An EMAIL of SUPPORT from Phil Hatlen - Educational Leader

Sat, Nov 1, 2008 From Phil Hatlen, ex-Superintendent, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
To Alan Lachman
Dear Alan,
I've been in Melbourne several times and visited the school on at least three occasions. At one time it had a highly rated staff and an equally highly rated curriculum.

On my last visit I found it to be a very small school, catering to preschool children, all of whom were day students.
Now it sounds like they are closing it completely. As a firm believer in alternatives in the education of children who are blind or visually impaired, I find this very, very sad. If I were living in Victoria, I might be very angry!!
I don't know how to help you, except to tell you that I want very much for Victoria to have a school for the blind.
Then parents like you would have an alternative to an itinerant teacher. If I could, I would come to Melbourne and tell the officials why they should keep the school open. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Comments

[Aaron]

I think it is very sad to hear this school is closing. I am at school myself and would love to help out some how.

[Karen Rule]

I am appalled that Vision Australia is closing the school and yet they are still appealing for donations via the christmas carols at sidney myer music bowl in Melbourne. Where will that money go? Who will educate these children and help them achieve their full potential? We all deserve that opportunity.

Note: Great website/blog but had trouble finding link to post a comment

[Weblog Administrator (Alan S.)]

Hi Karen,
Thanks for your comment - yes the comment facility IS hidden at the very bottom of each post - but it has been changed to allow comments to be published immediately so there is no confusion as to whether the comment has "worked" or not!

[Debra Duncan]

Hi Phil,

I don't know if you remember (when you were at SFSU), you helped to organise a very difficult but very cute little blond blind boy to get into SFSUs day care, Rory Burnside. He had a musician father and an Australian mother. I remember at the time you said that blind and vision-impaired kids needed their own education. Well, Rory ended up at Vision Australia (then RVIB) and it was the making of him as an achieving, competent blind person! Please contact me and I can fill you in on his successes - which are solely due to his experiences at RVIB.
Cheers,
Debra Duncan