New-York tribune., 1884-10-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
INSTRUCTION FOR DEAF MUTEs.


SUGGESTION FROM ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
now SCHOOLS COULp BE UTILIZED.
To IN Editor Of The TribNRe.
SIR; Your editorial comments in this morn
ng's TRIBUNE on Professor G0rions able aud eyhaus-
tive deaf mue instruction. read before the
American Association tor the Advancement Of Science In
Philadelphia Last week. of Interest The bear
nE OF tis paper however. upon the osed new de
parture in the education " the deaf by OBJ
vious, for am-and always have been--in full accord
with the opinions attributed Professor Gordon The
general result OF his nyestigaton you say. Ia That
the complete education Of those born deaf demands
special training and methods. which be supplied
In common schools; and that tho education 0f the
deaf with children who hear is admitted mpossi-
bility."
But sir have Nowhere advocated the education of
the deaf with children who hearI Nor have pro
posed thar the teachers of schools should
educate the deaf aud aunb Specially trained teachers
and special methods OF instruction must always 0e
necessary But absolutely essential that the schooI-
room in which instruction II given should he la special
building apart for the Of the deaf and dlmbf
Does the location OF the schoorOom necessarily affect
the character OF the instruction given Ia n Wouh
Professor 0orons instruction to his pupils he any less
successful n the in which he taught should happen
to bs situated In public school building nste vi OF In
the national College for Dsaf f-Mutes Certainly not
There reason. them good teacher should not
instruct cl ~ deaf children successfully IN pub
o soipol building In Institution for the dear an
dumb. The ehsrastsr Of the Instruction would not
necessarily bs aneeed whsro,s The environments OF tho
pupil would eompisteiy changed Insesh Of living IN
world compos-d eselusively ~ deaf -,uut.s hs would
world OF hearing and speakns people ths uosnt
s leaves his elias We ooald thus give bin ALI the
iv.ntag-s ~ special education without materially dis
tnrbing his natural environment.
PuDlr school btiugr are ~ nunefs ~ IN ths iAF"f"'
land IN. suitable r"n enh SASH %. rurs, W , y
place where number 0f deaf calfcn ro,id Ds Dfonght
together. instead " srndpg tins pupils o Tue achsfs
wOni send the O the pupils xhsreyrr possible
10 Is unfortunate thai the s!aeaii0n oi TIE le. ani
Boards Charities the lsoar'is Of Education
do not feel their responsibility as they shonhi Dt SIX
dren In the City of NewYork, who growing mp Ia ~
n0ranccmany of them not deaf enough 10 he receiver
into institution for the deal and dumb, ana YET WIN
too little hearing 10 attend public school similar
condition of affairs exists over tne whole country ihs
recent eens,s shows tnat there are ID the unltp
states about IA many deafmHes oi school age sroWlpg
IN as tEeGs ae d urge npoH
the Boards OF Education and the Boar Is of state Chari-
ties the sdvisshty of our present system
by dey eopment of day-scboois In every
centre Of where sufficient number Of deaf chill
dr-n could oe found to support them mto
class in the nearest pupic school building II this were
done the institutions would te sufficient IN nunoef
to accommodate all who could not attend da, school
Experience that tile pupils of small classes
make better progress than those of large classes upief
similar circumstances OF instruction oecause the encIs
able To give them individual attention No ap-
prehenson nec be elt therefore regarding The efficiency
of the instruction in tue ay )nls under properly
qualified teachers The whole Question resolves itself
| into u matter ei expense.
The average per pira the education OF deaf
child Institution deaf and dumb II S2Z3 20
per annui all places then. where four deal children
eoud brought together their homes, 1t would
form them into class than To send tncui
t. nstutoD for tho Expenses p s'ch class coiiu
easily be- kept within $500 annnm. In large ciues
like Ne@YOrk where than 100 deaf children conid
attend hools ami number OF teachers would be
required. would advocate giving each trae er small
| in a different pnblic school buding rather than
bring all deaf children int school In fhls ease
slpcrntendent OF des,f-dute in+tructon shou ne APP
| to lustrtIc-
| tion could easily Kept within Sl00O0 per annuni.
which for 100 pnptls would give per capita cos OF
800 per annHm instead OF S223 %, which IN ne cost
artually incurred at present The abnvr estimate IL
based upon the sappositon that ten teachers are EN-
poyed salary of $500 aud supcrinteed-
ent Of deaf-Inute instruction at salary OF S2.Oc
| am, SIR. yours etc..
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
| N1achestT. Moss. Sert, ID. 1854.