Governor Baxter School for the Deaf

Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
Location
Falmouth , Maine
Coordinates	43.6907317°N 70.2318515°W / 43.6907317; -70.2318515
Information
Type	state operated agency
Established	1957
Grades	preschool-12
Athletics	basketball
Athletics conference	Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association
Mascot	Islanders
Website	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 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.

History

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. The school is infamous for a sexual abuse scandal which became public in 1981 and involved the school's principal and superintendent.

Mission Statement

According to the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, their mission statement involves:

The Language Philosophy of The Maine Educational Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD) values a fully accessible, language-rich environment for all of our students by honoring American Sign Language and English equally. MECDHH/GBSD is committed to best practices for addressing each student’s language, communication, literacy and social/emotional domains.

Our students become successful learners by building a strong language foundation. We acknowledge that our students come from a variety of communication, language, cultural, and educational backgrounds. It is our commitment to meet the needs of each student based on individual assessments and social histories.

MECDHH/GBSD strives to be a community that values and nurtures the wealth of cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of society. Our organization is committed to respect for all members of the multicultural community to ensure daily interactions free from communication and language barriers. Guided by our Language Philosophy, The Maine Educational Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf is committed to provide students the opportunity to develop to their full academic, cultural and social potential in a safe, comfortable and language rich environment.

Residential Program

Students identified by Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, based on living one hour away or more from school, have an opportunity through Spurwink Services to utilize a unique residential program. Residents have the opportunity to develop and experience deaf culture and enjoy social interactions with other residents. The Sue Wright House of Spurwink provides a residential living option that includes a family style dorm experience in which the residents live with a couple and their family. Residents are encouraged, taught and supported to develop individual life living skills in areas such as cooking, learning to use community transportation services and their job skills through participation in community jobs. Residents are encouraged to participate in Deaf Culture Activities, develop community peer relationships, participate in community activities, as well as to participate in after school activities such as theatre and sports.