What does the term "the father of the ..." means? It means "a person who has originated or established something: example: the father of modern psychology; the founding fathers" or "to be the creator, founder, or author of; originate."
If you search the Internet, you will find that Etienne Decroux has been called the "father of modern mime." Further investigation will net you this information: Etienne is the creator of Dramatic Corporeal Mime.
Example from the Bible: Genesis 4:20-21 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
Jabal established the idea of living in tents and raising livestock. All those who lived in tents and raised livestock followed his idea. So, Jabal was "the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock." Same idea with Jubal. He founded the idea of playing the harp and flute. Others followed in his footstep.
One more example from the Bible: Romans 4:1 says that "Abraham is the father of all who believe." It is explained that faith is the key and those who "follow" Abraham's example of believing God are counted as righteous.
So it does not make sense that Alexander Graham Bell is "the father of the deaf." Did he create deaf? Did he establish the idea of deaf? Did he give an example of deaf so that we can follow his footstep? No, no, no!!! If however, A. G. B. is called "the father of oralism," then I would tend to believe.
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8 comments:
I was dumbfounded when I saw how WIKIPEDIA gave this "honor" to AGB. The man did not create deaf, he was trying to destroy it!!!!
Agree! More appropriate if he is called, "Father of oralism", let alone, "Father of oppression".
Has anyone call NAD's attention to this outrageous "title" give to AGB?
Let me elaborate on your point here. Samuel Heincke is the father of German oralism because he started the first oral school in Europe (world?). AGBell is probably the father of American oralism but he did not start Lexington School for the Deaf, first oral school in America, or the second school within a year or two, Clarke School. AGBell was the first public leader of American oralism and I think he should be credited as the father of American oralism.
Thomas Gallaudet can be the father of American deaf education. I prefer Laurent Clerc as the father of ASL but he can also share the title of father of American deaf education with Thomas, his hearing colleague.
Now you may notice, attributing fatherhood to anyone is debatable unless the historical evidence is absolutely clear.
Who is the Father of the Deaf? I would say, nobody! Would we ask, who is the father of humanity? I would say the Father of the Deaf (humanity) is God and the mother of the deaf is Gaia, or mother earth.
Agreed AGB is father of oralist.
Got got that good point!
HE is NOT father of deaf..
oh please
Thanks for clarify this words.
SB
Thanks for your comments. I have decided to edit Wikipedia to change "the father of the deaf" to "the father of American Oralism."
You have empowered me to do that! :-)
I added one more word "probably". The new change is now:
Bell was also probably called "the father of American Oralism."
Check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell
In responce to C. Katz:
Clerc was an educator. He received an MA degree from Gallaudet as well as honourary degrees from universities in Connecticut.
Clerc taught at the ASD from 1817 to 1865
WHILST
Thomas Hopkins GAllaudet taught at the ASD for only 13 (thirteen) years and then worked for the insane for the rest of his life -- the same aslyum where he worked prior to meeting Dr. Cogswell.
BIG CHEERS to ASL Smorgasboard for revising and discredit AGB as "father of the deaf". GAG!!!
I checked WIKIPEDIA RE: LAURENT CLERC and THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET. THG was credited as [the following section is from WIKIPEDIA; "a renowned American pioneer in the education of the deaf."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hopkins_Gallaudet
Larent Clerc; "was called "The Apostle of the deaf in America" and "The Father of the Deaf" by generations of American deaf people. ".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Clerc
Again, great job ASLSMORGASBOARD
Kathy,
Wikipedia is not an authorative encyclopedia gathered from the international bibliographies, including the Library of Congress.
Anyone can make up a story and submit to Wiki. For example, someone played as a prankster in 2006, writing something nasty about Jordan and Fernandes.
You can invent a biography about yourself to Wiki. Again, you can edit or add or eliminate some of your biography and re-submit it to Wiki.
Brittannica, World Book, and Encarta are authorative encyclopedias from the Library of Congress.
To obtain an accurate information about Clerc and THG, see Dr. Harlan Lane's compendium history of the deaf, "When the Mind Hears" (1984).
Also, you can contact Gallaudet's reference librarian, Thomas Harrington at www.gallaudet.edu and then type his name in a search box on the upper right side.
Most audists (hearing people) praise Thomas Gaalaudet to higher heaven than to Clerc. Clerc was personally invited to the White House by President Monroe without THG. Again, Clerc personally fundraised in Congress WITHOUT THG.
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