Isn't this a masterpiece? This is one of the Gallaudet
University's landmarks. It was created by
renowned American sculptor, Daniel Chester French. French also sculpted the
famous statue of Abraham Lincoln found in
the Lincoln Memorial. The Memorial is located only
a few blocks away from here. The statue behind me was
unveiled on June 26, 1889. Gallaudet University
received it as a gift from the National Association
of the Deaf. Do you know the story of
the two figures portrayed in this sculpture? Have you ever wondered how
Deaf schools in America were founded? I am Conrad Baer and I'm
going to tell you their story. Before Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
became the first principal of the first
deaf school in America, he was a Yankee boy
born in Connecticut. As a young man,
Thomas loved to read, despite his weak vision. He also had poor health
and a chronic cough. None of this kept
him from his studies. One day, his brother Charles
invited him to go
outside and play. Thomas declined,
preferring to study instead. He was preparing
to enter Yale College. He took the entrance exam and received
the results a few days later. Thanks to his preparation, he was able
to skip his freshman year, entering Yale
College as a sophomore! Gallaudet studied
a variety of subjects; History, Greek, Latin, but his
favorite was English writing. Early on he became
involved in debate and was well-versed
in a variety of topics. In the fall of 1805,
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet received a Bachelor
of Arts degree. He graduated with top
honors at the age of 17. A few years later,
he began working at a law firm in Hartford, Connecticut. In time, the President
of Yale College offered Thomas a job
as a tutor at Yale. He accepted and began
pursuing his Master's degree at the same time. After he graduated and
received his MA degree, he decided to become
a traveling salesman, selling his wares
around the country. But he soon realized that he could not continue
in that career. He changed
his path once again and entered
Andover Theological Seminary. Here, Gallaudet was
once again an excellent student, devoted to Biblical history. He also traveled,
telling stories and preaching the word of God. However, his health
was still an issue and he realized that he wouldn't
be able to continue as a traveling preacher. Gallaudet was
greatly frustrated that he couldn't find his path. He sat down and prayed
to God for guidance. He decided to take a break
from the Seminary and return to his hometown. He wanted to spend time
with his family and allow his health to recover. This trip home helped
Thomas discover his pearl. Who's that girl
sitting over there? Her? Yeah, who is that? She's Alice Cogswell,
Dr. Cogswell's daughter. She lives next door. Well, why doesn't she play
with the rest of the group? She can't
she's deaf and dumb. Deaf and dumb... hmmm... Well, maybe there's
a game I can play with her. Bring her over here. Hi, Alice. I'm Thomas. Hmmmm... uhhhh... This is a hat. Hat? I wonder if she
knows any... any words. Let's see. H - A - T. Hat. Here, you try it. Uh... Lord, how will I ever
succeed at teaching this girl? It will be a miracle if...
she ever learns... <gasp>
You did it! That was perfect! Hat! Thomas, you're home! Yes, sir. I'm home on break
from seminary. How is your health lately? Never better!
