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Education > Special Education > Never the Twain Shall Meet
 

Never the Twain Shall Meet

Richard Winefield
Words: 410
[Excerpt]

Summers in Flint were always hot, and the summer of 1895 was no exception. Perhaps the temperature had something to do with the heat being generated in the convention hall, for what had started as simply a gathering of teachers of deaf children had turned into high drama.



There was always the chance of a major confrontation when these two men got together, but what had transpired during the last week had surprised everyone. First the leader of oral education, Alexander Graham Bell, made the standard speech emphasizing cooperation and unity. His archrival, a sign language proponent Edward Miner Gallaudet, was expected to do the same.





Instead, he blasted Bell and everything he stood for, stunning the convention audience by questioning Bell's honesty and intregrity and blaming him for the current schism within the field of education of deaf children. Certainly the two disagreed about how best to communicate with deaf children, but their disagreement had never taken such a nasty turn, at least not publicly.

Bell rebutted the charges made against him. He succeeded or failed depending on one's point of view. His allies, supporters of oralism, characterized his speech as "inspired" and "delightful." Sign language proponents, however, called it "lame" and "impotent." Thus, the stage was set for another confrontation when the delegates took their seats for the convention's last session.

The convention hall was steaming when Dr. Mathieson (from the Ontario School for the Deaf) rose and walked to the podium, "Let there be peace," he intoned, and motioned Bell and Gallaudet to the front. At first, neither man moved. Then, at the urging of those around them, the two men began walking toward each other. They had feuded for years, but now their relationship had hit rock bottom. How could they possibly make peace?



The delegates became silent as the two men approached one another, their footsteps echoing through the hall. People in the back rows stood for a better view. When Bell and Gallaudet were within arm's reach, each man, without smiling, extended his right hand. The tips of their fingers barely touched in the most frigid of handshakes. Then, without speaking, each man turned and walked away. A plea had been made for peace, but a different message had been given. Henceforth, signers and oralists would take different paths. The last chance to unify the field had been lost, resulting in many more years of antagonism and frustration for teachers, parents, and deaf children.

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Never the Twain Shall Meet is available at https://www.clercscar.com/twain.html

posted on Aug 26, 2009 3:31 PM ()

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