Comments about VSDB
Carolyn Berry
I was born in 1946 in a rural part of Virginia. My parents knew nothing about VSDB until I was 8 years old.
I started school in 1954 and was put in prekindergarten. I stayed in that class or about six weeks. Then I was moved to the regular kindergarten. There I learned braille in about two weeks. I was so happy. Now I could read myself.
My first year at VSDB I was housed in Montigue Hall.
Battle Hall was completed and we girls were moved over to Battle.
My elementary school years were good. I had some wonderful teachers. I learned a lot.
I was also taught how to use a cane. It was called mobility lessons. However, we did not use canes on the campus. To me, that was good. We learned how to get around by ourselves. We went to class by ourselves.
We had clubs like Sunbeams, brownies, and girl scouts. We learned to get along with people and be social with people.
I took sewing classes, basketry classes, typing, and in high school I took every class that was offered except Guidane Counseling.
I took French and Spanish and was on the forensics tema. I was on the track team and was a cheerleader.
I am so thankful for the education I received at VSDB. I attended computer school after graduation. I went to work at the University typing x-rays in 1969. I was married in 1970.
At VSDB I took home Ecconomics, which included a session of child care and home nursing. I also learned to knit which I still do today.
Our gym teacher took us swimming downtown at the YMCA.
If I had not gone to VSDB, I would have not had an education, I would not appreciate the socialization that I received and I would not have the love of all my VSDB riends. Those of us who was in the school in the years between 1954 and 1975 have a family we can be proud of.
A lot of our school family have gone to their reward. Those of us who remain still communicate and get together with our Alumni. God bless each of you.
Carolyn Berry class of 1967
rodney...@gmail.com
I am glad that you had such a wonderful experience at VSDB.
As you probably know from my previous email, I could not wait to leave VSDB to attend public school.
Although I had a really supportive family, I realize that there were many of my fellow students who did not have this advantage. When the high school closed at VSDB in 1974, I had already left VSDB.
But a lot of my friends chose to attend public school instead of transferring to the blind school at Hampton. I feel really badly for many of them because their experience in public school was not always positive.
I had my share of difficulties in public school also, but it prepared me to live in the world outside of the blind community.
It also prepared me to face some of the challenging attitudes of some of my coworkers that I encountered in my career.
I have managed to finish well in life despite these challenges.
Rodney Neely
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