Videos of the Experiences Growing up at the Utah School for the Deaf
and/or Public School
Marion Brown West
Marion Brown West is sharing her memories of the Utah School for the Deaf back in the 1940s. She graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1949. Upon graduation, she enrolled in Gallaudet College where she graduated in 1950. She enjoyed a successful career with the Bureau of Land Management. She is now retired, and enjoys following today's Utah School for the Deaf on social media. To this day, she has fond memories of her teachers who provided her with personalized instruction and a wonderful education. Please click CC for closed captions. Filmed by USDB and posted on October 19, 2018.
Lisa Richards
Here's a video of Lisa Richards talking about her experience in the Utah School for the Deaf's oral program in the 1960s and 1970s.
Background History: Utah's trend toward mainstreaming increased significantly in the 1960s under the leadership of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, a fierce advocate/activist for oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students. The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) established an Extension Division in Salt Lake City, Utah. Deaf children were able to attend classes near their homes at this institution. Dr. Bitter's efforts resulted in the split of USD in Ogden into two departments in 1962: Oral and Simultaneous Communication. Each had its own classrooms, dormitory facilities, recess, and co-curricular activities, except for sporting programs. The implementation of dual tracking constituted the darkest chapter in the education of the deaf in Utah.
Lisa experienced the “front line” in the educational system under Dr. Bitter’s influence. She is traumatized by the experience as a survivor. I believe that showing this film to her is good therapy for her, as well as helping to preserve Utah's Deaf Education history. Thank you for sharing the video, Lisa! Lisa Richards Roush filmed and shared this video on February 24, 2020.
Background History: Utah's trend toward mainstreaming increased significantly in the 1960s under the leadership of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, a fierce advocate/activist for oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students. The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) established an Extension Division in Salt Lake City, Utah. Deaf children were able to attend classes near their homes at this institution. Dr. Bitter's efforts resulted in the split of USD in Ogden into two departments in 1962: Oral and Simultaneous Communication. Each had its own classrooms, dormitory facilities, recess, and co-curricular activities, except for sporting programs. The implementation of dual tracking constituted the darkest chapter in the education of the deaf in Utah.
Lisa experienced the “front line” in the educational system under Dr. Bitter’s influence. She is traumatized by the experience as a survivor. I believe that showing this film to her is good therapy for her, as well as helping to preserve Utah's Deaf Education history. Thank you for sharing the video, Lisa! Lisa Richards Roush filmed and shared this video on February 24, 2020.