The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-18


day or two ago, we presented a summary
L of the annual report of the Board OF Direc-
tors of the Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb for 1869. AS we have
NF already laid the statistics Of the report
before readers, we deem it unnecessary
- 10 repeat them; but we invite their attention
TO the following extract from the report
the subject Of articulation, and especially to
I ~ the very interesting letter of Miss Mont
gomery. The report says
rlas- Much attention has been given to that of
articulation. Itg.lt r.. ..- -..I
believing that the system of teaching the
deaf mute by signs, adopted by De l'Epee and
improved by Sicard, superior to that Of
~, Heinike, the directors introduced it into this
institution at its foundation, half century
, ago; and they have had no reason to regret
the course then taken Indeed, experience
and observation have confirmed them in their
opinion, and they feel themselves sustained
by the opinions of DIR. Kitto, Harvey Prindle
Peet LII d. the Rev. DIR. Day, Mr.. Lewis
!. Weld Rev. w. w. Turner the Rev: Collins
Stone and President T.. M. Galaudet, gen.
--r- tlemen whose large intelligence, great expe-
rience, ripe Judgment, and intimate acquaint-
ance with the subject, justly entltle their
opinions to great weight.
DIR. Kitto, 'cLost Senses, PIP. 80, 81, says:
-"I am thoroughly persuaded that this
.t'f mouth-reading must be wholly inadequate to
the purposes of real conversation, involving
intercourse of the intellect or the imag-
nation"
1T DIR. Peet, in his Report on European Insti-
tutions, 1852, page 255, says:-"On this head
Construction in articulaton) 1 can but repeat
and confirm the views expressed in the able
report of Rev. George q. Day. made to the
board seven years ago. Mr. Days opportunl-
ties for testing thoroughly the results attained
.. in the most celebrated articulating schools
were much more extensive than those enjoyed
by myself; and to his conclusion (the result
fr of the most thorough and searching examina-
tion of those schools perhaps ever made) that
instruction in articulation is scarcely ever of
decided benefit except when the faculty OF
speech has been acquired through the all
the observations 1 able to make only
bring additional confirmation"
Professor Day says in his report, 1915, p.
167:-"The common testimony given by
professors clergymen, and gentlemen lns
other professions is, We cannot understand
them" On D. 17S:-"To one-tenth OF the
whole, instruction in articulation is not
given or if attempted, is complete failure
Two-tenths succeed, in a modified sense,
while seven-tenths are only able to make
themselves understood in the articulation OF
frequently-repeated sentences and single
words" In regard to ip-reading, he says Up.
1S2):-"On average, about one-third of
the most advanced class, with the aid of the
signs employed by the teacher and the fire.
quent repetition made use of, appear to under
stand the most of what the instructor says;
another third appear to lose a considerable
part, while the remainder only seize the
@-. most common words, and are much of
the time obviously at loss as to
... what is going on" In DIR. Days report of
second visit to the most important institu
tons, made eight years LATER he says-''The
sufficient expenditure of time and labor, be
taught to articulate mechanically, and to read
upon the lps is variously estimated at from
one-ffth to onetenth of the whole number" 4"
'"The instances of remarkable success are
comparatively rare, and in nearly every case
conditioned upon the possession of the power
of hearing, until an advanced period OF child
hood. Any attempt to make the teaching of
mechanical articulation part of the general
system of deaf mute instruction, would be
- deporable error" "No new arguments or
in favor of teaching deaf mut6S to
Vi. arsiculate and read upon the lips have been
advanced. 1t is not pretended that recent
discoveries or improvements have been made,
by which the teaching of articulation to deaf
mutes has become easier, or more generally
successful than formerly"
Mr.. Wild, in his 'Report on European In
stitutions, 1885, p. 119, says ''Such sys-
tenn does not seem to me to be suited to the
taste or the wants of our country In regard
to the former Germany scarcely met with
.r- an intelligent person of any rank, even in
H.. - Germany, who spoke of the articulation of
the deaf and dumb with appreciation. 1t was
rather with disgust, as matter very repul-
sive and disagreeable and sure am, it would
not be less SO, in general, in the United
r.. States Our wants require that all the deaf
and dumb of our land should be educated in
- the best manner, to secure their usefulness
and happiness But how can we afford con
stantly to devote many men of intelligence
and vigor to the education of each class o.
s-.. four, five, eight, even ten deaf mute chill
dren, as would be required on the German
systemY I.
The Rev. w. W. Turner, in the proceed
ings of the National Conference of Principals
of Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb, 1865
tHH p. Co. says:-"There many congenita
deaf mutes who can be taught to utter few
.Utr .J plain, simple words, especially those whose
-'. enunciation is marked and sharp. AnS
second few who have some considerabl,
.T voice, and who accustomed to max
noises, may be taught to use that voice for tn
enunciation of words and sentences. But
do believe that the time spent in communi
.... eating articulation to congenital deaf mutes
Do almost time wasted" ga e. ~ 4s
Rev. Collins Stone in the Fifty third Annus
Report of the American Asylum, page 2C
.rs says:-'sThe instruction of the deaf and dunn
has now been prosecuted for something NOR
than hundred years. 1t has been conducte
in the main by men distinguished for bri
liant talents sound judgment, and practic
/ aLin as we'll as for Christian charity. III