[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1198-E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 150th 
anniversary of the California School for the Deaf (CSD), located in 
Fremont, CA. CSD was founded in 1860 and was the first special 
education program established in California. Started in San Francisco, 
the first class had only three students. In 1869, the school moved to a 
new campus in Berkeley, with approximately 50 students. A vocational 
component was added to the curriculum in 1871.
  By 1915, the school's enrollment had grown to 215 students and the 
campus was enlarged for the second time. In 1930, a 32-year building 
program was initiated to restore and again expand the Berkeley campus. 
In 1934, a teacher-training program was established on the Berkeley 
campus in conjunction with San Francisco State College, as 
Superintendent Elwood Stevenson believed that only teachers with 
special training should be credentialed to teach deaf and hard of 
hearing children. Dr. Stevenson also emphasized that since language is 
the core of the deaf child's education, teaching of written language 
would begin in the child's first year of schooling.
  In 1969, the Computer-Assisted Instruction program began as a result 
of an invitation by Stanford University to participate in a nation-wide 
project. This same year, the first academic mainstreaming program began 
with five California School for the Deaf students taking world history 
and geometry at Albany High School.
  In 1970, CSD officially adopted the philosophy of total communication 
and an Instructional Television class was taught for the first time. 
CSD was given accreditation for its secondary program by the Western 
Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, and was granted 
accreditation for both the elementary and secondary programs by the 
Convention of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf (CEASD).
  Dr. Henry Klopping was appointed Superintendent of CSD in 1975 and a 
Special Unit program was established that year for deaf multi-
handicapped students. In 1976, Dr. Klopping formed the Student Advisory 
Council and later the Community Advisory Council in 1978. Enrollment at 
the school rose to 518 when the annual new student/parent orientation 
program was established.
  On June 1, 1977 groundbreaking ceremonies launched the new 96-acre 
site for what would become the California School for the Deaf and the 
California School for the Blind in Fremont, CA. The school was 
officially opened on May 25, 1980. CSD's most recent history is filled 
with cultural and educational advances and student opportunities.
  The current population at the California School for the Deaf numbers 
at 496, and a parent education program has been firmly established to 
provide support, information, and education for parents of deaf 
students. The Volunteer Program has grown to 175 individuals who 
contribute immeasurable time and valuable skills in all facets of CSD 
students' education and campus life.

[[Page E1199]]

  I join the community in congratulating CSD for 150 years of exemplary 
service to deaf students and their families. The California School for 
the Deaf is a valuable resource beyond measure.

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