New-York tribune., 1874-07-24
INSTRUCTION OF MUTES.
roSvrNr1oN OF AMERICAN INSTRUCTORS

,.onrs OF INSTRUCTION DISCUSSED AND ILLUS
rp.rrn-ENrERrAlNMENr OF THE CONVENTION
psos AN occ AsoSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNh.I
RsILEviILE, Ontario, July 2O,-Ihe elghth
Convention of American Instructors OF tho Dear ana
,mb held its sessions during the past week at the ID
,aion for Deaf Mutes this town. These gatherings
.avo bcn held every second or third Summer for twenty
Gears except daring the war. and have been aenueu
,y increasing numeers the proceedings exciting moro
and more interest both in the profession snd IN 'Ho
pcaty where they held. The sessions OF the Coh
,eptou q the present year are held IN one OF tao
,nscous sittinerooms provided for the pupils OF the
institution and many OF the delegates are aceommo-
sated wlth quarters in the budiug
Tho Convention began its on the 18th inst IN
The presence large number OF distinguished VISITORS
It had been hoped the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS o' 'u'
Province would be present and extend formal well
,ome In his absence the projected ceremonies we're
s,spensed with, and the opening was OF simple ehar
.cter The meeting was called to order by the Kew
Thomas MeInre, principal Of the Indiana institution
Sbo read the call for the Convention and then NOM
mated Dr Henry Landor, Sanitary Superintendent OF
The Lunatic Asylum at london, Ontario for temporary
Cnairman Dr. Landor was elected. ana Prof. Coleman
n the Ontario Institution designated as Secretary
pro tempcre.
Dr. L. NJ. Galaudet, President Of the National Deaf
Mute College at Washington, the substance OF let
Iers had received from the following gentlemen OF
igh distinction in Europe: Monseigneur de Haerne OF
Brussels member Of the Parliament OF Belgium and
director Of the Sisters Of Charity ecclesiasc who
has written much questions OF education and pho-
ogy ana whose able brochure The American Ques-
lion" during the late excited much attention In
Europe being translated into several languages; NJ
Leon Vasse director OF the farfamed Paris insttu'
zion the mother Of the system generally used in America
which he assisted 10 introduce here in the course OF four
Tears' service at NewYork forty years aco Dr. David
Buxton Of Liverpool! able and scholarly writer ana
uceessul teacher and the late Dr. Charles Baker OF
90 v1a in (.ypnf
and the most voluminOus of British writers OF text
books. peculiar and tender interest. as Dr. Gaaudet
heingy remarked attached 10 Dr. Bakers letters, 1t
,eing the last writing done by his hand.
DELEGATES ENROLLED AND OFFICERS ELECTED
The Committee on Credentials now presented a long
hst Of delegates and OF honorary memberi-among the
atter particularly TO be noted Mira Thomas H. Gal
tsudet, widow Of the Rev. T. II. Gallaudet LIZ d.
memory Justly revered that Of the earliest
and ruest friend and benefacor OF the deaf and dumb
N America, the pbllanthrOpist who visited Europe 10
acquire the mode of instructing them aud returning
founded the first school for this class IN the New World
Mrs Gallsudet Is a stately lady with snowy hair and
rrect FORM rejoicing in half dozen sons and daughters
and thirty grandchildren.
Permanent officers elected as follows:
President-The Rev. W. W. Turner, Ph. D,exprincipal
Of the American Asylum, Hartford.
T,cc Iresidents, Rev. T McI3tire. indiana j.
Ii D., Washington z. e. Glllct, LII D.. Illinois W
L. Kerr NJ D.. Missouri J. scott Hutton. Halifax, Nova
SerrttaricsCE A. Fay, Washington j. Nichols, North
Carolina; j. b. Mccain, ontario.
The proceedings we're then formally opened with a
tnef eloquent prayer by the Rev. Mr. Burke, rector
of BellevIlle.
on motion, the Rev Thomas Gallauiet D. D., OF ST.
Auns Church for Deaf Mutes New York, who had thus
far kindly interpreted the oral proceedings in signs for
benefit Of the deaf members requested to act "a
inerpeter with power 10 select assistants to relieve him
from time 10 time The interpreter had a station on the
a deaf members most
Nv to be grouped gazing at him while with fluent
fingers followed each speakers uterances, giving al
most every word pq'i pdssu with its delivery.
INSTRUCTION IN LANGUAGE.
On the second day, after the customary forms, the
first paper read by J. L. Peet LID. principal OF
The New-Y0rk Institution, sketchng OF
cises ne had past laid out for the
imitation OF the pupils into the mysteries OF the English
language. Dr Peet prefaced it with an explanation
how it is that from birth long in acaur
ing knowledge OF written language their indrmy in
measure isolang them from the world, and went on
That the system OF object lessons he had de-
Nsed could be used also III teaching foreigners Ihe
Irst thing taught the names OF y common objects so
selected 10 give the whole alpbabet, together
t.uclt thus: The teacher writes Oh his blackboard
"Jonn, touch tue box and makes the boy Jo9n per,
and makes tue Glass write, John touched the box
John himself beng made to substitute the prononn for
Lls name. Ine same process ) then gone through
T. uresented 10 be touched ana after a while another
Xerb as bring is introduced. In this manner new
words taught and more complex actions directed
and DESCRIPTION. little book embodyiug these exer-
is, Dr. Poet stated, now in press ana with It's
help the teacher viii Ge relieved OF mucn labor while
parent might begin the instruction Of his deaf child
al hone. Language Le sons by j. L. Pee 10 be pub
iished by Mason. Baker Pratt n Y, iu septemberl
Mr. MeGann informed the meeting that the same sys-
ten mad been employed in the Ontario Institution Tor
longer period, ana had gwen great satisfaction.
lie second paper was then read, being one by Mr. A
Ing language Mr johnson, who is himself deaf, de.
lvered IN signs, hearing gentleman reading the
address aloud at the tu& tnus reversing the
Mons order Of delivery and interpretation Mr. John
son considered the prevalent error 10 be trying TO cover
foo much ground and present too many dGerent sudles
for the sake Of show aud thought the true course to be
proceeding more slowly and thoroughly II more AumOiy
For tbe sake of variety the topic was changed and
paper read Prof Samuel Porter OF the NaiOud Deaf
Mute College at Washington e. brother OF President
Porter Of Yale upon the use OF the manual alphabet
The learned Professor urged a much more extended
Employment OF the manual alphabet as substitute Tor
both writing and signs, and recommended that a
knowledge OF il be widely disseminated among hearing
"a paper by Mr. George Wing of Minnesota, the best
Yuagc read The author deprecated looseDess
ana supertcdllty. whereby memory alone was cultl.
words beng learned TO winch vague meanings were at
cached The idea the substance whereof the word the
shadow. should first be clearly cOmprehended MI wing
cone udes eXempiylng on the blackboard system OF
gamma analysis showngt the relations OF he nod
heIs to the leading words OF the sentence ana o these
Nj &. +. schelng OF Wisconsin read a naper entl-
mind should be stimulated activity by
gDs ard complete sentences introduced as soon pos
or words and sentences could be formed with only
few letters. language should be used expressive OF
aud clear language readily understood by any child.
and distinct sentences should be preferred and II
AZ expression occurred which was not readily undet-
stood IL should be dwelt upon until it not only
clearly apprehended but had been II were driven II
ana made part OF the pupils own mind
MI. Warning Wilkinson, principal Of the California
Institution followed with an essay Concerning the