Clerc+and+Gallaudet

Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet

Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc had different reasons for convening in London in May of 1815. Methods were currently taking place in Europe and a satellite school in America, Braidwood academy. The wealthy parents of the deaf were able to send their children away to these programs to help educate their child. Mason Cogswell, a doctor in Hartford, Connecticut, held a meeting to found the first American School for the Deaf. Gallaudet decided he would venture to Europe to learn the methods of instruction. Abbe Sicard, Massieu and Laurent Clerc went to London to take part in the series of six lectures to show that the deaf did have intelligence. Gallaudet journeyed to educate himself, while Clerc was supporting and spreading the cause.

After one of Clerc’s public lectures, Abbe Sicard introduced Gallaudet to Clerc. Gallaudet expressed his purpose for being in England. He wanted to meet the Braidwood family to learn the methods and establish and deaf school in America. Gallaudet was skeptical of Braidwood’s approach and was nervous for the success of his goal. Clerc invited Gallaudet to come and visit the school in Paris and observe a class. The leader of the Braidwood academy, Robert Kinniburgh, refused to teach Gallaudet his methods. Gallaudet went to Paris to fulfill his journey. This indirectly is the cause of Clerc coming to America to teach the methods of abbe de L’Epee, manual language to teach the deaf. Nearly a year later, Gallaudet met Clerc at a Paris café ready to embark on the teachings of de L’Epee and Abbe Sicard.

Gallaudet and Clerc both believed deaf people have the ability to learn. Both men had a priority toward religion. Sicard taught Clerc, who was a priest; the church led the instruction of the deaf children at that time. Gallaudet was a reverend in America. Clerc and Gallaudet also understood the advantages of teaching through manual language, the more natural language. Gallaudet’s view of manual language came from his deaf education experience in Europe. England used a more oral approach and France used the manual language. The similarities led to the two men being lifelong collaborators, as well as friends.

One strong difference between Gallaudet and Clerc was the love for Paris. Clerc continually tried to make Gallaudet fall in love with Paris. Gallaudet was homesick for Connecticut. In a moment of craving his home in Connecticut, Gallaudet insisted Clerc leave Paris and come to Hartford, Connecticut to be living proof that it is possible to educate the deaf. He persuaded Clerc with the following arguments: Clerc could teach sign language from a near-native, he could guide Gallaudet in arranging instruction, he could aid in providing instruction, and most importantly develop enthusiasm to educate the deaf. Clerc knew his duty as an educator to help establish other schools for the deaf. He had started at the mother school and it was time to put a hold on his love for Paris to help bring enlightenment to the possibilities of education for the deaf in America.

Thomas Gallaudet had a vision to find the tools and methods to teach deaf children of all economic classes in the United States. Laurent Clerc taught at the mother school for the education of the deaf. According to Laurent Clerc in //When the Mind Hears,// “we do not choose to make history, history chooses to make us.” Clerc and Gallaudet met at the right time and place to join forces to establish the enthusiasm and the methods to educate the deaf in America.

Works Cited

Lane, Harlan L. //When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf//. New York: Random House, 1984. Print.