Governor Baxter School for the Deaf: Difference between revisions

Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
Location
	Falmouth, Maine
Coordinates	43°41′27″N 70°13′55″W / 43.6907317°N 70.2318515°W
Information
Type	state operated agency
Established	1957
Grades	preschool-12
Color(s)	Blue and Yellow
Athletics	basketball, soccer
Athletics conference	Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association
Mascot	Islanders
Website	Official Website

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Latest revision as of 08:42, 19 July 2024

The Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (GBSD), formerly known as the Maine School for the Deaf is a public co-educational school that serves the deaf and hard-of-hearing in the State of Maine. It is located on Mackworth Island, an approximately 100-acre (40 ha) island in Falmouth, Maine, USA, adjacent to its border with Portland, Maine. Students who live far away may stay with host families, who provide residential services. Its program is the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH).

History

While other schools for deaf mute people existed in Maine, the precursor to the school was the Maine School of the Deaf, founded in 1894 by local lawyer Frederick Fox and former Harvard University President and Unitarian Minister Thomas Hill, who died in 1891.^[1] The school was originally located at 85 Spring Street in Downtown Portland.^[1]

In 1943, Maine's governor Percival P. Baxter deeded the island and causeway, including his summer home and $750,000,^[2] to the State of Maine. In 1957, Senator Hazel Lord of Portland introduced a bill in the State Senate to use the deeded space for the Maine School of the Deaf.^[3] After being quickly passed in the Senate, the state moved the school to the island and renamed it the Governor Baxter School for The Deaf.^[4]^[5] The last graduating class from the Spring Street location celebrated at Frye Hall on Spring Street, the location of the Woman's Literary Union club house.^[2] The first class of students at the new campus was 130 students.^[6]

Since 2009, GBSD is now a mainstream program within the Portland Public Schools. The preschool program remains on Mackworth Island.

Programs

Students from far away may live with host families.^[7] Previously the school contracted with the Sue Wright House of Spurwink.^[8] Before then the school had its own dormitory.^[9]

In 1991 deaf people protested against a proposal by the administration of Governor of Maine John McKernan to stop operations of the dormitory.^[10]