<cough, cough> I have something for that cough. You wrote that! You wrote that! You wrote hat! You wrote that! Oh, you wrote that! What's wrong? She wrote hat! No schools in America
for deaf children. Indeed. We have deaf
children everywhere. None of them receive
an education. Which reminds me, there's
something I want to show you. This book is from
Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Paris,
written in French by the Abbe Sicard,
headmaster of the school. Children in this school converse by using a manual alphabet,
signs and gestures. Abbe Sicard said that's the
natural language of the deaf. In the book you'll notice
there's lists of signs, a sign for a word. Much like a dictionary has
words for definitions. In the very back is
the manual alphabet. You'll notice
that the alphabet is formed by using different positions
of the fingers of one hand. This is fascinating! Have you... have you tried
to teach Alice this? I mean, with this kind
of information, the deaf could talk
with their hands and spell with their fingers! Yes, but with
no more success than we had with trying
to teach her writing. She imitates our motions
but it means nothing to her. Do you think you could take
this book and try its methods? I would love to help her. Thank you. Thomas and Alice
continued to practice their finger-spelling. Thomas also taught Alice
to read and write - she learned many new words! As the weeks passed,
Thomas regained his health and became stronger
and stronger. He returned to the Seminary
to earn his divinity degree. During this time, Alice
learned how to spell her name, and continued
to improve her reading, writing and
finger-spelling. Dr. Mason Cogswell invited
Gallaudet to speak to his wealthy friends about
setting up a school for the deaf in America. Dr. Cogswell asked his
friends to help him raise funds for the school and
send Thomas to Europe to study methods for teaching
deaf students and bring those methods
back to America. Gallaudet spoke
eloquently, trying to convince the group
to support their endeavor and help raise the funds
for a school for the deaf in America and his
trip to Europe. At first the group
resisted - they were uncertain that deaf
children were able to learn - and they argued
their differing opinions and points of view. Thomas described
how he taught Alice reading, writing and
finger-spelling to help her communicate. He explained that deaf
children CAN learn. The committee argued
and discussed while Dr. Cogswell and Thomas
waited for them to make a decision. Finally, the committee
approved the funding. Thomas was now ready
to go to Europe. He traveled to the New York
Wharf to board a boat for his trip. I don't like it at all. Speaking is not natural
for the deaf children. Why are they
not using signs? (Sicard interpreting)
A book. A fish. Hello, I'm Thomas Gallaudet
from America. I am pleased to meet you,
Monsieur Gallaudet. I am Abbe Sicard. And I present to you
two of my finest teachers, Laurent Clerc and Jean Massieu. What brings you here from
America, Monsieur Gallaudet? Well, I'm here to observe
and study your school so that we can set up a similar
institution in America. Why don't you come
to visit our Royal Institute for the Deaf
and Dumb in Paris? I would be honored! (Sicard interpreting)
So the... Let me try. Um... I feel that my gesture
has improved since the presentation. (Sicard interpreting)
We would love to give you a very warm welcome. Thank you, Abbe. Thank you, Laurent. Thank you, Jean. Every day Thomas observed
Laurent Clerc and studied his teaching methods,
taking page after page of notes. The sheer amount
of information was overwhelming and it seemed impossible
to absorb everything so that he could
bring it home. He decided to ask Laurent
Clerc to join him and help him teach in America. Me, go to America with you? Can you? My English
is not so good. I'll teach you to write
and you teach me signs. You need to talk
to my supervisor first. We will talk about it. Gallaudet wrote a letter
to Abbe Sicard asking the Abbe to allow Laurent Clerc
to join him in America. Abbe Sicard contemplated
the request, realizing it would be
a difficult decision to make. Laurent Clerc was
one of his best and most valued teachers. Many students loved Clerc. Allowing him to leave was something
he'd have to consider seriously. Abbe says yes,
I can go to America. You and me will go
teach the children. We'll be a great team! Why are you leaving here? I've already decided. I've discussed it
with my family. The decision is made. This is your country! America's not your home,
this is your home! No, don't pressure me. America's got awful
weather, it's humid, it's sticky,
disease is rampant. You're 31, you're going to die
in an unknown land. You are 40 years old. The years of your life
never change, they're always the same. Yes, I am the same. I teach French
deaf and dumb children. I'm proud to be French,
I've lived French, I'll die French! What's
wrong with you? What about
the French Revolution? The French Revolution
has nothing to do with America. You betray our
French children! I told you, I'll
