America's Founders: Friends of the Deaf

I feel as if from watching this video, I have a deeper and fuller understanding of how education for the Deaf was brought to America. I learned multiple new facts but three in particular are:

1) It wasn't just Alice Cogswell's father, Dr. Cogswell, who funded Gallaudet’s trip. He gathered around some of his wealthy friends and they debated on if they would help fund based on the myth, "Deaf children are unable to learn." However, they all ended helping Gallaudet.

2) Laurent Clerc wasn't all aboard on the idea of coming to America, like I assumed. Gallaudet wrote a letter to Abbe Sicard, asking for permission to Clerc to leave and come help America's Deaf children. After Sicard, contemplated and agreed, then Clerc was more than happy to come teach the beautiful sign language to the children.

3) Gallaudet’s son went into other careers before following in his father's footsteps. He went into banking first, to be a rich man instead of a "poor man" like his father.

America's Founders: Friends of the Deaf

After watching this video I feel like I have a better understanding of how the first Deaf school in America was founded. This video clarified many confusions and misunderstandings from past teachings. Three new facts I have learned from watching the video are:

1. Before watching this video I have never read about a man named Abbe Sicard. He was an educator at the school for the Deaf in France. He was the man that Clerc asked permission from for approval to go to America for 3 years. 

2. By watching the video I had also learned about a man by the name Dr. Cogswell. He is Alice Cogswell's father. After Thomas Galaudet and Laurent Clerc come to America he helped fundraise and find the perfect location for the new school for the Deaf. 

3. Based on my confusion with my Historical Activity about who founded Gallaudet University it is clear that learning about Thomas Gallaudet's son Edward Gallaudet is new for me. Edward was hired as superintendent at the Columbia institution in Washington DC. In 1864 Abraham Lincoln passed a bill stating that the institution was able to hand out college degrees. Edward was an educator just like Thomas and Clerc, and also worked at the University in Washington DC as the principal for 46 years. 

America's Founders: Friends of the Deaf - Fall 2016

Historical Figures Project

Students will be studying the following individuals for the Historical Figures Project

Skye	Laurent Clerc	CJ Jones
Samantha	Juliette Gordon Low	Nyle DiMarco
Allison	Thomas Gallaudet	Marlee Matlin
Katie	Alice Cogswell	Heather Whitestone

Chapter 3 Learning Outcomes in Relation to the Video

Washington School for the Deaf: A Bilingual Approach is a school that exposes the educational capacity that children who are D/deaf. There is no difference in a student who is D/deaf compared to one who isn't. The way in which they are viewed and educated is what changes. The largest outcome of chapter three that this video speaks on is "I can describe how deaf education settings have changed over the last fifty years", although, that absolutely isn't the only one. Understanding the profession I intend on pursuing, the last outcome "I can list three laws that have influenced Deaf Education" is the most relevant to me. Although it isn't specifically spoken on in the video, it is vital in the success of the Washington School for the Deaf. Without specific legislation from people who care about the education of all students regardless of abilities, we would still be stuck where we were fifty years ago and then there would be no use in describing how deaf education settings have changed over the years.

I think after watching this video it relates to the learning outcome of describing two modes of communication. This school is a place where english and ASL are taught equally making it both a visual and oral learning experience. What surprised me most is that Randall, a student at WSD, came 8 hours just to attend this school. He tried to convince his mom that this was the best choice for him, and I think that is pretty cool. 

Washington School for the Deaf: A Bilingual Approach

After watching this video about the Washington School for the Deaf and learning more about the bilingual approach. It connected well with learning outcome 2, describe how deaf education settings have changed over the past 50 years. In the past there was never a school offered with these kinds of resources available and opportunities. Another outcome it connected with is learning outcome 1, explain the impact PL 94-142 had on Deaf Education. This law talks about how students should be in the least restrictive environment. Being at a school where communication is very easily accessible and learning is taught at a level where it challenges the children's minds. Something that I learned from this video is that as long as you are exposed to the right resources and have a good support system anything is possible.

Washington School for the Deaf: A Bilingual Approach

Watch this entire video clip we previewed in class.  Explain how it connects to at least one of the learning outcomes for chapter 3.  Share something new or surprising that you learned from watching this video.