The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-19
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
Professor Alexander Graham Bell writes
to the Press about the Portland Institu-
tion.
To the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press:
Portland, Janis, 1891.
The friends of the deaf throughout
America are deeply grieved at the loss
the city of Portland has sustained in
the death of Miss Ellen L. Barton,
Principal Of the Portland School
of the Deaf. This school, which
was established mainly through
the instrumentality of the late
DR.. Hill, has been in existence for eigh-
teen years, and has accomplished great
work mot only for the deaf children of
the city OF Portland but for those of the
State of Maine. have had the privilege
during the last few days of examining
the work of the school, and | must say
am surprised that the thought should
for one moment be entertained of dis
continuing a school of which the city of
Portland should be proud. Such an
idea could only originate from ignorance
of the character and Importance of the
work carried or and of the fact that Miss
Barton had collected around her devot-
ed and enthusiastic band of teachers,
who are amply able to carry on her work.
| am confirmed ii this belief by the
fact that very few visitors have ever ap-
peared at the school. If some of the
good people of Portland will only go to
the school and see for themselves what
is done there, I venture to say that when
they hear the prattling voices of the little
children who once were dumb. there
will be no more talk OIL giving up the
school but on the contrary they will
wish it Goo speed, and extend to the
teachers that sympathy and aid of which
they are sadly in need now that their
leader and dear friend, Miss Barton
has been taken from them.
Quite apart from her duties as Princi-
pal Miss Barton's heart was ever with her
little charges. Out of school hours she
visited them in their own homes or
boarding places, looking after their COM
forts i'll every way; and in cases of poor
pupils would supply boots and shoes,
and even clothing out of her own scanty
income The teachers will be able to
carry on the school, but who is to sup
ply her place in this outside work of re-
lief and inspection? Let the citizens of
Portland organize a society to aid the
school, to visit the little ones in their
homes and boarding places, and to afford
funds to carry on the philanthropic work
which she began.
Before the Portland school was estab-
lshed the deaf children of Maine were
sent out of the State to be educated
either to Hartford or Northampton, as
their parents might desire, thessign Ian
guage method being taught at Hartford
and the oral, Or speech method at North
ampton. After the esta blishment of an
oral school at Portland pupils We're no
longer sent to Northampton. but their
parents had the choice of sending them
either TO the sign school at Hartford or
the oral school in Portland. 1t is now
proposed, I understand, to discontinue
the Portland school and compel all
Maine pupils to go to the Hartford school
alone This, | think, would not be lust
and if the Portland school should be
discontinued, the parents of deaf children
in Maine should, I think, be allowed
to exercise the right of choice they have
always hitherto enjoyed of sending their
children to a sign or oral school as
they prefer The art of iusuructing the
deaf is in Il state of transition. There
are various methods Of instruction III
use at the present. time. struggling to-
do most good to the deaf Do not let
the State of Maine interfere with this
generous warfare by com polling all her
deaf children to go to one school and
be taught by one method. II she does
this, she viii be alone among the New
England States in denying a right Of
choice to the parents of the children.
The sign aud oral methods OF teaching