only go to America for three years, that's all. I live for France, I'd die
for France, just like you! Why waste your time
in such a young country? Paris is 2000 years old,
America is only 40. Enough of your preaching! I've already decided. I want to help
my friend Thomas. This man,
he has a wonderful heart. He wants to help a little
girl named Alice Cogswell. There are many
deaf children in America who want an education
and we want to help them! But it will be tough. You don't know English;
French is your language. He will teach me
to write English and I will teach him
sign language, that's it. Please let me help
Thomas in America. He needs help. Those deaf children in America,
they need an education. They need to learn
our beautiful sign language. Yes... yes, you're right. I'm sorry. Thank you
for understanding. I promise you,
I will be back in three years. After much deliberation, Abbe Sicard allowed
Laurent Clerc to go. They agreed to
a three year contract. Gallaudet and Clerc
set sail for America. Hello! I missed you, Alice. He's deaf, just like you. His name is Laurent. What is your name? Alice. Your sign name is Alice. His is Gallaudet. And mine, Clerc. Thomas Gallaudet, Laurent
Clerc and Dr. Mason Cogswell searched long
and hard for a place to establish their school. They found a building and quickly
got it ready for students; painted it,
set up classrooms, and prepared
sleeping quarters. Gallaudet and Clerc
visited families with deaf children
to tell them a new school for deaf
children was opening soon. Clerc trained new teachers
to prepare them for the students. Dr. Cogswell was very
involved in the board and continued fund-raising
for the new school. Thomas Gallaudet was chosen as the school's first principal. Finally, the American
School for the Deaf, ASD, was founded
on April 15, 1817. Are you warm, dear? Yes. I'm going to go
talk with Eddie. About what? About his future. I don't think that
he's ready to listen. It's very important. Why is
it so important? Can't you see that
none of our own children want to help the deaf
with their education? Eddie's our last son. Clerc and I, we can't
keep teaching forever. Eddie, I want
to give you that bible. Thank you, Papa. Have you been considering
your professional future? Some. Some... Well you know that Clerc
and I have successfully set up several schools
for the deaf here in America. But there's
still work to do. What needs
to be finished? Well, we need to
advance their educations, high school and college. Why don't you
and Clerc continue? We're old and tired. And, not to mention,
my health is declining. I was hoping that you
could carry on our work. But, Papa,
you're a poor man. And I'm going into business and
banking and get rich. Go ahead with
business if you must, but banking is far too narrow. Have you considered college? College
isn't for me. I'm going to work
after school. There are other kinds
of riches in this world besides gold and silver. Perhaps some day you'll realize that your father was richer
than you thought. Do you know
about this hat? No. It represents my start
in deaf education. Alice was my first
deaf student. And her first
word was hat. This hat. This hat started it all,
and everything grew from there. I want to pass
this on to you, now. Thank you, Papa. I will cherish this. I wish... no, I pray that deaf
education will never end. Clerc taught me to sign
and we set up deaf schools that I hope
will remain forever. Don't forget that
you're a wonderful teacher. You taught me
how to read and write. I've been very lucky
to have you as my husband. I'm going to go
talk to Eddie. Mama, I don't mean
to disappoint you or Papa. You won't. Do what your heart
tells you to do. Any time you need help, your father and I
are here for you always. Remember that, okay? Today I'm earning my degree
from Gallaudet University. Gallaudet has
taught me well and prepared me to become a teacher
of these deaf children. They will become teachers,
scientists, politicians, actors, writers, anything
they want to be! It's important for us
to carry on Clerc and Gallaudet's legacy
of Deaf education, ASL preservation,
and Deaf culture, passing them on
to future generations. Don't you agree? Our student
is now the teacher. He will go on to educate
future generations of deaf students. Clerc, what do you think
of our time spent together here in America? Fantastique! I never dreamed
this would happen! I just remember long ago,
when I was a boy, sitting all day
at my desk and studying, until I went off to college
and earned my degree. I worked many different jobs,
I was a tutor, a lawyer, a salesman, and
a minister, before I arrived at this position as
a teacher for deaf students. And I must say, this
last one has been the best. Oh, I agree! And the best part for me
is you invited me to come here to America to teach
sign language to our beloved deaf children. You allowed me to help you
set up many schools for the deaf across
the country. We have taught 41 years and now
our students have grown up to become teachers of the deaf, and they are
continuing our effort to spread
deaf education across America. What a success!
