[Iabs-talk] Great news and problems with courses
Connie Davis
condav850 at yahoo.com
Sun Sep 9 11:25:19 CDT 2007
Jan, it sounds like you're really holding your own and doing well. Good for you!
I, too, am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law.
Connie
----- Original Message ----
From: Jan Jam <janjam2 at sbcglobal.net>
To: Illinois Association of Blind Students List <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 9, 2007 8:47:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Iabs-talk] Great news and problems with courses
Hi Ronza:
Thanks for the great wishes for Rick's mom. I absolutely do love the joy it
brings to have earned such honors. Of course as you all know being current or
past students, the stress it brings to want to stay on top too. I can have a
really hard time living up to my own expectations. LOL!
About Jewelry Fabrication class. First of all, I blame the College Catalog when
it came to the description of the Jewelry Making Class as the catalog put it.
>From the description, I took it to mean we would be doing things like stringing
beads, and making cute little necklaces. Well, the first day in class when I
was using my KNFB reader to scan the pages of the Syllabus, I have to admit I
almost swallowed my tongue when I read that this class was a professional
jewelry fabrication class, where we would be sawing, which didn't bother me,
using all kinds of jeweler's tools, again this part didn't bother me. The
Syllabus went on to mention the use of full-blown acetylene torches and a kiln.
Now this is where I nearly swallowed my tongue. The acetylene torch part. I
did wonder how I was going to pull that little feat off. I figured as I do with
most things, I would just wing it as I went along. My teacher was extremely
nice to my face, and when class was over she flew to the Special Needs
Department at the college to say I could only stay in the class if I had a
special Syllabus made just for me stating I would do a study of the techniques
of jewelry fabrication. I only know this because I was meeting my rehab
counselor in the Special Needs Department right after class. I overheard the
conversation. I was seething, but I didn't say anything until I was approached
by the director of Special Needs.
When I did meet with her she told me she had been visited by both my Plant
Biology professor, and my Jewelry Fabrication instructor. She explained about
Jewelry making, and I was quiet. I hadn't figured out my plan of attack. I
waited to hear the bombshell about Plant Biology. Well, the funny thing is, my
Plant Biology teacher had talked with the Director of Special Needs on my
behalf. She demanded the college hire me a tutor two hours a week, not to tutor
necessarily, but to help me with labs. My tutor doesn't start for another two
weeks as of this writing, so my Professor in Biology has worked with me herself
privately with my weekly labs. We do them together. She is great to work with.
See the difference between and intelligent, forward thinking person, and a dolt?
I was a bit worried about doing labs with my professor before I met her. Now
that we've done four labs together, I'm really kind of sorry to be getting that
tutor in the future.
I thought I would mention as a sidebar, that I am holding a 105% in Jewelry
making class after four weeks because I was the only student to turn in two
brooches for our first project. My teacher is stunned at the work I can do.
Ha, take that and stick it you know where lady. I am holding a 98.42% in
Biology so far. Dang, I got one question wrong on each of my Biology teacher's
two exams so far. Oh well, I can only dream of the day when I get a straight
100% in a class again. That hasn't happened since I took early History, which
was an extremely accelerated course, and I didn't know that little fact until
the end of Week 2, another little College Catalog faux pas. I thought things
were moving rather quickly in that class. LOL!
It would be great to hear other stories about people having difficulties with
classes in their past. I won't feel so much like the Lone Ranger.
Take care,
Jan
-----Original Message-----
From: iabs-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:iabs-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of AZNOR99 at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 3:39 AM
To: iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Iabs-talk] Great news and problems with courses
Hi Jan,
Thanks so much for the updates. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish
Rick's mom a speedy recovery. Congratulations on your Honors Society
induction. You deserve the honor, and you should absolutely enjoy the joy it
brings.
With regard to your jewelry making class, what objections did the school
make? Are they aware that NFB training centers teach and promote the
independent use of power tools, including saws and axes?
I'm curious as to whether anyone else on this list has recently encountered
difficulty with college or high school administrators about being able to take
classes. Have they tried to prevent you from taking a class you wanted or
needed?
I had an experience with my Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and Physical
Chemistry classes a few years back. My professor did not think a blind person
could safely participate in the lab exercises. In fact, he petitioned the
Chair
of the Department to expel me from the major because, in his words, "a blind
person can't be a Biologist, let alone do chemistry." In the end, the Office
of Disability Services hired a lab assistant just for me to work with me on
pipetting and measuring out. Interestingly enough, my lab assistant once
accidentally spilled acid on her hand, an event that had nothing to do with me
whatsoever. But my professor still refused to believe that I could handle the
lab requirements, and in fact, marked my lab reports down because my
assistant "did all the work." (not true, of course).
Looking back, I would have handled that situation differently. I would have
been more aggressive with University Administrators. As it was, I had to
complain all the way up the channels to the President and Board of Directors of
the college just to be allowed to remain in the class. But even so, I could
have done more. I hear this same professor is now making the same sorts of
assumptions about a deaf student currently enrolled.
Has anyone had similar experiences?
