Achievement: From a Lack of Knowledge to an Appreciation of Deaf History

Hagemeyer, Alice L.

IFLA Council and General Conference / .
(ReLIS:jul:juljin:6694)

Abstract:

When John Day asked me to share my experiences with you on this Open Forum theme - Achievements: Libraries Change Lives - I told myself you are first going to hear about the impressive achievements of the deaf community which have changed society. Although there is a long list, I will highlight a few. The world’s first public school for deaf people was established in Paris, France In 1735, the first one in the world. A second school was established in Rome in 1784. I do not know if any public school for hearing people had yet been established. I do know there were none in the U.S. when, in 1816, the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, went from there to England and France to study methods for teaching deaf children. Bringing back with him Laurent Clerc, a deaf teacher from Paris, the two men -with the financial backing from a hearing parent a deaf child - helped start and run the first public school for deaf students in the United States. This school for the deaf eventually gave some ideas to two educators in the U.S., who eventually established public schools for blind students and hearing students, respectively, in the late 1830s.

Creation: 2001
Keywords: Patrimonio bibliográfico

 (go top)