majority of the students preferred to stay at schools rather than to go home for a variety of reasons, mostly because the schools offered a family-like atmosphere that promoted togetherness. For those who came from backwoods country, schools were swanky hotels with hot and cold running water, ceramic toilets, and comfortable beds. More important, the students were able to communicate with their peers—something they often could not do at home with their non-signing parents or siblings. At home, they often ate alone in a roomful of people who spoke vocally to each other, leaving them out. At school, there were activities to keep the students occupied, such as sports, movies, literary society meetings, and scouting