ok Bavya, I read your mail. will surely answer your questions tomorrow as I am very busy today.
On 11/1/14, sanjay <[email protected]> wrote: > First of all, I don't believe that blind people who study in integrated > schools will possess extraordinary skils of mingling with sighted folks. I > > am also a product of special school. Forget about other books, we were not > even provided sylabus books properly. We were introduced to English > alphabets in 5th Std. Blaming my Kannada medium school for not teaching > English is unfair on my part. This was the situation in 1980's. In my > neighbourhood, I had many sighted friends and I was even atending a tuition > > classss with my sighted peers during weekends. > AT certain point of time we have to quit our native place for job/training > purposes. When you go to new place, whether you are a sighted or blind we > all have to face initial ods. > I have seen many blind folks who have no business with any sighted person > > but are living happily without mourning for sighted person(s) > assistance/friendship. Perhaps, it is their 100% interdependent nature > which gave them this level of joy and confidence. I said interdependent > nature because 100% independence is a myth. It is because of such people, > > many inventions and innovations of products have been taking place > relentlessly. > > Today's relations are based on common interest and reciprocity. Whether > you are sighted or blind, as long as you have something to offer or share, > you can always have good friends and relatives. As we mature from childhood > > to adulthood, the dynamics of relations too change. > I have also seen blind people who could not have been educated well without > > special schools. > I do support the view that primary education should be given in special > schools. Then let the children and parents decide what suits them best. > Please don't go by the myth that integrated schools are the only way to > mainstream disabled people in the normal society. Such concepts hold little > > value in highly individualised societies of today; and, this is the false > > propaganda by some vested interests. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Amiyo Biswas" <[email protected]> > To: "AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issuesconcerning > thedisabled." <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 8:46 AM > Subject: Re: [AI] Regarding Inclusive Education and Special School. > > >>I am not against inclusive education for those who can manage it, >>particularly with the support of parents. The old integrated education >>programme was the best choice perhaps. I want that the special schools >>should be developed with good teachers and resources. In West Bengal >>special schools are under the ministry of mass education whose primary >>responsibility is to promote mass literacy. The teachers are paid less than >> >>the teachers at normal schools. The most pathetic situation is that the >>special educators are paid hardly Rs. 8,000 or something like that when >>they have to bear greater responsibility than regular teachers. >> >> Parents want to send their children to normal schools because they gain >> financially from it for the incentive. They refuse to talk to the >> representatives of the special schools because of this incentive. >> Organisations should take up the issue as they did for the copyright act >> or the rpd bill. >> >> With best regards, >> Amiyo Biswas >> Cell: +91-9433464329 >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Vidhya Y" <[email protected]> >> To: "AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues >> concerningthe disabled." <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 2:24 PM >> Subject: Re: [AI] Regarding Inclusive Education and Special School. >> >> >>>I still believe that for primary level atleast till 5th grade, Special >>> school helps for all >>> Blind children. >>> I would like to share why I think so, >>> till 7th grade I studied in a blind school (in a hostel). >>> it was very difficult for my parents to leave me their but that was >>> the only alternative. >>> I know that the quality of education is not good at the blind schools >>> because I had to learn all concepts like algebra and geometry and >>> also many concepts in science in the integrated school for my 8th >>> grade from scratch(as my friends had already learnt it before 7th >>> grade) >>> and they had not taught these concepts in blind school. >>> for a year or so it was very difficult and later I managed it very well. >>> I used to stay in a village and there are no good schools near buy. >>> my parents have given me all the facilities but english is not what >>> they have studied so converting books would not be possible at any >>> cost. >>> as a girl, there is a question of sending me to any institute to take >>> training in computer math etc on my own and the people from the >>> institute would not come because I stay too far from city. >>> and these institutes are so far from the village. >>> in the village where all students in general are not getting proper >>> education in computer, english, what about the blind children >>> especially at the primary level? >>> I studied in integrated school from 8th grade because I could manage >>> on my own at that level with a little help. >>> but how could I do that from primary level? >>> I have very supportive family and tutors so I have managed to study >>> math and programming even in the degree level and now I am working as >>> research assistant (thinking of doing PHD in computer science ). >>> and there are other blind children especially girls who are not even >>> cared by their families(I am telling this because I know many of >>> them), >>> same flexibility in mingling with other children and also in mobility >>> cannot be expected like boys for girls as all of you know that no >>> place is safe. >>> and if their are no special schools too, how to educate blind girls >>> when female education in general is too bad in our country? >>> atleast through special schools people will learn few basic >>> educational skills and survival skills right? >>> or else how to promote literacy among all blind girls? >>> this is my personal opineon, >>> I know that there are many exceptional cases with well educational >>> and financially stable parents who can take care of blind children. >>> so please don't take this opinion too seriously. >>> >>> On 10/30/14, Parakh Rajesh <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> the real essence of inclusive education is integration of differently >>>> abled >>>> >>>> to main stream where the notions and hesitance of the sited or normal >>>> society is reduced to a level where inclusion of these children becomes >>>> smoother. and moreover the feeling of isolation amongst the differently >>>> abled population may fade away during the