not much support available, no matter how needed it may be. My parents wanted better for me. They packed up, and moved here for me to go to NSD. It’s made an incredible difference to me. I know how it feels to be the only deaf people in a school, and how isolating it is. Knowing that you’re the only one in the school, and not knowing others that are going through the same thing as you. There’s being alone, and a whole different kind of loneliness when you’re in a crowd, not being able to fit in. When you want to understand, want to talk, but you… can’t. It’s pretty hard growing up when people pick on each other anyhow, but it’s harder when you’re not only getting picked on for the “regular” things, but also for what you can’t change.
Now in my final year, after being in NSD for six years, I was told I have to go to Gonzaga High School to get courses I cannot get at NSD. I asked if there was any way to do the most important subjects at NSD, and take the rest at Gonzaga. I was told that there’s not enough to make it work, and there’s no other way. That was Thursday the sixth of September. I watched the news on Friday, and they said we had a choice. When I was talking to people in school Thursday, the option didn’t seem there at all. To me, it sounded like they were saying Gonzaga for third level physics and math, or NOTHING. As well, Gonzaga’s first day of classes started on the sixth. Students from my school that are going to Gonzaga started on the twelfth. Is that really fair, that we were already behind, and at the time we haven’t been into the school yet? From what I’ve heard, on Monday (The 10th) the Gonzaga teachers had a workshop, and have been told what it’s like to have deaf students in the classroom. I appreciate that there is a workshop happening, but it doesn’t seem to be fair. We have teachers at NSD with masters in deaf education. They’ve been around deaf students for a long time, and are experienced with everything our culture consists of. When we have capable teachers, I don’t feel anyone should need to go to Gonzaga, when teachers know about deaf from one day of workshop, and no formal university education in teaching deaf. We have the teachers, they know what they’re doing, and understand, while even if a long workshop happened, Gonzaga teachers wouldn’t have the same. I feel it takes morale away.
I know what it’s like to fit in because of NSD, and instead of missing out on information in class, I understand everything. There’s no trying to lip-read teachers, and then trying to figure out which student is talking so you can lip-read (then missing the question they’ve asked anyhow, because you’ve spotted them too late.) I know what post secondary supports there are available for Deaf/ hard of hearing students, which I know I wouldn’t have heard about in Bishop’s Falls. Come to think of it, I have a few friends that live here in St. John’s that aren’t aware the school is right across from the Village. Everyone has to ask, “Oh, is that the school by the village?” If they live in town, and they don’t know, it makes me think; what about the Deaf and hard of hearing that aren’t from here? I don’t think there’s enough awareness.
My parents were nervous about me going to NSD, knowing the courses will be taught in sign language as well, they were afraid I’d stop talking because we communicate orally at home. With that said, my parents were in the situation that I feel other parents could be in, and I know they made the right decision for me. I’ve never stopped talking, and I see a speech therapist at school. I feel the overall atmosphere outside of the school gives NSD a negative vibe, as if it’s a person’s “last chance”. That everything only happens in sign, and students won’t be encouraged to talk. It’s been said mainstreamed students only go to NSD, when there’s nowhere else for them to go. That’s just some examples that I can think of right now.
Also, when I wrote my speech for last year’s speak off I learned there are about 300-500 Deaf and hard of hearing youth in Newfoundland. It sounds like the only choice they have is to stay in their communities. I feel that maybe some aren’t even aware of NSD, another friend of mine didn’t even know there was an FM system for support. He graduated, not knowing about any support at all. It makes me wonder though… if there are those many Deaf and hard of hearing youth in the province, how come there are fewer than 25 students in NSD? I feel that we could use a more positive image and welcome more people into the school. Without the government allowing information about NSD to spread, other students might feel they have no other option. I ask for others in the government to embrace our school, and share the educational wealth that others can have. Our school dorm can hold many people, yet there are so very few. Classes could be fuller and more rooms could be used. If people were more aware, the school could improve, and be better for everyone.
