The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
VISIT AN
DR.. Gillett Talks of the Oral SyS-
tenn for Teaching the Deaf.
This Famous Exponent of Articulation
Spends Two Days at the Institution
,Here-His Extensive Tour.

Indianapolis has Just had a visit from
DR.. Philip G. Gillett, the leading expert in
the country in the matter of teaching
speech TO the deaf. DR.. Gillett was the
guest, from Wednesday till Friday morn
ing, of Superintendent Johnson, Of the In
diana Institution for the Deaf and Dumb,
and expressed himself as we'll pleased with
the progress made in articulation instruc-
ton here. As president of the American
Society for the Teaching of Speech to the
Deaf, he is making a tour of the various
institutions devoted to the work of edu-
eating the leaf and dumb. He has visited
about forty institutions in the East and
elsewhere, and has still about twenty more
to visit, mostly i'm the South Atlantic and
Gulf States.
The society of which DIR. Gillett is presi-
dent was chartered under the laws of the
State of New York in 1890. and was en-
dowed by Alexander Graham Bell. of tele-
phone fame. Professor Bell is devoted to
this society and it's work, and was presi-
dent previous TO the election of Dr. Gillett.
Before he became famous Professor Bell
was an instructor i'm a deaf and dumb in
stitution, devoting his days to his profess
sion and working at night on his telephone.
He married a deaf lady, and therefore
takes q personal interest in all matters
pertaining to the education of the deaf. At
present he is erecting at Washington. ID.
c., a handsome building to be known as
the Volta Bureau, which will be the head
quarters for all matters of interest to the
deaf world.
In speaking of the work OF his society,
Or. Giliett said that. although its chief
aim was the teaching of speech to the deaf,
II did not %antagOniZe the sign method Of
teaching. Previous to the Introduction of
the oral system, communication between
deaf muteS was by the sign anguage only.
Remarkable progress has been along the
lines laid down by the society. and as the
system becomes more and more known it
IS gradually replacing nthe older system.
Among the prominent institutions using the
oral system altogether are Clarke InStitu-
ton. at Northampton, Mass; Horace Mann
School, Boston. and the Pennsylvania In
stitution, Mount Airy. Philadelphia.
In all institutions in the country, how
ever, pupils are taught more or less TO
are becoming interested in the matter, al
though for some time they were reluctant
to discard the sign language, fearing that
the oral system would not accomplish what
it's promoters claimed for il. With the pu-
pills thoroughly interested. the aims of the
the oral system was not taught In a single
school, while to-day over One-half of the
instructors i'm the country are using it.
For many years DIR. Gillett was at the
hfnb1 VI Nv "a ~ 80
Vile. ILL.,. where he was very successful.
gaining. in fact, a worldwide reputation
in his line. He is to-day regarded as the
best Informed man in the country on mat
tiers pertaining To the education of the
deaf and dumb. When the Democrats got
hold OF the State government in Illinois
last year they turned loose on the various
charitable institutions, and Governor Alt
geld began removing the superintendent
without delay. DIR. Gillett, seeing how
things were going. resigned the superin-
tendency of the Jacksonville institution and
became president of the society i'm the in
terests of which he Is making mis- present
tour. Last summer the Republican truS-
tees of the COLORADO state institution at
Colorado Springs came East to look for a
superintendent. They finally chose DR.. Gil
lett for the place, and he consented 10
make an inspection visit To the institution.
Before the matter went any further, how
ever. Governor Waite removed one of the
Republican trustees, and appointed d Pop
ulist, and the board reelected the old SUI
p~erintendent, Professor Ray, who was Il
DIR. Giiiett likes his present work. but
may accept the s1perintendency Of a prom
inent Eastern institution, having had a
fattering offer. There are no State schools
for the deaf i'm the East. All are private
corporations under State patronage, and
are thus taken out OF politics. The Roman
Catholics maintain three schools for the
deaf i'm New York city and vicinity, and one
Cincinnati. The Lutherans have one each
in Michigan and Wisconsin. No other de-
nominations have similar schools.
gathers much IN and many new
ideas. and is thus able to offer valuable
snEgesti1ns to the ya rio sn IN
drill for the boys, regarding ii an excellent
factor in their education.
DIR. Gillett left Friday morning for the
South. During his stay at the institution
he made some suggestions to Superintend-
ent Johnson which the latter regards With
much favor. and will probably follow out.