North Dakota School for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
The North Dakota School for the Deaf (NDSD) is a state-funded residential school located in Devils Lake, North Dakota
that provides services to meet the educational needs of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. NDSD is under the direction, control, and management of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
. The current superintendent of the school is Carmen Suminski.
was divided, deaf children living in the part of the territory now known as North Dakota had to do without an education or attend the school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
. Because of poor roads, great distances, meager railroads, and general financial inability, few of the North Dakota children could attend the South Dakota School for the Deaf
. In the fall of 1889 Anson R. Spear, a deaf man from Minneapolis, Minnesota
, came to North Dakota to establish a school for the deaf. Mr. Spear's political backers, Senator Swanston and Representative McCormick, introduced a bill in the Legislature for the immediate establishment for the proposed school in Devils Lake. The bill passed March 15, 1890, over the veto of Governor John Miller
.
The citizens of Devils Lake furnished free for two years a wooden building located at the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street. Mr. Spear was appointed superintendent on August 1, 1890, and the first term began September 10, 1890. The first student to be enrolled was 10-year-old Mabel Alice Newton. By the end of the first school year, 23 children were enrolled. The combined method of communication - use of signs, hand alphabet, and oral method - was used to teach the students. In January 1891, money was appropriated by the State Legislature for a permanent building.
The Great Northern Railway donated an 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) tract of land one mile (1.6 km) north of the heart of Devils Lake for the permanent site of NDSD, and construction of the first building "Old Main" began on May 30, 1892. "Old Main" was designed by Olaf Hanson, a rising deaf architect from Minneapolis.
Emphasis is placed on meeting the unique needs of each child, fostering positive values, good health and community involvement, and encouraging each student to view learning as a lifelong endeavor in an ever-changing world.
Each child's program emphasizes the development of functional language which includes the following:
Each child's program stresses development of positive social and emotional attitudes, achievement in academic areas, vocational exploration, and development of lifelong independent living skills.
Devils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
that provides services to meet the educational needs of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. NDSD is under the direction, control, and management of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction oversees the public school system in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The DPI also oversees the North Dakota State Library, the North Dakota School for the Blind, and the North Dakota School for the Deaf. The DPI is headed by the North Dakota...
. The current superintendent of the school is Carmen Suminski.
History
Before the Dakota TerritoryDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
was divided, deaf children living in the part of the territory now known as North Dakota had to do without an education or attend the school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
. Because of poor roads, great distances, meager railroads, and general financial inability, few of the North Dakota children could attend the South Dakota School for the Deaf
South Dakota School for the Deaf
The South Dakota School for the Deaf is a state-supported school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that provides services to meet the educational needs of children who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have cochlear implants...
. In the fall of 1889 Anson R. Spear, a deaf man from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, came to North Dakota to establish a school for the deaf. Mr. Spear's political backers, Senator Swanston and Representative McCormick, introduced a bill in the Legislature for the immediate establishment for the proposed school in Devils Lake. The bill passed March 15, 1890, over the veto of Governor John Miller
John Miller (Governor)
John Miller served as the first Governor of North Dakota from 1889 to 1891. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
.
The citizens of Devils Lake furnished free for two years a wooden building located at the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street. Mr. Spear was appointed superintendent on August 1, 1890, and the first term began September 10, 1890. The first student to be enrolled was 10-year-old Mabel Alice Newton. By the end of the first school year, 23 children were enrolled. The combined method of communication - use of signs, hand alphabet, and oral method - was used to teach the students. In January 1891, money was appropriated by the State Legislature for a permanent building.
The Great Northern Railway donated an 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) tract of land one mile (1.6 km) north of the heart of Devils Lake for the permanent site of NDSD, and construction of the first building "Old Main" began on May 30, 1892. "Old Main" was designed by Olaf Hanson, a rising deaf architect from Minneapolis.
Philosophy
Through a caring, nurturing 24-hour residential and academic program and through outreach programming, NDSD provides educational and social opportunities which assist all students to attain their fullest potential.Emphasis is placed on meeting the unique needs of each child, fostering positive values, good health and community involvement, and encouraging each student to view learning as a lifelong endeavor in an ever-changing world.
Each child's program emphasizes the development of functional language which includes the following:
- expressive and receptive skills—speech
- speechreading
- manual communication (sign language and fingerspelling)
- reading
- writing
- auditory processing
Each child's program stresses development of positive social and emotional attitudes, achievement in academic areas, vocational exploration, and development of lifelong independent living skills.
Athletics
In the past, NDSD fielded teams in baseball, football, basketball, track and field, etc. Back then, the school had a large enough student population to have enough athletes to compete with various small towns in the area. Due to the reduction in the number of students through mainstream school placement, the school entered into co-op athletic agreements with a couple towns - one was with Crary, although the school now has a co-op agreement with the Devils Lake public schools. In the past, the nickname for the school's teams has always been the Bulldogs; the school's team colors have also always been green and white.- Boys' Sports
- Football (with Devils Lake High School)
- Basketball
- Track
- Girls' Sports
- Basketball
- Track
Notable alumni
- Phyllis FrelichPhyllis FrelichPhyllis Frelich is an American actress, and, with Marlee Matlin, one of the two pre-eminent deaf actresses in the United States. Frelich was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota to deaf parents and is the oldest of 9 children...
- actress - Carl Anderson - originator of the comic strip "Henry"