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Explore > Perkins School for the Blind > Story Archives
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Of infinite value and inspiration--- and hope
Submitted by mimi edmunds, Boston
This has personal as well historic significance for me - my daughter just joined the Perkins student body and calls it her second home - it has lifted her spirit from a learning how to endure a devastating loss due to sudden brain injury that turned her life upside down (and ours) to one of positive forward looking hope, meaning, and love. The preservation of the pond is part of all that is beautiful and purposeful at Perkins and should be enjoyed by the larger community as well as a place of solace and comfort, and of course special beauty. So vote yes for its salvation!
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Help My Deaf-Blind Child Experience Nature
Submitted by Pauligirls, West of Boston
My daughter is currently a student at Perkins. She walks by that overgrown, fenced-in pond on her way to class everyday. Where better to enlarge her understanding of the world around her? Perkins has a hall of stuffed ( taxidermy) animals so students can "see" wild animals with their hands. One of my favorite photos of all time shows Helen Keller, as a young woman, alone in a rowboat with her hand outstretched to a swan swimming alongside. Perhaps Perkins Pond was the place she derived such confidence...if not the actual place the photo was taken! Please save Perkins Pond! The historic Perkins School for the Blind expands the lives of so many who would otherwise be confined by their limitations. Let them experience nature too!
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Please help
Submitted by Chiefy, West of Boston
A tranquil body of water, no matter the size, evokes a sense of peace and calm in all of us who can see it, feel it, hear the water lapping on the shore, or otherwise appreciate it. We also must admit that most of us take things like this for granted. Please work hard to have this historic pond revitalized so that others can experience the soothing, healing powers that a beautiful location like this will offer.
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Free Perkins Pond!
Submitted by Libby, West of Boston
It's shocking to learn so many decades have passed since the students at Perkins Institute were last able to discover the natural world through this wonderful little pond that's right on the campus. What a shame!
Kids these days are starved for connection with the natural world. A pond is a feast for them. There's nothing like splashing in the shallows, or exploring the pond life along the shore, or launching and navigating around in a boat, to wake up a sense of joy and delight in any kid.
Water is the best! It's not just serendipity that "water" spelled on her palm, combined with the tactile sense of cool water flowing from the pump over her hands, was the breakthrough word for Helen Keller.
I can't imagine a more valuable project than to make this natural resource at Perkins Institute available once again for teaching and recreation.
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Braille Trail
Submitted by Karen, West of Boston
I am a blind person who loves nature. I have heard that the Perkins pond will be re-opened and made accessible, and even have braille explanations of things that are in the natural setting. When I was a student at Perkins many years ago we used to row and skate on the pond. I just liked being outdoors enjoying the wind, ice, snow, and water. People from Watertown could also get involved back then and join us students. This is a special chance to re-open this beautiful pond.
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Yes for Perkins Pond
Submitted by Jan, West of Boston
It's important for all children to have a safe place to connect with nature. Restoration of this pond will be a wonderful asset for current and future young students at Perkins.
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A strong vote yes to make the pond safe for the children at Perkins
Submitted by Nancy, Boston
I worked with some of the blind/deaf population at Perkins back in the 1970s. Two youngsters in particular were never going to be able to learn brail because their sense of touch was so poor - yet their were still tactile leaners. I developed a large tactile game so they could be taught to play together. I know there are other youngsters at Perkins like them today and they will benefit from the pond. Water is soothing and can give them a fun experience.
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Blind and Handicapped Kids Need That Pond
Submitted by Tim, Boston
Out of all the candidates for this grant, none of them can say what Perkins School for the Blind can say about their need. Restoring this pond will give our students a place to experience beauty and water where otherwise most of them will never have such experiences. With the current state of the economy, the Perkins budget, and the way liability laws are these days, getting the Perkins kids out somewhere to experience things most of us take for granted has become very difficult. If they had their own place on campus to take part in things like canoeing and paddle boats, and strolling along the pond banks feeling the water, the value of that cannot be quantified. The other candidates have good proposals, but none come even close to the life changing experiences that will be constantly derived from restoring the Perkins pond. On a daily basis, having this pond will for sure change lives, and make the Perkins Campus more functional. Also its historic significance is huge when you know how it once was and who used to use that pond to learn, relax, and educate; including Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan.
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Perkins Alumna
Submitted by Susan, West of Boston
I was a student at Perkins from 1957 to 1969. The Perkins Pond was a very special place, where we had cook-outs, picnics, games, scout sleepovers, and ice skating. I also remember rowing on the Pond in gym class.
It was a very sad day when the Pond was closed in 1982. Restoring the Perkins Pond would not only preserve history, and add to the esthetic quality of the Perkins campus, but would also give a great deal of pleasure and learning to blind children and youth. Amid the many worthy sites, I hope you will vote for our Perkins Pond!
Susan Jones, class of 1969
Indianapolis, Indiana
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