Student body

In 1991 the school had 70 students, with about 12-24 of them boarding.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b "Children showing toys, Maine School of the Deaf, 1925". Maine Memory Network. Maine Historical Society. Retrieved 28 June 2024. "A primary class at the Maine School of the Deaf (later known as the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf) during what appears to be the 1925 version of "Show and Tell." The school, founded in 1894, was located at 85 Spring St. in downtown Portland. Thomas Hill, former president of Harvard College, founded the school along with Frederick Fox, a Portland lawyer. The residential school stressed lip-reading and speech. Since 2001, it is known as the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The building on Mackworth Island however, is still legally called the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf."
^ ^a ^b "It'll Be the Governor Baxter School". Evening Express. 31 May 1957. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
^ "Would Name New School for Baxter". Sun Journal. AP. 23 May 1957. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
^ Gannon, Jack. 1981. Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 45 (PDF Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine)
^ "State Receives Bid to Honor Baxter". Portland Press Herald. AP. 24 May 1957. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
^ "Deaf Pupils Enroll at Island School". Evening Express. 23 September 1957. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
^ "Residential life". Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
^ "Residential Life". Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. 2014-11-18. Archived from the original on 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
^ "Residential Life". Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/The Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. 2009-01-05. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
"Residential Life". Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. 2004-02-27. Archived from the original on 2004-02-27. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
^ ^a ^b Jackson, Peter (1991-03-28). "Deaf protesters object to dorm closing". The Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Maine. Associated Press. p. 7. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox School
+{{Infobox school
 |name           = Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
 |image          =
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 |athletics_conference     = [[Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association]]
 |colors         = Blue and Yellow
-|ESDAA DIV. III
-CHAMPIONSHIPS   = 1999, 2001,
-, 2003
 |free_text      =
 |free_label2    =
 |free_text2     =
 |information    =
-|website        =[https://mecdhh.org/governor-baxter-school-for-the-deaf Official Website]
+|website        ={{url|mecdhh.org/governor-baxter-school-for-the-deaf|Official Website}}
 }}
-The '''Governor Baxter School for the Deaf''', formerly known as the '''Maine School for the Deaf''' is a public co-educational, residential, school that serves the [[deaf]] and [[Hearing loss|hard-of-hearing]] in the State of Maine. It is located on [[Mackworth Island]], an approximately {{convert|100|acre|adj=on}} [[island]] in [[Falmouth, Maine]], USA, adjacent to its border with [[Portland, Maine]].
+The '''Governor Baxter School for the Deaf''' ('''GBSD'''), formerly known as the '''Maine School for the Deaf''' is a public co-educational school that serves the [[deaf]] and [[Hearing loss|hard-of-hearing]] in the State of Maine. It is located on [[Mackworth Island]], an approximately {{convert|100|acre|adj=on}} [[island]] in [[Falmouth, Maine]], USA, adjacent to its border with [[Portland, Maine]]. Students who live far away may stay with host families, who provide residential services. Its program is the '''Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing''' ('''MECDHH''').
 == History ==
+While other schools for [[deaf mute]] people existed in Maine, the precursor to the school was the '''Maine School of the Deaf''', founded in 1894 by local lawyer Frederick Fox and former [[Harvard University]] President and [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] Minister [[Thomas Hill (clergyman)|Thomas Hill]], who died in 1891.<ref name="mmn">{{cite web |title=Children showing toys, Maine School of the Deaf, 1925 |url=https://www.mainememory.net/record/23667 |website=Maine Memory Network |publisher=[[Maine Historical Society]] |access-date=28 June 2024 |language=en}}
+"A primary class at the Maine School of the Deaf (later known as the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf) during what appears to be the 1925 version of "Show and Tell."
+The school, founded in 1894, was located at 85 Spring St. in downtown Portland. Thomas Hill, former president of Harvard College, founded the school along with Frederick Fox, a Portland lawyer.
-In 1943, Maine's governor [[Percival P. Baxter]] deeded the island and causeway, including his summer home, to the State of Maine. In 1957, the state created the Governor Baxter School for The Deaf (formerly known as the Maine School for The Deaf) on the island.<ref>Gannon, Jack. 1981. ''Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America'', Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 45 ([http://saveourdeafschools.org/Deaf_Heritage_by_Jack_Gannon_page_45.pdf PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328140729/http://saveourdeafschools.org/Deaf_Heritage_by_Jack_Gannon_page_45.pdf |date=2012-03-28 }})</ref> The school is infamous for a sexual abuse scandal which became public in 1981 and involved the school's principal and superintendent.
+The residential school stressed lip-reading and speech.
-Since, 2005 GBSD is now mainstream with [[Portland High School]] and, no knowing when Middle School and Elementary School is mainstream with locationed in Portland, ME.
-<ref name="portlandphoenix.com">[http://www.portlandphoenix.com/features/top/ts_multi/documents/03885662.asp Features | Why I hate Mackworth Island<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505055747/http://portlandphoenix.com/features/top/ts_multi/documents/03885662.asp |date=2006-05-05 }}</ref>
+Since 2001, it is known as the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The building on Mackworth Island however, is still legally called the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf."
+</ref> The school was originally located at 85 Spring Street in Downtown Portland.<ref name="mmn"/>
