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Summary of the day's Proceedings – Saturday 11th September: Morning Session | ||||
The proceedings commenced at 8.30am; the minutes in Italian, French and English being read by the representative secretaries.
After a few remarks by Signor Fornari, the Abbé Balestra, and the President, the joint resolution of the President, Padre Marchio, and M. Houdin was submitted to the Congress as follows -
Considering that the teaching of the speaking deaf by the Pure Oral method should resemble as much as possible that of those who hear and speak, Declares - i) That the most natural and effectual means by which the speaking deaf may acquire the knowledge of language is the "intuitive" method, viz., that which consists in setting forth, first by speech, and then by writing the objects and the facts which are placed before the eyes of the pupils. ii) That in the first, or maternal, period the deaf-mute ought to be led to the observation of grammatical forms by means of examples and of practical exercises, and that in the second period he ought to be assisted to deduce from these examples the grammatical rules, expressed with the utmost simplicity and clearness. iii) That books, written with words and in forms of language known to the pupil, can be put into his hands at any time.
The President then announced that the Abbé Binaghi offered a premium for the best elementary lesson-book in French or Italian, also a premium for English, to be available by a Special Committee in the next Congress. The Report of the Sub-Committee upon the time and place of the next Congress having been presented, it was resolved that the next Congress should be held at Basie in August 1883. M. Houdin (Paris) then submitted the following resolution to the Congress -
Considering the want of books sufficiently elementary to help the gradual and progressive development of language, Recommends - That the teachers of the Oral system should apply themselves to the publication of special works on the subject.
M. L'Abbé Guerin (Marseilles) then submitted the following resolution to the Congress -
Considering the results obtained by the numerous inquiries made concerning the deaf and dumb of every age and every condition long after they had quitted school, who, when interrogated upon various subjects, have answered correctly, with sufficient clearness of articulation, and read the lips of their questioners with the greatest facility, Declares - i) That the deaf and dumb taught by the Pure Oral method do not forget after leaving school the knowledge which they have acquired there, but develop it still further by conversation and reading, when have been made so easy for them. ii) That in their conversation with speaking persons they make use exclusively of speech. iii) That speech and lip-reading so far from being lost, are developed by practice.
M. Ackers (England) said that as the question before the Congress, contained in the Abbé Guerin's resolution, was one on which he had prepared a paper, which time did not permit of being read, he wished to say that he completely agreed with the opinion expressed by the Abbé Guerin; and, as he had found pupils taught on the Pure Oral Method in a much better condition after having left school than pupils taught on other systems, he would impress upon the young teachers present, of those new to the system, that just in proportion as you allow signs to pupils in schools, so in after life will such pupils fail to express themselves unintelligibly in spoken language. On the conclusion of Mr. Ackers' address he was invited by the President to present his paper to the Congress, in order that it might be printed. The following resolutions were also submitted to the Congress -
Considering that the education of the deaf and dumb by speech has peculiar requirements; considering also that the experienced of teachers of deaf-mutes is almost unanimous, Declares - i) That the most favourable age for admitting a deaf child into school is from eight to ten years. ii) That the school term ought to be seven years at least; but eight years would be preferable. iii) That no teacher can effectually teach a class of more than ten children on the Pure Oral method.
Considering that the application of the Pure Oral method in institutions where it is not yet in active operation, should be - to avoid the certainty of failure - prudent, gradual, progressive, Recommends - i) That the pupils newly received into the schools should form a class by themselves, where instruction could be given by speech. ii) That these pupils should be absolutely separated from others too far advanced to be instructed by speech, and whose education will be completed by signs. iii) That each year a new speaking class be established, with all the old pupils taught by signs have completed their education.
The Papers of Dr. Symes Thompson, of Dr. Buxton, and of Mr. Kinsey, (all London), were accepted by the President for use in preparing a full report of the Congress. Meeting adjourned at 11am till 12.30pm. | ||||
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