In researching the feeling of being deaf I have also dipped into some of the history of deaf culture. Most of what I came across focused on the deaf culture in America however I came across a book entitled ‘ A Tower of strength’ by Patrick Beaver which is actually a history about The Royal School for Deaf Children Margate, the same school my Mother and Aunt attended. The first school that was founded was actually called the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb prior to this many deaf were sent to workhouses or mental hospitals, they were regarded as ‘backwards’.
Aristotle is quoted as saying ‘Men that are born deaf are in all cases dumb; that is to say, they can make vocal noises but they cannot speak…all become senseless and incapable of reason’
Early Roman law allowed that infants born deaf could be thrown into rivers or otherwise disposed of, they were considered to be undeserving of life. Deafness was considered to be an affliction from God and they were incapable of faith as faith relied on hearing the word of God.
It wasnt until the 15th Century that this idea started to change, and by the 17th century more scholars become involved.
In 1670 George Sibscota wrote in The Deaf and Dumb Mans Discourse ‘They are capable of reason and can gain knowledge by sight, can write, converse by signs, lip read and speak’
Charles Michel Abbe de L’Epee founded the first free school for the Deaf in Paris in 1779, it wasnt until 1792 that the Asylum for Deaf Children opened in London, which later became The Royal School for Deaf Children.
I consider those attending the Royal School for Deaf Children lucky as they were taught with a combined method which used Signing, lip-reading and speech, In America many of the Deaf were banned from using sign and were only allowed to express themselves orally with speech which for many was virtually impossible. They were not encouraged to develop their own language and this did not change or come to public knowledge until the 1960’s – 1970’s when the play Children of a Lesser God by Mark Medoff (Later a film) drew attention to it.
Speaking to my mother she claims to have always used sign at school although it is strange to look at her school reports which also reference the strength / quality of the students ‘voice’ so they did continue the combined method.
In acquiring the book ‘ A Tower of Strength’ I also come across a photo of an outdoor sewing class in Goring-on-Thames , in this photo I spotted my Aunt. My Aunt is no longer with us but it was lovely that my Mother could see this and reminisce as well as sharing it with my cousin.
Wendy Rose Context & Narrative 