Chapter 2: Origins of Deaf Learning in America
Martha's Vineyard
Deaf people living in the south-eastern part of England left England to live in America
Settled in the western part of Martha's Vineyard
marriage off-island was rare
led to intermarriage
one of every four babies born in certain areas of the island were deaf
Deaf population was abundant in the community so signing was used everywhere
Deaf and hearing people knew how to sign
signing was a difference not a disability
hearing residents viewed deaf people as normal
Earliest Attempts at Mainstream Education
Mainstreaming was recorded in the early 1700s
Samuel Edge
paid double normal tuition to have his deaf son taught in a class of hearing children.
Francis Green
Son, Charles, enrolled at Braidwood Academy
Charles mastered speech and signs
maintained interest in Deaf education
advocated for free education of all deaf children in America
first American to have authored an account of deaf education
Pioneers in Signing Deaf Education
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Observed Alice and her difficulty communicating and attempted to help her by writing in dirt and pointing to his hat
this convinced him that she had the capability to learn just like hearing kids
Learned the manual alphabet and began with Alice's education the next day
Cogswell asked THG to go to Europe to learn teaching methods
Arrived at the Royal National Institution for the Deaf-Mutes in 1816 and had full access to all classes
Brought Clerc back with him to establish an American school
set out to gain public support and raise funds
got $17,000 in contributions in the span of 7 months
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons was renamed American School for the Deaf in 1885
recognized for importing a method of teaching deaf people, opening first permanent school for deaf in America, and helping other states establish schools
Pioneers in Oral Deaf Education
Laurent Clerc
showed everyone that deaf people could be educated
First deaf teacher of the deaf in America
Clerc trained many teachers and promoted deaf education
Bernard Engelsman
Founder of The New York Institution for the Improved Instruction of Deaf Mutes (1867)
Taught pupils in Germany without the use of signs
strong believer of oralism
Alexander Graham Bell
most recognized supporters of the oral method
involved with the earliest American eugenics research
considered deaf people defective
advocated for sterilization of deaf people
wanted to get rid of the language and culture of deaf people
compared to Hitler