Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-28
THE SIGN LANGUAGE.
Statement Of the Points Over Which
Two Schools Are WrangIing

h Statement of the Points Over Which
Two Schools Are wrangIing.
During the convention of deaf mutes in
this city, clear and weighty statements as
to the use of the sign language were made
at considerable length by President E. NJ.
Gallaudet and Professor J. B. Hotchkiss,
or the National College for Deaf Mutes,
and by DR.. Peet, of the New York school,
Shorter but no less emphatic declarations
came from the Rev. DR.. Thomas Gallaudet,
Principal JOB Williams and other speakers
All united in approval of the sign method
With no thought oi6 ding TO what has
oeen SO well SAID by some e the highest
authorities in the country, The Courant
will try to explain to those VINO are not
familiar with the subject what the ques-
ton at issue really is, and why it has made
SO much stir among teachers OF the deaf
and dumb. Designating the early, tenta
tive attempts at instruction, and coming
down to the time when deaf mute schools
were established in some numbers in this
country and in Europe, we find two sys-
TENS IN use-that which employs signs and
the finger alphabet, and that which at
tempts to teach speech and lip reading.
Not many years ago the former was in
almost undisputed possession of this field
IN this country. More recently the other
has become prominent, largely through
the enthusiasm of DR.. Graham Bell over
his system of visible speech. The dispute
between the schools is really whether this
latter system shall be taught alone, signs
being disregarded, or shall be an adjunct
to instruction based on the sign method,
the latter being used by all in the school.
and instruction in articulation and lip
reading given to all who show that they
nv Il
the time and labor required.
The American asylum, for instance. like
most schools Of its class, gives instruction
based on the ign language to every scholar.
But whenever new pupil arrives he is
also put in charge of a teacher of articula-
ton. A moderate percentage, chiefly
those who have lost their hearing through
sickness, make such progress as to Justify
continuance of the instruction. Those who
do not are after time relieved of the work
at articulation.
Practically, then, one system rejects and
forbids signs, which are natural means
of communication between deaf mutes:
the other uses and develops this natural
language, unites 1t with the use of the fin
ger alphabet and adds instruction in artic-
ulation for all who can profit by it,
1t is worth bearing in mind that Presi-
dent L. NJ. Gallaudet, DR.. Thomas Gallau-
Diet and DR.. Peet grew up among deaf
mutes, learned their language as readily
and perfectly Us that of their own fathers.
are familiar from childhood and through
mature life with the feelings, mental op-
erations, limitations and capacities of deaf
mutes, and probably are as competent to
give final Judgment in the matter as any
three men in the world. Professor Hotch-
kiss, as highly educated man. deaf from
Childhood, but possessing the power of
speech, is another authority who sees the
question from slightly different stand
point. All these are agreed as to the great
advantages offered by the sign language as
q means of instruction
1t is probably safe to say that few of
those who oppose it have this entire farnil
larity with it. 1t is language of wonder
full resource, rapid and capable of precise
expression to degree not dreamed of by
those who have not thoroughly studied it.
AS to the result of the present DISPUTE
time will show, but there are indications
that the schools which forbid signs and
trust to articulation have already seen
their best days. The method which most
easily and perfectly opens the mind. pro
notes general education, establishes re-
lation with the outside world and faciIi-
tates rapid and accurate intercourse under
all conditions is the one that must prevai1
Hartford Courant.