Milan Conference 1880 And Dark Ages Of ASL
Milan conference 1880 & dark ages of ASL
“In 1880 there was a international conference of Deaf educators, The second international congress on education of the Deaf. At this conference, held September 6 -11- 1880, a declaration was made that oral education was better than manual (sign) education.” (By James Berke). The overall goal of the Milan conference was to ban sign language as a form of teaching Deaf people.
Edward Minor Gallaudet was a major supporter of sign language being used as a form of education and fought to keep sign language alive during the dark ages because of this he is considered a hero. One of his biggest adviser was Alexander Graham Bell who supported the ban on sign language and was the father of oralism (Teaching individuals
to speak and speech-read.) Because of Alexander Graham Bells influence and wealth he was able to argue that oralism was the best education for the deaf and because of this he is the most hated man in the Deaf community.
Once sign language was banned the immediate effects where Deaf teachers lost their jobs, Gallaudet University still taught sign language even after the bane on sign language, and the FNA gained more support as Deaf people fought to keep the
language and cutler. Many things that where scene during the dark ages included It common for students to have there hands tied behind their backs during the day, This was a dark time in the history of asl. People experimented with ways to “cure” deafness. hot oil and other substanses where poured down the ears and placing bees and spiders was done in an effort to stimulate the tissue. One mother had her daughters fingers surgically removed to keep her from signing.
“In 1880 there was a international conference of Deaf educators, The second international congress on education of the Deaf. At this conference, held September 6 -11- 1880, a declaration was made that oral education was better than manual (sign) education.” (By James Berke). The overall goal of the Milan conference was to ban sign language as a form of teaching Deaf people.
Edward Minor Gallaudet was a major supporter of sign language being used as a form of education and fought to keep sign language alive during the dark ages because of this he is considered a hero. One of his biggest adviser was Alexander Graham Bell who supported the ban on sign language and was the father of oralism (Teaching individuals
to speak and speech-read.) Because of Alexander Graham Bells influence and wealth he was able to argue that oralism was the best education for the deaf and because of this he is the most hated man in the Deaf community.
Once sign language was banned the immediate effects where Deaf teachers lost their jobs, Gallaudet University still taught sign language even after the bane on sign language, and the FNA gained more support as Deaf people fought to keep the
language and cutler. Many things that where scene during the dark ages included It common for students to have there hands tied behind their backs during the day, This was a dark time in the history of asl. People experimented with ways to “cure” deafness. hot oil and other substanses where poured down the ears and placing bees and spiders was done in an effort to stimulate the tissue. One mother had her daughters fingers surgically removed to keep her from signing.