+In 1943, Maine's governor [[Percival P. Baxter]] deeded the island and causeway, including his summer home and $750,000,<ref name="eve">{{cite news |title=It'll Be the Governor Baxter School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/852201846/?match=1&terms=%22Baxter%20School%22%20for%20the%20Deaf |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=[[Evening Express (Portland, Maine)|Evening Express]] |date=31 May 1957 |language=en}}</ref> to the State of Maine. In 1957, [[Maine State Senate|Senator]] [[Hazel Lord]] of Portland introduced a bill in the State Senate to use the deeded space for the Maine School of the Deaf.<ref>{{cite news |title=Would Name New School for Baxter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/829757805/?match=1&terms=%22Baxter%20School%22%20for%20the%20Deaf |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine)|Sun Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |date=23 May 1957 |language=en}}</ref> After being quickly passed in the Senate, the state moved the school to the island and renamed it the '''Governor Baxter School for The Deaf'''.<ref>Gannon, Jack. 1981. ''Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America'', Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 45 ([http://saveourdeafschools.org/Deaf_Heritage_by_Jack_Gannon_page_45.pdf PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328140729/http://saveourdeafschools.org/Deaf_Heritage_by_Jack_Gannon_page_45.pdf |date=2012-03-28 }})</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=State Receives Bid to Honor Baxter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/849265402/?match=1&terms=%22Baxter%20School%22%20for%20the%20Deaf |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=[[Portland Press Herald]] |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |date=24 May 1957 |language=en}}</ref> The last graduating class from the Spring Street location celebrated at Frye Hall on Spring Street, the location of the Woman's Literary Union club house.<ref name="eve"/> The first class of students at the new campus was 130 students.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deaf Pupils Enroll at Island School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/852026704/?match=1&terms=%22Baxter%20School%22%20for%20the%20Deaf |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=[[Evening Express (Portland, Maine)|Evening Express]] |date=23 September 1957 |language=en}}</ref>
+Since 2009, GBSD is now a mainstream program within the [[Portland Public Schools (Maine)|Portland Public Schools]].  The preschool program remains on [[Mackworth Island]].
+==Programs==
+Students from far away may live with host families.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mecdhh.org/students/residential-life|title=Residential life|publisher=Governor Baxter School for the Deaf|accessdate=2021-06-24}}</ref> Previously the school contracted with the Sue Wright House of Spurwink.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mecdhh.org/students/residential-life|title=Residential Life|publisher=Governor Baxter School for the Deaf|date=2014-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118214353/https://www.mecdhh.org/students/residential-life|accessdate=2021-06-24|archive-date=2014-11-18}}</ref> Before then the school had its own dormitory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mecdhh.org/pages/MECDHH_CenterSchool/reslife|title=Residential Life|publisher=Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/The Governor Baxter School for the Deaf|date=2009-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105165231/http://www.mecdhh.org/pages/MECDHH_CenterSchool/reslife|accessdate=2021-06-25|archive-date=2009-01-05}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbsd.org/ctrreslife.html|title=Residential Life|publisher=Governor Baxter School for the Deaf|date=2004-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040227071323/http://www.gbsd.org/ctrreslife.html|accessdate=2021-06-24|archive-date=2004-02-27}}</ref>
+In 1991 deaf people protested against a proposal by the administration of [[Governor of Maine]] [[John McKernan]] to stop operations of the dormitory.<ref name=Jacksondorm>{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Peter|title=Deaf protesters object to dorm closing|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Bangor Daily News]]|location=[[Bangor, Maine]]|date=1991-03-28|page=7}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80227259/for-baxter-school-for-the-deaf/ Clipping] from [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>
+==Student body==
+In 1991 the school had 70 students, with about 12-24 of them boarding<!--"one dozen" and "two dozen"-->.<ref name=Jacksondorm/>
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
+==Further reading==
+* [http://mecdhh.org/governor-baxter-school-for-the-deaf Governor Baxter School for the Deaf]
+* {{cite web|url=https://legislature.maine.gov/doc/2142|title=Final Report of the Task Force to Review the Educational Program and the Governance System of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf|publisher=[[Legislature of Maine]]|date=February 2000}}
+{{Schools for the deaf in the United States}}
+{{Maine Private and Boarding High Schools}}
+{{Public boarding schools in the United States}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Schools for the deaf in the United States]]
 [[Category:Public schools in Maine]]
 [[Category:Schools in Cumberland County, Maine]]
+[[Category:Public K–12 schools in the United States]]
+[[Category:Public elementary schools in Maine]]
+[[Category:Public middle schools in Maine]]
+[[Category:Public high schools in Maine]]
+[[Category:Public boarding schools in the United States]]
+[[Category:Boarding schools in Maine]]

v t e Maine private and boarding high schools
Schools are private unless otherwise specified
Boarding	Bridgton Academy Carrabassett Valley Academy Foxcroft Academy Fryeburg Academy Gould Academy Hebron Academy Kents Hill School Lincoln Academy Maine Central Institute Maine School of Science and Mathematics (public) Washington Academy
Day	Berwick Academy Breakwater School Bridgton Academy Carrabassett Valley Academy Cheverus High School Erskine Academy Foxcroft Academy École Française du Maine Friends School of Portland Fryeburg Academy Gould Academy Hebron Academy Hyde School John Bapst Memorial High School Kents Hill School Lee Academy Lincoln Academy Maine Central Institute Merriconeag Waldorf School North Yarmouth Academy Pine Tree Academy Robert William Traip Academy Saint-Dominic Academy Thornton Academy Tidewater School Washington Academy Waynflete School
Former	Cathedral School (Maine) Catherine McAuley High School Coburn Classical Institute Élan School Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (public, still in operation but w/ dorm closed) Gorham Academy Grace Baptist School Liberty School (Blue Hill, Maine) Oak Grove-Coburn School Parsonsfield Seminary

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	United States