The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-11
4 TIE DEAF IND MUTE.
ARTICULATION AND LIP-READlNG'
TAUGHT AT THE CLARKE INSTITUTE.

| [N.Y. WOrld.I
Comparatively few people are aware oftht
proficiency attained by deaf mutes in the
art of speaking and understanding speech
or, "a they themselves term it, articula-
ton and lip reading-and fewer still have
any idea of the extent to which persons coz
| CENTRALLY deaf and dumb, or others in that
| condition through accident or disease, can
be and are very frequently educated. inc
ninth annual report of the "Clarke instltu-
ton for Deaf. Mutes," at Northampton,
Mass, gives a very interesting account OF
| the operations of that school. For 1t is not
| an asylum, nor, as commonly understood, q
| charitable institution. 1t is q school espec-
| tally adapted for the education OF seml-
deaf and semi mute pupils, but open to
those who are wholly deprived of the facil-
tiles of speech and hearing. The Sta Q of
Massachusetts, makes an annual approprl.
alton for the education of deaf mutes, and
the Clarke Institution receives certain
number of these children. But it takes no
child under the sge of five years, the ear
lest age at which they can be taught. The
plumber of pupils in the institute has been
greater this year than the last, but the de-
mand for admission is largely beyond the
means of the society, and other establish
ments for the educraion of the deaf mutes
are constantly coming into existence. Dur
ing the first year children are taught to lay
sticks and rings in imitation of designs
given by the teacher, and are taught wea-
wing. card pricking and drawing. Then
words are taught, then writing, then con-
structing them into sentences, and 30 on
progressing from year to year until the
seventh year, when the common course of
study ends and the pupils are in the Gle
ments of zoology, physiology, philosophy
aud physical geography. The studies of
the high course comprises those above men, |
toned, with algebra, geometry, botany, |
geology, chemistry, astronomy, history
psychology, drawing and other accom- |
pliehments. But the marvel of the ednca- |
ton of deaf mutes is the rapidity and facility |
with which they acquire the art ofartcuia-
ton and lip reading. Articulation ia taught |
by imitation. The deaf child is induced |
through the sense of sight and touch to |
attempt the imitation of each position and |
movement of the vocal or ,ans necessary |
for the utterance of linguistic sounds.
Lip reading ia the ability to read from
the movements of PERSONS features
particularly of his lips-wbat he
is saying. At frat the words ut
tered for deaf mute to read are pro-
nounced slowly and in an exaggerated
manner; then more rapidly until the pupil
can read from the lips of person speaking
in the ordinary way. The prevailing idea
is that deaf and dumb persons speak to one
another only on their fingers. How as
tonished, therefore, would some be to zee
a community of these afflicted beings talk
ing to one another in the normal fashion.
1t sounds monstrous to hear from deaf
and dumb girl that the girls working in the
shop with her declare that she talks plainly,
and as much as to read letter from deaf
person, saying that he finds himself able
to follow the Clergyman of his church as
the latter reads the lessons. If the deaf
are not made to hear and the dumb to
speak, they are at least provided with
substitute. One young lady gra
luate writes to the Institution to cay that
she has made the acquaintance of several |
persons during the year, and among them |
4 gentleman of whom she says. 81 can now |
read his lips much more resdly than six |
months ago. He understand me WE'LL" n
which shows what practice will
do and excites a kindly interest in the pos
sible future of the young maiden.