St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-14
DEAF MUTE TEACHERS.
Proceedings and Discussions of Their
National Convention Yesterday.
A Meeting this Evening for the Discussion of
Moral Training.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

preparing 10 l0aVo, altHOugn lue CouloIcuCo
does not adjourn until Mondoy evening.
The ride through the town and suburbs,
which had been arranged for this morning,
was found impracticable, and the services OF
the day were opened by marshalling the
members present for another photograph.
The conference assembled In the room at
$3.50 this morning, Prof Matheson, Of On
tario, in the chair. Rev. Job Turner, a
deaf mute, and a missionary at large, lead
in prayer. The minutes of the last meeting
were read and approved.
| The chairman of the committee on ere
dentials reported the names of four honor
ary'members to be added to the list. The re-
port was adopted.
The committee on order of business re-
ported the following exercises for the day
PRESENTING OF RESOLUTIONS.
"Aural Method paper, by Prof Gillespie,
of Nebraska
Remarks by Prof. Noyes upon the Monato-
risl system.
The following questions were also an
nounccd for discussion:
l. What plan should be recommended to
| DOoiNiS VI u uSJtcS duQ legislatures III pIOflu-
ing increased accommodations for the mutes
in the erection CT new buildings?
2. How far should deaf teachers be en-
| ployed in our schools?
g. Is it desirable to separate the sexes in
the school room.
A. How best can friction be avoided in ar
ranging classes in articulation and the sign
classes?
| rnf n <>f
ed the convention in explanation Of certain
language used in his last report.
Prof. Williams, Of Hartford, Conn, com
| plimented Mr.. Greenberger, and other mem
bers also spoke in complimentary terms in
regard to the course pursued by the gentle
| man.
Superintendent Dobyns, Of Mississippi,
offered the following resolution:
| Resoloed, That it is the sense of this con-
| ference that the interests of deaf-mutes and
the subject of their education have assumed
such proportions and demand such atten-
ton that it is deemed proper and desirable
to secure space and arrange for deaf-mute
department in the Cotton Centennial exposi-
ton to be opened in the city Of New Orleans,
Dec. 1, 1884.
RESOLVED, That com mittee of three super
intendents be appointed to consider the
feasibility OF such place and if found prac-
| ticable to make the necessary arrangements
RESOLVED, That we will lend such move
men. all the aid in our power and give it our
hearty cooperation.
! The resolutions were favorably acted upon,
and the chair appointed Prof. Dobyns. Of
Mississippi, Superintendent Greenberger, Of
New York, and Prof. Noyes, of Minnesota,
| as a committee to examine the feasibility Of
| the plan.
Mr.. Williams, Of Hartford, of the COM
mittec on publication, announced the recep-
guage teaching, by Mrs. Mary Loughlin, he
recommended 1t to the consideration Of
the conference. Mr. Gillett, of Illinois, also
spoke favoraby Of the book.
| superintendent Moot presented the follow
ing resolution
| Resolved, That the practice of some of the
institutions for the deaf and dumb Of retir-
| ing officers and teachers of long experience,
whose vigor and manhood have been spent
| in the service Of the institution on a pension
of half pay receive the hearty approval of
| this conference as matter of justice.
The resolution called forth spirited dis
cussion, few members, Head by Mr.. Dob
yns, of Miss, taking ground that the pas
sage of such resolution was request to be
retired upon half pay. After short dis
cussion the resolution was passed, Prof.
Dobyns and few others voting s'No."
PROF. GMLEsrIEs' PAPER.
Prof Gillespie was introduced 10 the con-
vention and proceeded to deliver his paper
upon 'Aural Instruction" Mr.. Gillespie
said:
| 1t will be remembered that at the last meet
| ing OF this conference in Southam pton,
Mass, this subject was discussed at some
| length. 1t was my privilege to state to the
conference the results of some experiments
had made in this direction. I then ex-
pressed the hope that great good would re-
suit. 1t Is my privilege now to give some
what Of the fruition Of this hope. What was
then nothing more than an experiment is
now a demon strnted fact. The class to
which reference is made consisted Of grown
children. The next class was made up of
the smaller semi-deaf children. This was also
an experimental class, its object being 10 see
whether or not the same course Of drill would
produce similar results in small children as
we're secured from those of moresm ature age.
The experiments consisted in speaking
vowel sounds in loud tone OF voice. then
words and sentences, the children using the
audiphone throughout At the begin ming
they did not recognize sounds as such, but
as confused noise. They had hearing, but
it was in a dormant, useless state. They
were unable to distinguish the difference in
| -:
from half to thrce-fourths OF an hour daily,
for a period of about three months. At the
end OF that time they had fair vocabulary
of words, which they could
recognize singly or in sentence
connection readily The were trained also
during this time to keep step to the music,
and this was no small item in determining
the value Of the experiment. These two
classes represented nearly every condition of
pupils which we had or would likely have,
as to age, cause of deafness, degree OF deaf
ness, intellectual ability, etc. The result
thus obtained accepted a. proof that this
dominant sense could be aroused, developed
| and utilized in the education OF this class
| of children, With this idea in view, the
class of 1882 was formed. The method of
| instruction was the same as in the expert
mental classes, carried out more fully. The
manual alphabet and sign Language were not
used. at least rarely. Instruc-
ton was given orally. Object
lessons, pictures, action work, dictation ex-
ercises and such methods as practiced in the
common schools were used At the close of
the school year these children had accom-
plished all that could be expected of any
class of equal ability, taught BY the usual
methods of our institutions. They had vo-
cabulary of 200 to 500 words, which they
could recognize by the hearing, and could
speak and use in conversation cutie well.
Last fall another class was added to this de-
partment- Those in the school, from the
first class down who had some hearing, were
taken out of their respective grades aud start
ed at the bottom of the ladder by the aural