course of time which in turn >>>> increases their confidence level. coming to resources and facilities in >>>> rural areas or lesser priviliged society the issues are real complex in >>>> country like ours. here stronger, pragmatic laws and stiff >>>> accountability >>>> may help in long term perspective. >>>> regards, >>>> rajesh parakh >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Bhavya shah" <[email protected]> >>>> To: "AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues >>>> concerningthe disabled." <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:51 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [AI] Regarding Inclusive Education and Special School. >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi, >>>>> 'great bhavya, in todays context the need is to use technology in best >>>>> possible ways. further there is a need to create strong laws for >>>>> normal schools that they do not refuse any differently abled child for >>>>> admission and provide atleast minimum standard of technology for the >>>>> children to achieve education. i think strong rules will surely help >>>>> children from rural areas also.' >>>>> I think there is a law that mainstream schools cannot refuse to give >>>>> admission to a visually impaired child, I might be wrong here. This >>>>> wasn't in my case, because I have been studying in my school from when >>>>> I was completely sighted to now, where I am completely blind. >>>>> In a poor country as India, perhaps the school may not give >>>>> technological solutions to the children, but certainly, they should >>>>> allow the use of laptops and other such solutions. I am not sure about >>>>> rural areas, I have seen that some NGOs with lots and lots of >>>>> teachers, have failed to spread awareness, and sadly parents of other >>>>> blind children aske me whether I am able to use a computer or not, >>>>> whether I will drop maths or not, because in those NGOs (I won't take >>>>> their names) only and only Braille is taught, and just nothing else. >>>>> If NGOs themselves become more aware, then perhaps we can talk about >>>>> the adoption of inclusive education in rural areas. >>>>> >>>>> On 10/30/14, Ketan Kothari <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Dear Bhavya, >>>>>> >>>>>> I am a student from a "special school". I have also been a student >>>>>> in >>>>>> a regular "not normal" school but I personally feel that education is >>>>>> important to begin with and then the philosophical debate of >>>>>> "special" >>>>>> versus "inclusive" for both have their advantages and disadvantages. >>>>>> >>>>>> In a case as yours, at least you have parents who have computer at >>>>>> home. How many blind people or their parents in the country have it? >>>>>> What about regional languages? And yes, the biggest asset that you >>>>>> have is your mother who is painstakingly doing the conversion etc. >>>>>> >>>>>> I am not advocating special school but I am of the opinion that a >>>>>> child must be educated in the best scenario that helps him. I have >>>>>> been to the villages where both parents have to go to NREGS work and >>>>>> the child goes to a regular school with little or no attention. This >>>>>> certainly hampers his education and the learning outcomes will >>>>>> definitely suffer. In the best available circumstances, children >>>>>> must >>>>>> be in an inclusive environment but e-text can never replace Braille >>>>>> till we have mobile sets that are easily accessible, fast to operate >>>>>> and can maintain privacy (which present sets do not allow I am >>>>>> afraid), and yes, Braille is not a language but a script. >>>>>> >>>>>> Having said all this, I really admire your courage and wisdom at your >>>>>> age and for this I would certainly salute your parents. Their >>>>>> perseverance is what led you where you are. I am sure you will go >>>>>> miles in the future. Wish you best of luck, lad and may you climb >>>>>> heights unthinkable. >>>>>> >>>>>> With best wishes, >>>>>> >>>>>> Ketan >>>>>> >>>>>> On 10/30/14, Amiyo Biswas <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> Dear Friends, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Recently I met some of my teacher friends at a meeting of Blind >>>>>>> Persons' >>>>>>> Association. We were sharing our experiences in our respective >>>>>>> fields. >>>>>>> We >>>>>>> were all surprised to learn that special schools are not getting >>>>>>> students >>>>>>> after inclusive education was introduced. There are hardly a handful >>>>>>> >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> special schools for us. If these schools with a very low roll >>>>>>> strength >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> not get sufficient students, what will be the lot of the next >>>>>>> generation >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> visually impaired students? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Inclusive Education programme is in effect for some years. We should >>>>>>> review >>>>>>> the situation now. As a project it sounds very good. Disabled >>>>>>> children >>>>>>> read >>>>>>> at normal schools and ideally it helps mainstreaming them into the >>>>>>> society. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A cursory glance at a classroom will reveal the real situation. In >>>>>>> West >>>>>>> Bengal, where I live in, the normal student-teacher ratio is about >>>>>>> 1-100 >>>>>>> in >>>>>>> many cases. It is even worse at the primary schools. Moreover, the >>>>>>> primary >>>>>>> school teachers have to perform various duties during census and >>>>>>> election. >>>>>>> Besides, they have their daily chore of midday meal. Many of these >>>>>>> schools >>>>>>> do not have the necessary infrastructure for children with special >>>>>>> needs. >>>>>>> Accessible toilets are dreams when the normal children do not get >>>>>>> these >>>>>>> facilities in some cases. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> There are Special Educators who are supposed to assist the children >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> special needs. A Special Educator has to cover about 30 schools in a >>>>>>> month. >>>>>>> Is it possible for him or her to guide a disabled child by meeting >>>>>>> him >>>>>>> once >>>>>>> in a month? We cannot expect him that he will be efficient in >>>>>>> Braille, >>>>>>> sign >>>>>>> language and so on. They are paid very low (hardly Rs. 8,000 per >>>>>>> month) >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> appointed on a contract basis. They tend to quit their jobs whenever >>>>>>> there >>>>>>> is an opportunity. Why should well-educated young people stick to >>>>>>> such >>>>>>> a >>>>>>> job >>>>>>> for so humble a salary? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I shall not say that nothing good has come of it. Many disabled >>>>>>> children >>>>>>> have been enrolled into normal schools or Sarba Shiksha Abhijan. In >>>>>>> normal >>>>>>> schools there is no pass or fail. So visually challenged children >>>>>>> get >>>>>>> automatic promotion up to class VIII without ever learning Braille. >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> have >>>>>>> heard of a mentally retarded child who goes to the exam and his >>>>>>> invigilator >>>>>>> writes his name, roll etc. on his answer paper and he gets promoted. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> There is yet another benefit. Parents of the disabled children gain >>>>>>> financially from the scheme, around Rs. 4,500. The Special Educators >>>>>>> earn >>>>>>> their living, whatever it is, from this scheme. But this is all at >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> cost >>>>>>> of education. When children with special needs require special >>>>>>> training, >>>>>>> we >>>>>>> are thrusting them into an atmosphere where they feel lonely and >>>>>>> isolated. >>>>>>> They memorise some rhymes and stories, but they seldom learn >>>>>>> arithmetic. >>>>>>> As >>>>>>> a result they grow up with an inferiority complex. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A severe consequence of the scheme is that since the parents earn >>>>>>> something >>>>>>> from this scheme, they do not send their children to special >>>>>>> schools. >>>>>>> Most >>>>>>> of the special schools cannot enrol their full strength. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I do not want to give up with Inclusive Education immediately. But >>>>>>> we >>>>>>> can >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> the following to make it more effective: >>>>>>> 1. There should be some financial incentive for the parents who send >>>>>>> their >>>>>>> children to special schools >>>>>>> 2. The block-level social welfare officer should try to find a >>>>>>> special >>>>>>> school for a child with special needs and when no such facility is >>>>>>> available, only then the child should be enrolled in Inclusive >>>>>>> Education. >>>>>>> 3. Special Educators should be paid in line with the regular >>>>>>> teachers >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> all facilities. >>>>>>> 4. Braille books, Braille writing frames, Taylor frames and other >>>>>>> similar >>>>>>> items used by children with special needs should be available at the >>>>>>> block >>>>>>> level. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I shall request all senior members to do something about it. We >>>>>>> should >>>>>>> write >>>>>>> to the ministers of Social Justice and Empowerment, Education and to >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> PM >>>>>>> also. Activists like Mr. Kaul, Mr. Rumta or Dipendra should take >>>>>>> initiative >>>>>>> with our full support for any action. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> With best Regards, >>>>>>> Amiyo Biswas >>>>>>> Cell: +91-9433464329 >>>>>>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >>>>>>> accessibility >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>>>>>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Search for old postings at: >>>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >>>>>>> changes, >>>>>>> please >>>>>>> visit the list home page at >>>>>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Disclaimer: >>>>>>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the >>>>>>> thinking >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>>>>>> veracity; >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>>>>>> mails >>>>>>> sent through this mailing list.. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Ketan Kothari >>>>>> Phone: [r] 24223281, >>>>>> Cell: 9987550614 >>>>>> MSN ID: [email protected] >>>>>> Skype ID: Ketan3333 >>>>>> >>>>>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >>>>>> accessibility >>>>>> of >>>>>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>>>>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Search for old postings at: >>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>>> >>>>>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>>>> >>>>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>>>>> please >>>>>> visit the list home page at >>>>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Disclaimer: >>>>>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >>>>>> >>>>>> of >>>>>> >>>>>> the >>>>>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>>>>> veracity; >>>>>> >>>>>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>>>>> mails >>>>>> sent through this mailing list.. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>>>> >>>>> of >>>>> >>>>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>>>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Search for old postings at: >>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>>> >>>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>>>> please visit the list home page at >>>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Disclaimer: >>>>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >>>>> of >>>>> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>>>> veracity; >>>>> >>>>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>>>> mails >>>>> >>>>> sent through this mailing list.. >>>> >>>> >>>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>>> >>>> of >>>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>> >>>> >>>> Search for old postings at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>>> [email protected] >>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>> >>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>>> please >>>> visit the list home page at >>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>> >>>> >>>> Disclaimer: >>>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >>>> >>>> the >>>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>>> veracity; >>>> >>>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>>> mails >>>> sent through this mailing list.. >>>> >>> >>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>> >>> >>> >>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>> of mobile phones / Tabs on: >>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>> [email protected] >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please visit the list home page at >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Disclaimer: >>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >>> >>> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>> veracity; >>> >>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>> mails sent through this mailing list.. >> >> >> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of >> >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails >> >> sent through this mailing list.. > > > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