Regards,
Ronza
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
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Iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
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Jan, it sounds like you're really holding your own and doing well. Good for you!
I, too, am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law.
Connie
----- Original Message ----
From: Jan Jam <janjam2 at sbcglobal.net>
To: Illinois Association of Blind Students List <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 9, 2007 8:47:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Iabs-talk] Great news and problems with courses
Hi Ronza:
Thanks for the great wishes for Rick's mom. I absolutely do love the joy it
brings to have earned such honors. Of course as you all know being current or
past students, the stress it brings to want to stay on top too. I can have a
really hard time living up to my own expectations. LOL!
About Jewelry Fabrication class. First of all, I blame the College Catalog when
it came to the description of the Jewelry Making Class as the catalog put it.
>From the description, I took it to mean we would be doing things like stringing
beads, and making cute little necklaces. Well, the first day in class when I
was using my KNFB reader to scan the pages of the Syllabus, I have to admit I
almost swallowed my tongue when I read that this class was a professional
jewelry fabrication class, where we would be sawing, which didn't bother me,
using all kinds of jeweler's tools, again this part didn't bother me. The
Syllabus went on to mention the use of full-blown acetylene torches and a kiln.
Now this is where I nearly swallowed my tongue. The acetylene torch part. I
did wonder how I was going to pull that little feat off. I figured as I do with
most things, I would just wing it as I went along. My teacher was extremely
nice to my face, and when class was over she flew to the Special Needs
Department at the college to say I could only stay in the class if I had a
special Syllabus made just for me stating I would do a study of the techniques
of jewelry fabrication. I only know this because I was meeting my rehab
counselor in the Special Needs Department right after class. I overheard the
conversation. I was seething, but I didn't say anything until I was approached
by the director of Special Needs.
When I did meet with her she told me she had been visited by both my Plant
Biology professor, and my Jewelry Fabrication instructor. She explained about
Jewelry making, and I was quiet. I hadn't figured out my plan of attack. I
waited to hear the bombshell about Plant Biology. Well, the funny thing is, my
Plant Biology teacher had talked with the Director of Special Needs on my
behalf. She demanded the college hire me a tutor two hours a week, not to tutor
necessarily, but to help me with labs. My tutor doesn't start for another two
weeks as of this writing, so my Professor in Biology has worked with me herself
privately with my weekly labs. We do them together. She is great to work with.
See the difference between and intelligent, forward thinking person, and a dolt?
I was a bit worried about doing labs with my professor before I met her. Now
that we've done four labs together, I'm really kind of sorry to be getting that
tutor in the future.
I thought I would mention as a sidebar, that I am holding a 105% in Jewelry
making class after four weeks because I was the only student to turn in two
brooches for our first project. My teacher is stunned at the work I can do.
Ha, take that and stick it you know where lady. I am holding a 98.42% in
Biology so far. Dang, I got one question wrong on each of my Biology teacher's
two exams so far. Oh well, I can only dream of the day when I get a straight
100% in a class again. That hasn't happened since I took early History, which
was an extremely accelerated course, and I didn't know that little fact until
the end of Week 2, another little College Catalog faux pas. I thought things
were moving rather quickly in that class. LOL!
It would be great to hear other stories about people having difficulties with
classes in their past. I won't feel so much like the Lone Ranger.
Take care,
Jan
-----Original Message-----
From: iabs-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:iabs-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of AZNOR99 at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 3:39 AM
To: iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Iabs-talk] Great news and problems with courses
Hi Jan,
Thanks so much for the updates. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish
Rick's mom a speedy recovery. Congratulations on your Honors Society
induction. You deserve the honor, and you should absolutely enjoy the joy it
brings.
With regard to your jewelry making class, what objections did the school
make? Are they aware that NFB training centers teach and promote the
independent use of power tools, including saws and axes?
I'm curious as to whether anyone else on this list has recently encountered
difficulty with college or high school administrators about being able to take
classes. Have they tried to prevent you from taking a class you wanted or
needed?
I had an experience with my Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and Physical
Chemistry classes a few years back. My professor did not think a blind person
could safely participate in the lab exercises. In fact, he petitioned the
Chair
of the Department to expel me from the major because, in his words, "a blind
person can't be a Biologist, let alone do chemistry." In the end, the Office
of Disability Services hired a lab assistant just for me to work with me on
pipetting and measuring out. Interestingly enough, my lab assistant once
accidentally spilled acid on her hand, an event that had nothing to do with me
whatsoever. But my professor still refused to believe that I could handle the
lab requirements, and in fact, marked my lab reports down because my
assistant "did all the work." (not true, of course).
Looking back, I would have handled that situation differently. I would have
been more aggressive with University Administrators. As it was, I had to
complain all the way up the channels to the President and Board of Directors of
the college just to be allowed to remain in the class. But even so, I could
have done more. I hear this same professor is now making the same sorts of
assumptions about a deaf student currently enrolled.
Has anyone had similar experiences?
Regards,
Ronza
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com/ http://www.aol.com
_______________________________________________
Iabs-talk mailing list
Iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/iabs-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/iabs-talk
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