Another concern I have, being a student that’s graduating this year, is the courses offered and teachers. We’re given what we need, yes. But it’s not enough. I was at a meeting with Darlene Styles and was told that there’s a teacher/student ratio, and we have enough teachers. In my old school, my language teacher would teach different grades, but he would still teach language only; my science teacher would teach science only. I’ve seen a lot of difficult situations arise the last school year. I’m aware of a teacher teaching upwards of seven different courses, most not relating to each other. It’s too much… I could see the stress. Another teacher was teaching language/english, which doesn’t really seem too bad, until you realize that she’d be teaching different grades, in the same class at the same period. I feel that this way, students loose instruction time, and attention especially when English is a second language for so many. I understand the idea of a need for the teacher/student ratio, but in a school like NSD, I feel the ratio shouldn’t apply. When you have a school going from kindergarten to grade 12 and roughly 25 students a ratio just doesn’t work. Especially when you consider that most classes are about 4 people, and with the varying grades/rates, more teachers are needed to provide the courses. I have to admire the resourcefulness of teachers and staff for making things run smoothly as possible, but it doesn’t take away problems. Last year I felt like I never got to see my guidance councilor, because she seemed to be free two periods a day at the most. Other times, she was teaching. The vice principal was teaching. It was easy for me to see everyone was spread thin. I can’t speak for this year yet, because everyone is confused, schedules are still being updated and the such.
I agreed to try Gonzaga, when I couldn’t take physics 3204 in the School for the Deaf. Only because I was told I would have support from NSD teachers, and proper support in Gonzaga. So far I haven’t seen the real time captioning at all. I’m also doing clothing and Math 3204 in Gonzaga… I struggle with the physics right now, and there’s NO support set up for me in NSD for it yet, whatsoever. Why? The only teacher that can teach it to me properly has a full schedule. Our schedule has been rewritten so many times my physics support has been dropped in the process. I’m behind in physics, I don’t have support and it’s been a year since I took the other physics course. The physics was a grade higher than my math at the time, so I didn’t understand the physics math. Now, because of that, I don’t remember anything. If the school had more students and teachers at the time, this situation could have been avoided as well. What upsets me is the fact that I’m graduating this year, I’m already behind in physics, and it’s a PUBLIC course. Math isn’t as bad, but I still don’t have the real time captioning in class, at all. If I was told there would be support, what’s taking so long? Why put me in this risky situation now, with publics this year? It doesn’t make sense. I can see many other ways this could have been prevented.
I was told there are enough teachers for the number of students we have. If we had more students, we’d have a need for more teachers. When we have more teachers to go with the students, we can have more courses, more ease in planning schedules, it’ll solve many things. I know some may have applied to work at our school, and they had masters in deaf education, yet they were turned away. Others don’t apply, simply because there are no openings. I can’t quite comprehend why that has happened… when the teachers we have are stretched as far as they can. Teachers have retired last year, and haven’t been replaced.
Another thing I had in mind was the use of the building itself. When I was younger, my family didn’t know much about hearing loss or where to find help. Coming to St. John’s from Bishop’s Falls and all, no one could have been aware of all the support there is. I know there are Deaf organizations are scattered around the city, and paying to use buildings they are located in. The different organizations could be based at NSD, and they could pay for the use of space. By paying for the use of space in the school, it could cut back on the costs of keeping the school open. With different groups based in the school, it’d be a one-stop place for information anyone could need on hearing loss, with the support of the local Deaf community.
Over the summer, I have received a letter regarding the changes that would take place. I understood why they’ve taken place.
Some of the changes were:
School time changed. 9:00-3:30 to 8:45-3:00,
Day students having to pay for lunch,
Week-long breaks for residence students to see family dropped.
My biggest concern is NSD remaining open. I know that it’s been said that the school isn’t closing, but I have to put this question out there: If new teachers aren’t coming in to replace ones that left, if students are turned away, and cutbacks keep happening, what is going to happen? We’re basically like a closed system, when people can leave, but not come back. Everyone spreads thin to keep the system as strong as possible, but there are holes. What’s going to happen later? I have a slight feeling people are going to be told, “There’s not enough teachers anymore, and not enough students, we cannot continue running”, and that will be it. I’m finished this year, but what really makes me still feel strongly for the school, is the thought of other students mainstreamed like I was before. For the ones that understand the isolation that comes with being Deaf. That understand the feeling of basically being invisible in the system, because you can do anything except hear, thus it’s “not a big deal”. For people that understand deafness isn’t always a disability but a culture that can be lost. I feel strongly for the school, and how it made me into the confident person I am today, not the girl who would sit alone recess time reading because she didn’t understand people, and they never seemed to have time for her.
You’ll find that I’m a very optimistic person, and I look for the best in any situation. This is one of those situations. I know there have been changes, but the school really could improve drastically. What’s happening shows that we have teachers that will try and make it work, a supportive deaf community, and an understanding that only our school could have.
I’ve been thinking about this for some time now, and I trust that you’ll get back to me, personally.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this,
Nicole
Posted by savensd 
