New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-21
THE par and DUMB INSTITUTIONS

NATIONAL CONFERENCE or PRINCIPALS or
INSTRUCTIONS.
In accordance with an invitation extended by
the officers Of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb number Of the principals OF the American inst
tutions for tie deaf dumb met at the Columbia ns
tute Washington D. c. Tuesday May H. 1858, for the
purpose OF conference upon subjects connected with the
instruction OF deaf mutes DR. H. p Peot Of the New York
Institution presided and Prof Edward A. Fay OF the Ma
oual Deaf Mutcs' College appointed secretary Tho
Hon. Amos Kendall Of the Columbia INSTITUTION wei
Washington, and gave short review OF the early history
OF the Institution OF which he was ono OF the directors
Gallaudet Of Washington Turner Of Hartford, mgan OF
Wisconsin and Palmer Of North appointed on
on wednesJsy morning The conferencc assembed at
& IN hs E o 81 s rpo
gentlemen to be porInaGfnt officers; H. r. Peet LID OF
and Pi ip g. Gillette OF Illinois yiccPresdens; W. @.
Palmer OF North Carolina, and Lewclyn Pratt OF wash
az Fpst Lessons" The gentleman explained al length
the theory which had guided him IN The preparation Of
now in general the Deaf and Dumb Institutions OF
this country II is based upon philosophical analysis
Mr. Brocis paper was read by MI Get Of Illinois Il
advocated the teaching OF sentences aud not Isolated
words t0 beginners, claiming that this method is more
philosophical easier, and followed by better results;
Mr. Turner Of Hartford believed that ono method was
best adapted 10 class OF minds. and the other To
other class OF minds IN many cases both methods must
President Gallaudet Of Washington thought that tho
teaching OF sentences had been too much neglected
hitherto, and called he attention OF The Conference to
Prendergasts Treatise on the Mastery OF Language.
Prof Porter Of Washington said that combination OF
pared a few wears ago by " Keep Of Hartford.
Dr. Gaaudet Of Newly ok was la favor OF division OF
have certain departments Of instruction to which he
might devote all bis attention instead OF teaching
class IN oil tho various branches
Mr.. l. l.. Peet sald tins experiment had been made
somewhat in the NewYork Institution with satisfactory
Mr.. McIntlre Of Indiana believed in thegenera method
OF Dr. Poets book but he teacher shouldsupplement tho
exercises with additional matter or his own.
Mr. Gctt Of Illinois had great respect for the old
methods, but fully agreed with the views OF Mr. Brock
The plan described had been adopted In the Illinois In.
siitntion, and the results were very successful.
The hour for adlournment having arrived, the papers
laid npon The table for further discussion ut the
next session.
after the opening exercises discussed the papers Of Dr.
Poet and Mr. Brock yesterday on the Early Instruction
tyre, Gillet and L. Peet were appointed to report
Mr. Cctt then read an able paper on The Discipline
Of Institutions which was followed by paper on The
f"PSr o Age ~ M d9r Fable hV 0 .nat eh
entering institutions between the ages OF II and Is. This
author MI =. NJ Gallaudet followed with paper on
The Incidental Defects now existing in tho system OF
gentleman conteEded that the pupils sufficiently
taught the use Of text books that principals were often
ers, and that sufficient attention was not given
to the teaching of articulation and LIP reading
The Conference low took recess. In the afternoon
the members reassembed ~ discuss The question OF Ar
ticulatlOn.'
Before proceeding TO this discussion motion made
invite the students National Deaf Mute College
to DO present a. the meetings Of the Conference
Mr.. Stone offered the following resolution
'as 1ssIsn ,ieT q dsfMais education pr..ic,d and
iefto the best o' tr, tina, q prolonged saIel and
ees experiment - the highest degree adapted 20 relieve the
.sS SSI ''r' A'' ''' ''''' '~ 70 NV dressings
Dr. Peet said that several OF gentlemen present had
visited the Clarke Institution al Northampton, and he
a the sS a w ws
Ing with the single purpose OF doing good TO the deaf
children could read from the lips Of their teachers
could read inelgenty iIom books Some Of these child
rem were eongenits deaf mutes. 49,
Mr.. Talbot had been convinced that he hitherto had
been mistaken in supposng that no congenal deaf mute
could learn 70 articulate,
Dr. Milgan surprised for Of the children con.
Mr. Stone said mat every teacher OF the deaf and dumb
admits that there are some persons called deaf mites
that could be taught TO read the lips and To artculae
ticabe Ia London he met one congenita deaf mute who
spoke The Englsh language intelgbly and read from
teachers srded the English language as difficult
In articulation than French or German.
Dr. Poet said that when he was in Great Britain he met
MN who had been taught articulation In the London
School, and ~as one OF the most successful He
not able TO understgDd simple questions from the lips
to speak and 20 lead from the lips were separate and dis
could note1pres their own Ideas in spoken language
rice reFsd,
pass aud the experiment. Of teaching Articulation would
be faithfully made The sign language must not be given
up but articulation should be grated ON the American
system. IL would be well for the teacher of articulation
TO be medical man OF high attainments He might
also discover the means OF removing deafness In
Mr Palmer said he had taught articulation. Ont OF a
class OF g ION mmues three had succeeded very we'll
TEN the greatest good TO the greatest number
The a4est t.9 was e: then sIa called for and
og be eaacsVa n lhq deaf damb 10 pres teqqss