Milan Conference
The Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, which has since been dubbed the Milan Conference 1880 is considered one of the most important aspects of deaf history. Held from September 6th to September 11th at the Regio Institutio Tenico di Santa Martha in Milan, Italy the conference decided that the oral method of education was superior to that of teaching in sign language.
There has been much speculation since the conference over the suitability of the delegates, and a belief of many sign language supporters is that the delegates were carefully selected before by Perreire Society, the organisation who organised the conference and known to be a strong supporter of oralism.
The conference was attended by 164 deaf educators.
Nationality
Attendees
Italian
87
French
53
British
8
American
5
Swedish
3
Belgian
1
German
1
Unknown
5
Of the 164 delegates that attended, only 2 were deaf, James Denison (Principal of the Columbian Institute in Washington DC, USA) and Claudius Forestier (Director of Lyon School for the Deaf, France).
12 of the delegates gave a speech at the conference, 9 of the speeches supported the oralist method of education and 3 supported the sign language method. Edward Miner Gallaudet, Rev. Dr. Thomas Gallaudet (2 of the 5 American attendees) and Richard Elliot (a British delegate) were the 3 giving speeches to support the use of sign language.
The Decision
The final outcome was to pass Eight Resolutions, these are:
1. The Convention, considering the incontestable superiority of articulation over signs in restoring the deaf-mute to society and giving him a fuller knowledge of language, declares that the oral method should be preferred to that of signs in education and the instruction of deaf-mutes.
Passed 160 to 4
2. The Convention, considering that the simultaneous use of articulation and signs has the disadvantage of injuring articulation and lip-reading and the precision of ideas, declares that the pure oral method should be preferred.
Passed 150 to 16
3. Considering that a great number of the deaf and dumb are not receiving the benefit of instruction, and that this condition is owing to the impotence of families and of institutions, recommends that governments should take the necessary steps that all the deaf and dumb may be educated.
Passed unanimously.
4. 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
a) 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.
b) 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.
c) That books, written with words and in forms of language known to the pupil, can be put into his hands at any time.
Motion carried.
5. 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.
Motion carried.
6. Considering the results obtained by the numerous inquiries made concerning the deaf and dumb of every age and every condition long after they had quit 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
a) 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.
b) That in their conversation with speaking persons they make use exclusively of speech.
c) That speech and lip-reading so far from being lost, are developed by practice.
Motion carried.
7. 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 -
a) That the most favourable age for admitting a deaf child into school is from eight to ten years.
b) That the school term ought to be seven years at least; but eight years would be preferable.
c) That no teacher can effectually teach a class of more than ten children on the Pure Oral method.
Motion carried.
8. 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
a) That the pupils newly received into the schools should form a class by themselves, where instruction could be given by speech.
b) 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.
c) That each year a new speaking class be established, until all the old pupils taught by signs have completed their education.
Motion carried.
Demonstrations
The demonstrations on display at the Milan Conference were held in Italian schools which favoured oralism prior to the conference. ‘Successful’ children from the oral method of education who were asked questions as part of the demonstration, have been reported to be specially selected. These reports suggest that the children were not actually deaf from birth and knew how to talk at the time of becoming deafened.
The Effects
After the Milan Conference, deaf teachers around the world lost their jobs as they were no longer needed. American organisation, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was formed to preserve sign language. (The NAD is still operational today and is America’s largest civil rights organisation for deaf and hard of hearing people). Gallaudet College (now University) made the decision to retain sign language.
The Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, which has since been dubbed the Milan Conference 1880 is considered one of the most important aspects of deaf history. Held from September 6th to September 11th at the Regio Institutio Tenico di Santa Martha in Milan, Italy the conference decided that the oral method of education was superior to that of teaching in sign language.
There has been much speculation since the conference over the suitability of the delegates, and a belief of many sign language supporters is that the delegates were carefully selected before by Perreire Society, the organisation who organised the conference and known to be a strong supporter of oralism.
The conference was attended by 164 deaf educators.
| Nationality | Attendees |
| Italian | 87 |
| French | 53 |
| British | 8 |
| American | 5 |
| Swedish | 3 |
| Belgian | 1 |
| German | 1 |
| Unknown | 5 |
Of the 164 delegates that attended, only 2 were deaf, James Denison (Principal of the Columbian Institute in Washington DC, USA) and Claudius Forestier (Director of Lyon School for the Deaf, France).
12 of the delegates gave a speech at the conference, 9 of the speeches supported the oralist method of education and 3 supported the sign language method. Edward Miner Gallaudet, Rev. Dr. Thomas Gallaudet (2 of the 5 American attendees) and Richard Elliot (a British delegate) were the 3 giving speeches to support the use of sign language.
The Decision
The final outcome was to pass Eight Resolutions, these are:
1. The Convention, considering the incontestable superiority of articulation over signs in restoring the deaf-mute to society and giving him a fuller knowledge of language, declares that the oral method should be preferred to that of signs in education and the instruction of deaf-mutes.
Passed 160 to 4
2. The Convention, considering that the simultaneous use of articulation and signs has the disadvantage of injuring articulation and lip-reading and the precision of ideas, declares that the pure oral method should be preferred.
Passed 150 to 16
3. Considering that a great number of the deaf and dumb are not receiving the benefit of instruction, and that this condition is owing to the impotence of families and of institutions, recommends that governments should take the necessary steps that all the deaf and dumb may be educated.
Passed unanimously.
4. 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
a) 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.
b) 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.
c) That books, written with words and in forms of language known to the pupil, can be put into his hands at any time.
Motion carried.
5. 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.
Motion carried.
6. Considering the results obtained by the numerous inquiries made concerning the deaf and dumb of every age and every condition long after they had quit 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
a) 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.
b) That in their conversation with speaking persons they make use exclusively of speech.
c) That speech and lip-reading so far from being lost, are developed by practice.
Motion carried.
7. 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 -
a) That the most favourable age for admitting a deaf child into school is from eight to ten years.
b) That the school term ought to be seven years at least; but eight years would be preferable.
c) That no teacher can effectually teach a class of more than ten children on the Pure Oral method.
Motion carried.
8. 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
a) That the pupils newly received into the schools should form a class by themselves, where instruction could be given by speech.
b) 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.
c) That each year a new speaking class be established, until all the old pupils taught by signs have completed their education.
Motion carried.
Demonstrations
The demonstrations on display at the Milan Conference were held in Italian schools which favoured oralism prior to the conference. ‘Successful’ children from the oral method of education who were asked questions as part of the demonstration, have been reported to be specially selected. These reports suggest that the children were not actually deaf from birth and knew how to talk at the time of becoming deafened.
The Effects
After the Milan Conference, deaf teachers around the world lost their jobs as they were no longer needed. American organisation, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was formed to preserve sign language. (The NAD is still operational today and is America’s largest civil rights organisation for deaf and hard of hearing people). Gallaudet College (now University) made the decision to retain sign language.
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