Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Scranton School for the Deaf

Despite 51,000 signatures being thrown at the governor's office, Ed Rendell ignored the petition to keep the Scranton School for the Deaf open. According to Rep. Kevin Murphy, there is no justifiable cause to close the school. The underlying premise is that the state doesn't want to fund special education in the commonwealth. This is a slap in the face to special education in general, not just to deaf people.

As a side note, my fiance and her son are deaf. Needless to say that this issue hits home with me. She - via the help of a relay phone call - was able to get the attention of Steve Corbett and voice her opinion on the issue. Knowing that the school was about to be closed and unhappy with the transition plan, Kristiana indicated that she was disgusted with the government, Rendell and Bob Mellow.

Hopefully, within the next few days, we will be able to meet with the administration of the school to find out how much money they need to raise. Contingent upon this meeting, we will put together a non-profit organization to raise the money needed to keep this school open.

Comments? questions?

5 comments:

Stephen Albert said...

Good luck with this...whether the Commonwealth "wants" to be involved in special education or not, the fact remains that it is the OBLIGATION of government to do so. What's next, for profit schools?

Look, I'm all for running things in a more efficient manner, but you don't dump the entire school simply because you don't like the cost...you FIND A WAY to run it in a more cost effective matter.

Anonymous said...

With our economy in such piss poor shape the way it is right now the governor can't find a way to screw the already tapped middle class. Now he's trying to screw the disabled. Fast Eddy is an idiot. He's cutting money in areas that actually help people but writing out checks for things that don't matter. The state should not back out its obligation to fund a school for the deaf.

Anonymous said...

Why does our government want to spend money for a methodone clinic and a train station to nowhere instead of supporting the handicapped?

The Much Maligned Anonymous Poster said...

I know a sure fire way to get the money for the school. Let's stop paying for fat eddie's food bill

Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA said...

Exactly how many of my tax dollars are used to pay for each of these students? Deaf people are not helpless and can get along in a mainstreamed learning environment. All that is required is sign language able teachers. What a boondoggle this school has been. And, indeed what an insult to imply that these students can only learn if segregated from a society that they are one day going to have to deal with in order to be productive citizens. Although I disagree with much of what Mr. Rendell proposes, my hat is off to him on this one!! Even a good "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" Republican can be on the side of a Democrat if he does the right thing. Class dismissed!