The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-10

NEW METHODS or ISsTRucrIYG THE DEAF AND
DrMB-now THEY NAY De TAUGHT TO
SPEAK.

DrMB-now THEY MAY De TAUGHT TO
SPEAK.
New York Herald
The training Of deaf mutes has long been
an interesting study. and in the past half
century II has been systematized and
brought 10 a high degree of perfection.
Institutions exist here and abroad where
those whom Nature has deprived Of speech
or hearing can acquire knowledge OF the
arts, the letters. and the science OF the
world, and freely interchange ideas. The
language Of signs has all along been
that which has been employed among
them, and its capacity to convey
all the utterances Of the tongue has
frequently been source OF wonder to
those in full possession Of their faculties.
IL has always been source OF regret, how
ever, that deaf mutes in conversing are
compelled to resort to pantomimc, which
in public Is certain TO draw attention to
their infirmity, and 1t is also deplore1 that
they have been unable to receive ideas from
the rest OF the world unless communicated in
writing or in the sign language, with which
comparatively few OF the community are
familiar. a German gentleman who has
devoted many years 10 the training OF deaf
mutes i'm Vienna has introduced here a
system which is likely to enlarge the pow
ers Of deaf mutCs in this direction.
BY this system the deaf mute is not aC-
dressed by signs but by ordinary words
clearly and forcibly pronounced. by the
movements Of the lip in uttcring them he
intcrprets their meaning and commune
Gates his own thoughts In the same fashion.
The method OF lip-reading, at first deemed
impracticablc, has Of late been carried to
great perfection, aud its utility was re-
Gently demonstrated in n public manner at
the reception OF the Institution for the I'm
proved instruction Of Deaf Mutes. The
system OF instruction carried on in this
institution is what is generally known as
the pure oral method. BY it deaf
mutes learn to speak orally and aC-
dibly and to understand what is said
to them by Observing the movements OF
the speakers lips. The question naturally
arises, GLOW can child that was born
mute learn to speak," The answer is
simple. Deaf-mutes do not learn to speak
in the ordinary way because they cannot
hear. Their vocal organs are in the same
normal condition as those OF hearing and
speaking persons. Though they cannot
hear the sounds OF speech they can feel the
vibrations caused in the throat and chest
during the act Of phonation, and they can
see the movements OF the mouth accOmpa-
nying sounds. Thus the senses OF vision
and feeling have to act as substitutes for
the sense OF hearing.
THE METHOD EMPLOYED.
In teaching the deaf mute by the new
method the pupil places one hand on the
teachers throat and the other on his own,
4 g., vi,t.x Il Il
short words. BY degrees the child is made
to understand the meaning Of words and
their grammatical formation into sen
fences, but oitcntimcs in the beginning OF
their studies the pupil makes cOmical e.
rors by placing words in their wrong
places. 1t is surprising, though, to see in
how short time the scholar advances. I'm
like most children at school deaf and dumb
pupils are anxious TO learn. Their studies
have fascination for them, and they take
as readily and eagerly TO the class-book
rs they do to the playground.
Besides learning TO speak and read
by the lips they are instructed in all the
branches Of education which are taught in
the common schools. In the advanced
classes the pupils recite their lessons orally
like other children, and the teachers cX-
plain the lessons in the same manner as II
they were teaching hearing pupils, the only
difference being that the latter see instead
OF hearing what is said to them. The cur
risulum comprises reading, writing, arith-
motic, geography, history, grammar, COM
position, and rhetoric; the natural GEL
cnccs. geometry. and drawing. The female
pupils also receive instruction in all kinds
OF needle and fancy work.
The question is often asked, What be-
comes OF deaf mutes after they leave
school? BY reason Of their inlirmitieS
they are dcbarred from some ayocations III
life. but there are many callings open TO
them in which they cannot only success
fully compete with their more favored
fellow-mcn, but for which they are even
better adapted than hearing persons. IL
is well known that whenever one sense
j. wanting the others become more
acute. Being deprived OF the sense OF
hearing the sight OF deaf mutes usually al
tains a remarkable degree OF acutencNs.
They generally have great talent for draw
ing and skctching. quite number OF the
former graduate OF the institution are sue
cos,iul lithOgraphcrS, engraYcrS, wood
carvers. sc. one Of the former pupils OF
q New York institution is now student OF
the school OF mines Of Columbia College
lie comprehends the lectures 10y following
the movements Of the lips OF the professor
and rccites his lessons rs other students %
The superintendent at the institution say,
that a prominent feature OF the method
employed is that articulation, read
ing. and writing are combined ana
taI~ht simultaneously. The teacher mas Il
chart before him on which the elementary
sounds arc represented by She common lt'-
tiers OF the alphabet, in such order, now
ever, as they are most readily acquired
bv n deaf mute. While teaching a pupll
how to initiate certain sound hc
points TO the corresponding letter on the
chart. which the child at once trle,
10 copy. Later on, when words ana
nbrascs are introduced, every one OF these
i first presented in writing on the Dlack'
board, from which they are read oil by Tic
pupil.
nassed in 1915, every dcaf-mute child WIN
in this State may, upon application 10 th'
superyisors Of the county where he lesldeS
be appointed as pupil in the institution
and remain there until he has completed
his education. II over twelve years OF aye
the applicant is supported by the state ant
sent TO the institution, rs well as the latlel
receiving a per capita allowance.
The American Navy Abroad.
W,cu,xcToN. August S.-Thc Navy De